Apple has agreed to hire some employees and license intellectual property from Animato, a California-based company that develops virtual avatar software for video chats and tutoring, according to an EU filing under the Digital Markets Act reported by multiple outlets. The filing, made in January 2026, describes the deal as a “structured acqui-hire,” in which Apple can extend employment offers to select Animato staff while receiving a non-exclusive license to Animato’s intellectual property and acquiring Animato’s patent applications.
Animato develops and distributes tools for creating virtual avatars. The company is associated with its “Call Annie” app, launched in April 2023, which provides an animated avatar face for real-time conversations with ChatGPT. It later expanded into language learning by offering avatar-based tutoring for practicing multiple languages through video-style interactions. Animato also released an Animato Studio app for macOS, which lets users present themselves as fantasy or anime-style avatars during video calls and live streams.
Following the reported acquisition agreement, Animato’s app listings were removed, and the Call Annie website indicates the app is discontinued. The reported transaction is also described as Apple’s second acquisition of a digital avatar-related company in a little over a year.
