Duolingo acquired Detroit-based animation studio Gunner

With a goal to enhance the animation element that makes its learning app feel fun as opposed to chore-like, the East Liberty-based edtech company is bringing Gunner, an animation studio, into the fold.

“We know that the hardest thing about learning a language, or any new subject, is staying motivated and that’s why we make Duolingo fun,” cofounder and CEO Luis von Ahn said in a statement. “Art and animation are foundational to the Duolingo brand, and we use them to help make Duolingo a beloved daily habit in millions of learners’ lives.”

Financial details were not disclosed.

This comes after a year-plus of high-profile changes for the local company, including going public, moving into a second HQ building, celebrating its 10th birthday and broadening its educational offerings by unveiling the Duolingo Math app. Despite the miles between Duolingo’s headquarters in the Steel City and Gunner’s home base in Detroit, the companies are longtime partners. Through the years, Duolingo said in a press release, Gunner has contributed “integral” animation to the company and is responsible for the art that frequently appears in its signature language app and childhood literacy app.

From Gunner’s perspective, cofounder Ian Sigmon said the studio is fortunate to have worked with another company that is willing to invest in art, and this next step feels right.

“We have been fortunate to collaborate with so many great brands as a studio, but over the last couple of years Duolingo has stolen our hearts,” Sigmon said. “Our artists pour so much care into every project, so it feels right to be at a company that invests in art, and has a mission that we believe in.”

Although the plan is for the studio to remain based in Detroit, Duolingo will still gain some new employees via Gunner’s staff of 15 artists, illustrators and animators. Bob Meese, the chief business officer of Duolingo, said the “world class” studio understands the brand well and will help keep its products looking sharp.

“Animation brings life to Duo, our iconic brand mascot, and to our cast of characters,” Meese said. “It helps make our products great, and our characters memorable. We love Gunner and are thrilled to welcome their whole team to Duolingo.”

TechCrunch notes that Duolingo made one previous acquihire when it brought on Steve Ridout, who founded an e-reader language learning tool, in 2016.

Duolingo reports 500 million users, and counted 550 employees worldwide, with 350 based in the Pittsburgh offices.

Atiya Irvin-Mitchell is a 2022-2024 corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The Groundtruth Project that pairs young journalists with local newsrooms. This position is supported by the Heinz Endowments.