Sébastien Deguy, the visionary behind the acclaimed Substance 3D tools and former Adobe executive, has launched a bold new venture, Sans Strings Studio.
Deguy first made his mark as the founder of Allegorithmic, the company that developed the groundbreaking Substance 3D suite and other creative technologies. In 2019, Allegorithmic was acquired by Adobe, where Deguy served as Vice President of 3D and Immersive. Under his leadership, Substance 3D became a cornerstone of digital content creation, earning a prestigious Scientific and Technical Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2023.
With the launch of Sans Strings Studio, Deguy is making a significant shift from developing tools to telling stories. The studio combines real-time digital puppetry with expressive storytelling, opening a new chapter in his creative journey. This move marks a return to his artistic roots as he explores the narrative potential of technology alongside co-founder and tech artist Ryan Corniel.
Sans Strings Studio transforms the traditional animation pipeline through a unique system that converts human movement into instant character animation, without the need for complex rigs or post-production adjustments. According to the studio, performers can control character expressions and body movements in real time using intuitive tools, allowing animation to be created at the speed of thought. This approach is designed to be both accessible and genuinely enjoyable, opening doors to faster, more emotive content creation.
The technology behind Sans Strings Studio is the result of years of innovation. Corniel, who previously led VR and tech art initiatives at Penumbra, helped build full-body VR systems for physical therapy before pivoting into entertainment. His background spans graphic design, UX/UI, and game engine development. Deguy, meanwhile, is widely recognized for revolutionizing the 3D texturing world with Allegorithmic’s Substance suite, an industry staple that earned him both an Academy Sci-Tech Award and an Emmy for technical achievement.
Together, the founders bring decades of experience in digital artistry and computer graphics. Sans Strings Studio is the culmination of their shared vision to blend art and technology in a way that makes animation immediate, expressive, affordable, and emotionally rich. Their aim is to create characters with true soul that resonate with audiences whether on TV, in games, or across interactive platforms.
The studio has already gained significant industry attention. With pre-seed funding secured from venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Sans Strings Studio is part of the Speedrun 005 incubator program, an initiative tailored to support the growth of emerging tech and gaming startups. Their teaser videos, including nostalgic, Henson-style puppets and collaborations with Robot Chicken creators Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, showcase the diversity and playfulness of their animation style.
In a heartfelt LinkedIn post, Deguy reflected on his transition from building tools to creating content, stating, “After 30 years in the tech space serving artists, feeling inspired and humbled by their talent, it’s now my turn to embrace my creative side and take the leap.” He described this move as one of personal alignment and artistic freedom, expressing excitement for what lies ahead. He also revealed plans to release new music under his pseudonym, Matterflow.
As CEO, Deguy is focused on leading Sans Strings Studio into uncharted creative territory, while Corniel brings his pioneering work in digital puppetry and real-time systems to a broader audience. Their shared goal is to reinvent real-time interactive production, where performance and animation become inseparable.
With intuitive tech, a strong creative foundation, and an already growing fanbase, Sans Strings Studio is poised to reshape how animated stories are brought to life. And as the founders put it, “The best part? We’re just getting started.”
I’m personally thrilled to hear about the launch of San Strings Studio. I first met Sébastien when he was just launching Allegorithmic, and it’s inspiring to see his creative journey continue in such an imaginative direction. In addition, I am a lifelong Muppets fan! Since childhood, I’ve been captivated by the magic and wonder of puppetry. There’s something uniquely engaging and timeless about storytelling through puppets. Looking forward to seeing this evolve!
