The birth of Partizan Lab on December 1, 2004 was the natural conclusion to a tide of animation projects that showcased the talents of directors like Antoine Bardou-Jacquet, Matthias Hoene, Geoffroy de Crecy, Numero 6 and Alex & Martin. Collectively, their spots already amounted to a diverse portfolio. Add to the mix some of the most exciting new blood in the animation world and you've got a compelling case for the hottest animation house of the moment.

Agencies are queuing up to tap the creative pool behind Bardou-Jacquet's sperm frenzy for Wanadoo ("The Race", CLM BBDO, Paris) or Numero 6's three-legged "Super Sub" for Coca-Cola (Wieden + Kennedy, Amsterdam). And the expectations raised by Oury & Thomas' intensely moving Henson tribute short, "Overtime", are palpable.

Isabella Parish, head of animation in London, says Partizan Lab was made "official" in the wake of signing several animation directors - Michael Wright (London), Australia's Michael Gracey, France's Oury & Thomas and Loic and Aurelien, and Brand New School (US) - and the opening of an in-house CGI department in Paris. So many animation-focused scripts were coming through that "the whole set-up needed to be given an identity and status rather than just being part of a very successful but basically live-action production company."

Parish says the combination of a strong roster of directors and client portfolio meant "it was time the animation expertise was recognized as a major player in its own right." Recent spots give some clue to the breadth of techniques and styles the Lab now has at its disposal - a repertoire that Parish claims spans the "newest" in 3D, 2D, motion graphics, live-action/animation mixes, motion grab, stop-frame, models and puppets.

Big Ben becomes a "Cuckoo" clock in Geoffroy de Crecy's short, punchy cartoon for FedEx (VCCP, London), model cows get all Wallace & Gromit in Michael Wright's "Rippers" for Dairy Lea (JWT, London), and Alex & Martin integrate animation, film, 2D and 3D in "Journey" for Sony Wega (Saatchi & Saatchi, London), a multimedia blast of blurring, shifting shapes. Many of the directors have cut their teeth on music videos with a strong animation element, including: White Stripes and U2 (Alex & Martin); Super Furry Animals (Numero 6); and Natasha Bedingfield (Michael Gracey).

Parish reckons the Lab is a "breeding ground" for creativity and innovation. "Our animators are constantly being approached for commercials and music videos and are also testing ideas and writing for short films and even longer series projects," she says.

Reluctant to single out any one director or partnership from such a rich resource, she adds the Lab's aim is just "to be working on the fun and interesting scripts where the boundaries can be pushed and we can explore new ideas and looks that have not been seen before."