3D animation is the process of bringing to life a variety of different characters, props, settings, and other objects in a visual piece that appears to be moving in 3-dimensional space. With 3D animation, images move in 3 dimensions instead of being flat images on a 2D plane as in some 2D creations. Creators and studios in this space use a variety of different softwares to achieve to create digital arts, including Blender, Autodesk Maya, and ZBrush to name just a few.

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3D animation is widely used in various digital mediums such as TV shows, video games, movies, and commercials. It is an essential tool for creating animated content across the industry and can be used for various purposes, including promoting a new product or adapting a cartoon for the screen.

If you are working in the 3D animation space or looking to get started, begin here by reading this complete guide for digital artist.

Here are Vagon’s top picks for 3D animation studios to follow for creative motivation in your next project.

Framestore 🔗

Working across industries in everything from film and advertising to TV and immersive augmented reality, Framestore consists of over 3,000 artists and producers around the world. There expertise in the field is in no need of defense, as they have produced pieces for a number of Hollywood movies including Mulan, The Midnight Sky, and Wonder Woman 1984, among many others. Whether you are working primarily in film, advertising, or some other digital medium, there’s quite a bit of content from Framestore’s portfolio worth exploring.

Art&Graft 🔗

Self-described as an “independent team of talented & ambitious creative minds crafting distinctive visual campaigns for the world’s most progressive brands”, London-based Art&Graft works across an array of digital mediums, producing 3D animation in a wide range of visual pieces. With clients such as Google, Cartoon Network, BBC, Apple, and CNN, to name just a few, there is no shortage of high-quality animation production with this studio.

Jellyfish Pictures 🔗

Jellyfish Pictures Homepage 05/10/20 from Jellyfish Pictures on Vimeo.

Founded in 2001, UK-based Jellyfish Studios quickly rose to prominence with their production of the TV series We’re Number One in 2005 and the BBC show Fight for Life in 2007, to more recently producing animation pieces in films such Rogue One, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Related specifically to their animation work, Jellyfish Studios utilizes a team made up of directors, producers, animation directors, and CG supervisors to create compelling 3D stories for a variety of different cartoons, TV shows, and films.

Otok 🔗

As a studio dedicated to motion graphics, Otok creates animated moving images for television commercials. Combining different mediums and styles to bring together striking colors and visually appealing sets, Otok has produced a variety of content for the screen such as MTV Sports, BBC World News, and ITV. If your workflow is based primarily in TV advertising, this is one studio you’ll definitely want to keep an eye out for!

VeracityColab 🔗

California-based VeracityColab is centered around telling visual stories that bring products and brands to the forefront of customer experience. Creating 3D animation with VeracityColab is only one part of the process, considering they tailor their production pieces directly to the message the audience is supposed to receive. Some notable companies in their portfolio include Adidas, Microsoft, and Eventbrite, to name only a few. If you’re creating primarily for the product marketing field, this is one studio to definitely take a bit of inspiration from.

Explain Ninja 🔗

As a subsidiary brand of Fireart Studio, Explain Ninja is a video production studio exclusively focused on creating animated explainer videos for companies. With a team comprised of animators, producers, and award-winning directors, along with voiceover professionals in a variety of languages, Explain Ninja has worked to bring animated pieces to target audiences for companies and organizations around the globe. If you are focused on brand recognition through your animated work, this is another studio that is worth the follow.

Yum Yum 🔗

Producing pieces for advertising agencies, global brands, and production companies, Yum Yum is a creative studio founded in London by animation directors Beth and Jonny. Specialized in 2D and 3D animation, 3D modeling and printing, and character design, Yum Yum has created for some notable brands such as MTV, Lyft, Xbox, and Nickelodeon, to name only a few. Their work largely follows a light-hearted design of lively colors and vibrant character, bringing an intriguing mix of both captivating and fun visualizations. Follow along on their animation journey if you are interested in more cartoon-based visualization.

Passion Animation Studios 🔗

With over 30 years of experience in the animation industry, Passion Animation Studios has created Oscar-winning stories and notable characters that we can all remember. Whether it’s a production piece for advertising or a more personal depiction for TV shows and film, Passion Animation Studios is one larger entity in the industry that creators in the field can learn from.

Explanimate 🔗

Self-described as living and breathing design and animation, Brisbane-based Explanimate works to create visual content and storytelling for a variety of brands and companies. Specializing in everything from explainer videos to television advertising and brand animation, the seven person team at Explanimate has been centered around good communication between their client and audience. With a wide ranging balance in everything from vibrant colors in cartoon-like visualization to striking highlights in realistic animation, there is no shortage of expertise here!

2veinte 🔗

Based out of Buenos Aires, 2veinte is a production company internationally recognized for creating visually striking and detailed animation and design pieces. Primarily working with cartoon animation and visualization, 2veinte has created pieces used in music videos, TV shows, commercials, film, and brand recognition to name just a few. If you are focused on character design in your workflow, this studio is definitely one to check out.

The DVI Group 🔗

The DVI Group was founded in the 1990s and has since grown to become a leader in the field of digital video technology. Since then, they have been developing innovative solutions for the digital video market. From corporate videos to commercials, their work is highly reputable by their clients and the company is constantly seeking to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of digital video.

Yans Media 🔗

Yans Media is a studio that specialises in animation and explainer videos. Their portfolio includes companies such as Visa, Deloitte and Intel, and start-up companies from different industries, creating a diverse range of work for the company. You can check out their animations to view custom explainer videos to showcase product or service.

Dream Farm Studios 🔗

Based in Ontario, Canada, Dream Farm Studios provides 3D animation services and work-as-hire co-production for 3D animation series. Their services include 3D animated series and creative trailers, along with 2D animation. They handle projects for creating brand characters for brand advertisements, so if you are interested in creating a visual identity and mascots for brands, you can check out their work.

Pixomondo 🔗

Pixomondo is an Oscar and Emmy-winning production company. Their line of work include HBO’s Emmy winning Game of Thrones, to Amazon’s The Boys, and the new hit series HBO’s House of the Dragon. Their expertise on virtual effects make them a great production company for high-scale projects with complex VFX. They are a worldwide company with seven locations, so you can join them for open roles across North America and Europe, via their website.

Blur Studio 🔗

Having created Netflix’s first animated anthology, Love, Death + Robots, Blur Studio is a 3D production company that focuses on game cinematics and feature films. Their outstanding work includes famous games such as Valorant Shattered, League of Legends and Call of Duty.

Territory Studio 🔗

Territory Studio is a creative agency that focuses on storytelling on their animated work. The studio, based in multiple locations such as London and San Francisco has created many projects for Netflix, where you can follow through their Instagram page.

Not to Scale 🔗

Not to Scale is the animation production company with a big and reputable portfolio of clients such as Virgin, Unilever, Nike, Vodafone, Meta and many more to deliver creative content to wide variety channels.

Moth Studio 🔗

Creating an emotive storytelling with a strong emphasis on character, Moth Studio is another award-winning 3D animation studio with diverse and complex artistic projects. Whether it’s for commercials, short films, music videos or branded content, their projects include vivid colors and a distinctive artwork.

Studio Ghibli 🔗

Studio Ghibli, one of the leading studios in Japanese animation, has won the hearts of millions with its unique animation style and profound themes. Under the direction of Hayao Miyazaki, the studio has created unforgettable works that touch audiences of all ages with themes of nature and environmental consciousness, memorable characters, and enchanting atmospheres. Studio Ghibli has carved out a special place for itself in the world of animation by depicting magical worlds and universal themes in its films.

Aardman Animations 🔗

Aardman Animations is one of the leading studios in stop-motion animation, particularly known for classics like Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run. Based in Bristol, UK, this studio garners great acclaim for its charming characters and comedic style. Aardman has a unique style that expertly captures the elegance and detail of handcrafted animation. Productions such as the Wallace & Gromit series have not only earned Aardman a legendary status in the animation world but also positioned it as a pioneer of humorous and creative animation.

Animal Logic 🔗

Animal Logic is an animation and visual effects studio based in Sydney, Australia, known particularly for successful films such as The LEGO Movie and Happy Feet. The studio combines creativity and technology to deliver unique and stunning visual experiences. The distinctive animation style of The LEGO Movie and the adorable penguins in Happy Feet are examples showcasing Animal Logic's capabilities and original approach. While maintaining a strong position in the film industry and technical expertise, the studio also excels in projects that merge artistry and creativity.

Double Negative 🔗

Double Negative is a visual effects studio based in London, UK, and has made its mark on some of Hollywood's leading productions. Known for its intriguing and impactful visual effects, the studio has played a significant role in major productions such as Interstellar, Inception, and Avengers: Infinity War. Double Negative stands out with its expertise in creating captivating worlds and impressive scenes in films. Equipped with technological innovations, the studio ranks among Hollywood's most prominent producers, successfully blending art and technology to deliver unforgettable visual experiences.

Blizzard Entertainment 🔗

Blizzard Entertainment is one of the leading names in the video game industry, known as the creator of many legendary games. Unforgettable titles like World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and Hearthstone bear Blizzard's signature. The studio has revolutionized the gaming world and impacted millions of players. Blizzard's games are renowned for their deep stories, stunning visuals, and unique gameplay. Developed by an innovative and passionate team, these games offer players unparalleled experiences and elevate Blizzard Entertainment to a legendary position in the gaming world.

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