Cantilever Media Secures Capital to Expand Independent Animation Distribution

2026-02-28 companies

London, Saturday, 28 February 2026.
Securing £500,000 from Creative Growth Finance, Cantilever Media expands its Kazoo Films arm, strategically shifting toward a fully integrated studio model for independent animated features.

Strategic Capital Injection

On Thursday, 26 February 2026, UK-based animation production company Cantilever Media successfully closed a £500,000 investment round from Creative Growth Finance (CGF) [1][5]. This infusion of capital is earmarked specifically for the expansion of Kazoo Films, the company’s distribution arm launched in 2024 to handle animated features for the UK and Irish markets [1][2]. The move represents a significant pivot toward vertical integration for the Eastbourne-based studio, allowing it to control the lifecycle of its intellectual property from development through to theatrical release [6][8]. By securing this funding 4 years after the release of their acclaimed feature The Amazing Maurice, Cantilever is positioning itself to capture a larger share of the value chain in the independent animation sector [1][4].

Strengthening the Pipeline

The investment comes at a critical juncture as Kazoo Films prepares to roll out a robust slate of projects. Key among them is Dana Dorian’s Bird Brain, a family film with a production budget of $15 million [1][4]. Bird Brain is notable not only for its scale but also as the inaugural animated feature to be sold via Cantilever’s joint venture sales agency with Architect Global [1]. Additionally, the slate includes Benoit Godbout’s Unstable, which is currently in production and scheduled for release in 2027 [1][2]. These projects underscore the studio’s ambition to meet the demand for high-quality independent animation, a market segment that Andrew Baker, Director at Cantilever Media, notes has seen fluctuating funding availability in recent years [2][8].

Partnerships and Production Ecosystem

To mitigate the risks associated with high-budget animation, Cantilever has cultivated a network of strategic partnerships. Bird Brain marks the first co-production with ReDefine, the animation division of the UK-India VFX giant DNEG, established through a slate partnership announced previously [1][4]. Furthermore, Kazoo Films is set to distribute titles arising from a three-film co-production agreement involving Cantilever, Los Angeles-based Viva Pictures Distribution, and HarperCollins Productions [1][4]. This deal focuses on adapting HarperCollins’ intellectual property into comedy-oriented animated features, diversifying the studio’s content portfolio [4]. Beyond these collaborations, the company is developing internal projects such as Bollywoof, Wed Wabbit, and a sequel to The Amazing Maurice [1][4].

Financial Framework and Leadership

Creative Growth Finance, the fund behind this injection, is a specialized debt finance vehicle administered by Creative UK designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the creative industries [1][4]. The fund offers loans of up to £500,000 initially, with provisions for additional finance after a two-year period [1]. This investment aligns with the broader strategy of Creative UK, now led by Emily Cloke, a former senior civil servant at the Department for Business and Trade who succeeded Caroline Norbury as chief executive [1][4]. Rahul Misra, Investment Principal at Creative UK, emphasized that the funding is intended to support high-quality UK-led IP, enabling Cantilever to greenlight a critical mass of productions while ensuring a longer tail of revenue share through Kazoo’s distribution capabilities [8].

Sources

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