Animation Studio TeamTo Sets Up Post-Acquisition Leadership Structure

Kicking off a new chapter for one of Europe’s premier independent animation studios, Marco Balsamo has taken over as President and CEO of TeamTO following its acquisition by Riva Studios Productions in December 2024.

The 33-year-old Italian-American filmmaker and entrepreneur will now oversee TeamTO’s operations, balancing executive and creative responsibilities while positioning the studio for growth in a rapidly evolving animation industry.

“This studio has built a remarkable legacy, and we’re committed to ensuring its long-term success,” Balsamo told Variety of the changes. “We also want to expand our reach to international partners, strengthen our presence in the global animation industry and establish TeamTO as a leader in both original content and premium production services.”

Co-founded by Balsamo and Tara Sibel Demren, Riva partnered with filmmaker Jay Oliva (“Batman: The Dark Knight Returns,” “Twilight of the Gods”) of Lex & Otis and investor Peter Bekkerman to form a new ownership group with the sole purpose of securing the studio’s long-term future. The acquisition coincides with TeamTO’s 20th anniversary, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s history.

As part of its commitment to preserving TeamTO’s legacy, Riva Studios has retained 90% of the studio’s employees. The new management structure includes long-term TeamTO executives Clélia Santi (Head of Studios, Paris), Carole Toledo (Head of Studios, Valence), Jean-Baptiste Spieser (Chief Technology Officer), Olivier Plazas (Art Director) and Fanny Weber (Executive Producer). Other key roles include Demren and Oliva as Executive Producers and Balsamo as Producer, with further creative appointments to be announced in the near future.

Notably, TeamTO co-founders and longtime studio leaders Guillaume Hellouin and Corrine Kouper, who originally planned to stay with TeamTO post-acquisition, will not continue with the company.

“We’ve known them for years, and I can’t imagine how difficult this has been for them, but we respect their decision,” Balsamo explained. “As with any leadership transition, there are always shifts. The most important thing to us is that the heart of the studio that they built stays strong, and we’ve been able to retain 90% of its employees.”

Under its new leadership, TeamTO will expand its creative slate, blending its legacy of acclaimed children’s animated series like “Angelo Rules” and “Jade Armor” with a lineup of original IPs from Riva, broadening its reach into adult animation. The studio is currently developing an ambitious slate that includes titles such as “Akira’s Flying Wheelchair,” “Junichiro Jackson,” “Yellow Cello and the Sea of Memories,” “The Adventures of Amir Hamza,” “Cradle: Unsouled,” “Era: The Legend of Lugh” and “Corvus Belli’s Infinity: Paradise Lost.”

Balsamo and the new TeamTO leadership are especially excited about pushing into adult animation, and the new boss says partner Oliva will be a major influence in that regard. “Jay has directed some of the best adult animated series ever, and we’ve got four adult IPs we’re working on, from comedy to psychological thrillers,” he said.

Another of Balsamo’s key initiatives as CEO will be to diversify TeamTO’s production slate, ensuring it remains a competitive force in the industry. He will work closely with Oliva and Demren to develop bold new projects that push the boundaries of what the studio has done in the past. Beyond his executive role, Balsamo will take on expanded creative responsibilities, serving as a showrunner, writer and director on multiple projects.

Balsamo and Demren, aware of TeamTO’s difficult financial situation last year, had been exploring ways to prevent the studio from insolvency since early June, actively working on potential solutions. A chance meeting with Oliva in New York in mid-October—just four days before the bid deadline—led to their decision to acquire the studio together.

“The way this deal came together—so serendipitously, so quickly—still feels surreal,” said Balsamo. “In an industry where animation studios are struggling, talented animators are being laid off and decades of work are at risk of vanishing, we couldn’t let a studio with TeamTO’s pedigree be lost. We’ve always championed the independent spirit of filmmaking, and TeamTO embodies that same spirit. I couldn’t ask for a better team with whom to embark on this adventure.”