Lobo, the award-winning São Paulo-based design and animation studio, is staking its claim in new territory with the official opening of its first US office. Partners Nando Cohen, Gabriel Nobrega and Mateus de Paula Santos are pleased to announce that industry veteran Luis Ribeiro has been named Partner and Executive Producer of the New York office, where he will spearhead all of Lobo’s US operations.
Ribeiro comes to the company deeply familiar with their work due to his close business and cultural ties to Brazil, commenting: “Lobo is powerhouse animation studio, but it’s the passion for the craft and devotion to detail that has always made me one of their biggest fans. To be a partner and to lead the charge on further establishing Lobo’s presence in the US is an honor. Being surrounded by such talented individuals in an awesome, non-corporate environment and culture is truly a dream come true.”
Founded in 1994 by Nando Cohen and Mateus de Paula Santos, Lobo’s expertise covers a broad range of media and techniques including 2D animation, stop motion, 3D, VFX and live action. After quickly growing to major player status among top ad agencies, TV networks and film studios in Brazil, Lobo expanded its structure to cater to markets all across Latin America, Europe and the US. Along the way, Lobo has raked in plenty of awards from prestigious institutions like D&AD, The One Show, Cannes Lions, Art Directors Club, and more.
Lobo has been steadily bolstering its ties to the US market via its satellite office launched in Brooklyn last year under the creative direction of Guilherme Marcondes, a member of the original Lobo roster. Recently, Marcondes recently earned accolades for the whimsical “The World of Autism” PSA he and Lobo created in partnership with BBDO NY for Autism Speaks. Touching and informative, the piece educates parents how to identify the early signs of autism in their own children. The film was awarded the Gold Cannes Lion for Design, Motion and Animation, along with two Bronze statues for Art Direction and Animation. This year Lobo returned from Cannes with an astounding 12 Lions in total.