| Focus | Children's animation • Puppetry • Live-action programming • Films • Theme parks • Consumer products |
| Founded | 1960s in Belgium |
| Industry | Media, entertainment |
| Ownership | Privately held, family-owned |
| Headquarters | |
| Notable franchises |
Studio 100 is a leading Belgian media and entertainment company that has created some of Europe's most beloved children's characters and franchises since its founding in the 1960s. Based in the city of Schelle, the privately-held, family-owned firm has grown to become a major force in the European entertainment industry, expanding far beyond its origins in animation and puppetry.
Studio 100 was established in 1964 by a group of Belgian animators, puppeteers, and storytellers who sought to create high-quality, educational content for children in the Dutch-speaking regions of Europe. The company's early focus was on producing stop-motion animated series and live-action puppet shows, which were distributed across the Benelux countries and quickly gained popularity.
The studio's first major breakthrough came with the 1989 launch of the hugely successful children's series Plop the Gnome, about the mischievous but kindhearted title character. Plop proved to be an enduring icon, spawning a long-running television show, feature films, books, toys, and eventually the company's flagship Plopsaland theme park.
Buoyed by the success of Plop, Studio 100 set out to create additional beloved characters and franchises that could be developed across multiple media platforms. In the 1990s and 2000s, the company launched a string of hit shows including Maya the Bee, The Fairytale Police, and Heidi. These characters, many of them adapted from classic children's stories, soon became household names throughout Western Europe.
As the company's intellectual properties grew in popularity, Studio 100 began to diversify its business, moving into live-action television, theatrical films, consumer products, and location-based entertainment. The 2000 opening of Plopsaland, a theme park resort centered around the Plop character, was a major milestone that transformed the once-modest animation studio into a powerful European media conglomerate.
Despite its expansion across the continent and into global markets, Studio 100 has remained a proudly Belgian, family-owned enterprise. The Vervoort family, which founded the company, has maintained majority control and stewardship over the decades, ensuring that the firm's Flemish/Dutch cultural roots and independent spirit are preserved.
This family-owned structure, in contrast to the public, shareholder-driven model of global media giants like Disney, has allowed Studio 100 to pursue a strategic vision centered on long-term growth and the nurturing of its intellectual property portfolio. The company has invested heavily in research and development to create new characters and stories tailored to the tastes of its European, especially Benelux, audiences.
While deeply rooted in Belgium, Studio 100 has steadily expanded its reach across Europe and beyond in recent decades. In addition to the original Plopsaland resort, the company has opened themed parks and attractions in the Netherlands, Germany, and Poland. Its television shows, films, and consumer products can now be found in over 150 countries worldwide.
Studio 100's characters and franchises have become cultural touchstones for generations of European children, rivaling the global influence of American entertainment juggernauts like Disney. The company's approach to family-friendly, educational content that celebrates local languages and traditions has resonated strongly, allowing it to thrive in an entertainment landscape often dominated by English-language, Hollywood-centric fare.
As the 21st century progresses, Studio 100 continues to evolve, diversifying into new business lines like digital media and e-commerce while remaining firmly committed to its Belgian roots and vision of creating enriching, values-driven content for children and families across Europe and beyond.
