Cartoons
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following lists of animation studios presents current and former organizations similar to artists studios but principally dedicated to the production and distribution of animated films. Such studios may be actual production facilities or corporate entities. The countries with the most listed, active studios, are Japan, United States, Canada, United Kingdom and South Korea, but studios are found across all continents.
Active studios
Studio
Country
Founded
Notes and sources
Denmark
2014
Denmark
2006
Australia
2009
United States
1994
Subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company
New Zealand
1996
New Zealand
2008
Japan
2008
United States
2009
Japan
2005
Denmark
1988
Japan
2001
Japan
1984
United Kingdom
1972
Australia
1992
Japan
1978
South Korea
1985
Mexico
2002
Mexico
2001
Russia
2008
Romania
1964
Australia
1991
United States
2001
Japan
1982
Mexico
2000
Malaysia
2009
United States
1995
France
2001
Japan
1996
Japan
1978
Japan
1973
India
2013
United Kingdom
1994
Canada
1999
United States
1999
United States
2021
A division of Nickelodeon centered on developing animated series and movies based on Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise.[2][3]
United States
1961
Canada
1987
Subsidiary of Rainbow
Japan
1997
United States
2002
United States
2009
Canada
2005
United States
1989
Formerly GRAFx Studios
United Kingdom
2003
United Kingdom
2009
United States
1995
United Kingdom
2000
United Kingdom
1991
Japan
1998
Ireland
2000
Japan
1996
Spain
1972
Ireland
1994
Ireland
2003
United States
1948
United States
1974
Founded as Perpetual Motion Pictures in 1968 renamed Buzzco by Buzz Potamkin in 1982
Japan
2006
United Kingdom
2002
United States
1994
Started as sub-division of Hanna-Barbera; Subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery
Ireland
1999
United States
2015
United States
1979
China
1999
Canada
1974
Also has offices in Los Angeles, California, United States
Canada/United Kingdom
1991
Japan
2018
United Kingdom
1988
Brazil
2009
United States
1989
Israel
2005
Taiwan
1978
Also known as Hong Guang (宏廣) and Wang Film Productions
Canada
1992
United States
1999
Formerly known as The ULULU Company
Japan
1986
Japan
2007
France
2002
United States
1993
Purchased by Galloping Horse Studio in China
Japan
2000
Japan
2005
Japan
1973
United States
2009
South Korea
1991
South Korea
1990
United States
1994
Subsidiary of Comcast
Spain
1987
Japan
1969
Formerly known as Television Corporation of Japan
France
1987
Formerly known as Le Studio Ellipse, Ellipse Programme and Ellipse Animation; property of Dargaud, Inc.
Mexico
2003
United States
2011
Japan
1999
United States
1953
United States
1984
United States
United Kingdom
1955
United States
2009
Australia
1967
France
1981
Ireland
United States
1967
United States
1997
India
1997
United States
1996
South Korea
Japan
2000
Japan
1984
France
1997
Formerly known as Alphanim until 2009
Canada
1995
Japan
2008
Japan
1992
India
2001
Canada
2000
France
1994
South Korea
1984
United Kingdom
2007
Formerly known as Cartoon Network Studios Europe
Taiwan
1986
Japan
2009
United Kingdom
1993
United States
2007
Subsidiary of Comcast
Canada
1995
Partner of Cinesite
Japan
1992
IoM Media Ventures Halifax
Canada
2004
Formerly Halifax Film Company, DHX Media Halifax and DHX Studios Halifax.
Russia
2007
United States
1975
Subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company
United States
1999
Canada
1985
Formerly Dan Krech Productions, DKP Studios, Starz Animation, Arc Productions
Janimation
United States
1993
Japan
1987
United States
1999
United States
1984
Justin Roiland's Solo Vanity Card Productions
United States
2007
Spain
1992
Japan
2006
Jordan
2008
Japan
2008
United Kingdom
1978
United States
1982
South Korea
1990
Malaysia
2013
United States
1981
Japan
1981
United States
2005
Japan
2013
Japan
2011
France
1994
Japan
2012
Light Chaser Animation Studios
China
2013
United Kingdom
2004
United Kingdom
2014
United Kingdom
?
United States
2003
Subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company; have overseen products in Singapore
India
2009
France
United States
1988
Japan
1972
Japan
1977
United Kingdom
2003
India
2010
Japan
2011
Canada
1996
United States
2008
Subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company
United States
1993
Producing animated properties since 2021.[4]
Japan
2005
Russia
1999
Canada
1997
Japan
2013
France
1990
United States
1999
United States
1988
Italy
1985
Japan
1986
United Kingdom
2018
United States
1986
Subsidiary of Paramount Global
Saudi Arabia
2014
Canada
1939
Canada
1971
United States
2018
United States
United Kingdom
2000
United States
1990
Subsidiary of Paramount Global); formerly known as Games Animation.
Canada
2003
Japan
1962
Japan
2003
Japan
2017
Belgium
1994
United States
1990
Japan
1970
Japan
1995
Japan
2004
Japan
2007
Japan
2000
Hungary
1951
United States
2011
Subsidiary of Paramount Global; Paramount's return to having its own animated division for the first time since 1967, when Paramount Cartoon Studio was closed.
United States
United Kingdom
1987
Japan
2013
China
2012
Formerly Oriental DreamWorks.[5]
India
1998
Russia
2003
The People's Republic of Animation
Australia
2003
United States
2009
United States
1986
Subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company; made the first computer animated feature film, Toy Story
Australia
1997
South Korea
1991
Japan
1983
Pakistan
2002
Powerhouse Animation Studios, Inc.
United States
2001
Premavision/Clokey Productions
United States
1955
Japan
1987
Japan
1975
Formally known as Ashi Production
United States
2000
United States
2000
United Kingdom
1984
Italy
1994
Co-owned by Paramount Global from 2011-2023[6]
Canada
1991
Formerly Mainframe Entertainment
United Kingdom
1997
United States
1993
United States
1992
United Kingdom
1995
United States
1987
United States
2003
Film and animation studio that produces animated shows in 2D, 3D and machinima for predominantly online audience; Subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery
United States
South Korea
1991
Jordan
2004
South Korea
1987
Japan
2006
Japan
1995
France
1998
United States
1992
Poland
1947
North Korea
1957
Japan
2002
Japan
2007
Canada
2001
Spain
2002
Formerly known as Ilion Animation Studios
United States
2010
United States
1999
Japan
1975
Shanghai Animation Film Studio
China
1957
Japan
1976
United States
2003
Canada
2004
Australia
2002
United Kingdom
1959
United States
2002
Subsidiary of Sony
United States
1992
Subsidiary of Sony; visual effects & animation studio; provides animation for most of Sony Pictures Animation's films
Russia
1936
Singapore
2006
China
Vietnam
1995
HQ in France.
United Kingdom
?
United States
1992
Formerly Mike Young Productions, and MoonScoop US.
United States
2016
Formerly known as Spümcø, which shut down in 2005, but was later revived in 2016 as Spümtwo.[8]
United Kingdom
1999
United Kingdom
?
United States
1991
Japan
1986
United Kingdom
1989
Canada
1988
Acquired by DHX Media in 2007 and renamed: DHX Media Vancouver.
Japan
2018
Japan
2011
Japan
1986
Japan
1975
Japan
1983
Japan
1972
Japan
1984
Japan
2010
Japan
1979
United Kingdom
1996
South Korea
2010
Japan
1979
Japan
2015
Japan
1972
South Africa
2003
South Korea
1974
Japan
1998
Japan
1962
United States
2014
Japan
1968
United States
2006
United Kingdom
2013
United States
1999
Japan
1946
Japan
1999
Japan
1948
Toon City Animation
Philippines
1993
Bangladesh
2005
Canada
2008
Toonz
India
1999
Japan
2011
South Africa
1996
Japan
2013
Brazil
1989
Japan
2009
Japan
2000
Ukranimafilm
Ukraine
1991
United States
1991
Formerly known as Universal Cartoon Studios; Subsidiary of Comcast
United States
2002
Hungary
1988
China
1992
Brazil
1994
United States
1923
Subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company; founded after Disney's earlier venture Laugh-O-Gram went bankrupt.
Walt Disney Television Animation
United States
1985
Subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company
Walt Disney Television International Japan
Japan
2008
Subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company
Taiwan
1978
United States
1980
Subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery
United States
2013
Subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery
Japan
2007
Canada
2006
Formerly DHX Media Ltd.
United Kingdom
2016
Formerly WildBrain Studios. Division of WildBrain Spark
Canada
2016
Formerly DHX Studios Vancouver. Merger of former Studio B Productions and Nerd Corps Entertainment assets.
United States
1994
Formerly Ghost Planet Industries; Subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery
Japan
2012
Russia
2007
United States
2009
France
1999
South Africa
1991
Canada
1996
Zagreb school of animated films
Croatia
1956
Japan
1998
Spain
2001
Defunct studios
Studio
Country
Founded
Notes and sources
Australia
????
Australia
1982-2008
United States
1993–2021
Formerly named Columbia TriStar Children's Television and Columbia TriStar Animation. Currently dormant.
Freelance Animators New Zealand
New Zealand
????
United States
1962(?)–1966(?)
United States
2014–2020
Defunct division of Allspark, a defunct subsidiary of Hasbro. Folded alongside the main company into Entertainment One.
United Kingdom
1989–1997
The animation production arm of Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment. Folded into DreamWorks Animation. Vacant studio became Access Self-Storage.
United States
2003–2014
Bakshi Productions/Ralph's Spot
United States
1972[9]
United States
1914–1923
After 1917 called Bud Fisher Films Corporation.
Belgium
1956–2005
United States
1962–2006
United Kingdom
2003–????
Germany
1999-2009
Former International division of Bohbot Entertainment which split and purchased assets from its former parent company in 2001. Filed for insolvency in 2009
United Kingdom
Spain
2000–2009
UK/Spanish animation studio/subsidiary of BKN International. Shuttered alongside its parent company.
United States
1985-2001
Also known as BKN in its later years. Assets sold and merged with its International division in 2001.
United States
1913–1927
United States
1987–2021
Defunct subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company
Australia
1981–1988
United States
1988–2000
Folded into Walt Disney Television Animation
United States
2001–2015
Currently dormant
United States
1971-1995
Canada
1976–2004
Reincorporated as Cookie Jar Entertainment.
United States
2004–2006
Defunct subdivision of Walt Disney company
South Africa
2008-2010
Formerly Octagon CSI.
United States
1976–1999
Canada
1976–2014
Formerly Cinar, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
United Kingdom
1976–2009
ITV owners wound down after purchase.
Créativité & Développement
France
1987-1996
Assets purchased by Saban Entertainment.
India United States
1986–2013
Folded by Splash Entertainment.
India
1990–2013
Folded by Splash Entertainment.
United States
1978–2014
Formerly Stowmar Enterprises and Broadcast Arts.
Canada
1997-2010's
Merged with Halifax Film. Later renamed to DHX Media Toronto before closure of animation division.
United States
1963–1981
Re-organized as Marvel Productions.
France
1971–1987
Separated when Andy Heyward purchased DIC's operations from RTL and made their US offices the main base of operations. French offices re-incorporated into Créativité & Développement
United States
1982–2008
Founded as DIC Enterprises and later named DIC Productions. Purchased and folded by Cookie Jar Entertainment in 2008
Germany
1993
Founded as Media Concept, in 2019 original owner died and assets were given to friends. In 2021 a research team took over Dingo Pictures.
United States
1988–2018
defunct subdivision of Walt Disney Company
Australia
1988–2006
Also known as Walt Disney Animation Australia
United States
1987–2006
Became Reel FX Animation Studios.
United States
1972–2015
Folded into Noble Animation.
Canada
1999–2009
United States
1963–1989
Folded by L'Oreal, assets now owned by DreamWorks Animation through DreamWorks Classics
United States
United Kingdom
1968-1996
US operations purchased by the Altschul Group Corporation in 1992, UK operations purchased by Cinar in 1996
(Inkwell Studios/Famous Studios/Paramount Cartoon Studios)
United States
1921–1967
Name changed in 1928, 1942, 1956.
United States
1959
United States
1994–2000
See also: 20th Century Fox Animation above
United States
1990
George Pal Studio
United States
1940-1948
Stop-motion animation only.
United States
1988
United States
1954–1967
Japan
1968–2010
UK
1946–1950
United States
1988–2001
Japan
1993–2009
Merged with Yumeta Company into TYO Animations.
United Kingdom
????
United States
1957–2001
Folded into Cartoon Network Studios; defunct subdivision of AT&T
United States
1930–1960
United Kingdom
United States
1982–2016
Folded into Mattel Creations; defunct subdivision of Mattel
ImageMovers Digital
United States
2009–2011
Joint-venture between ImageMovers and The Walt Disney Company. Folded after Mars Needs Moms bombed at the box office
United States / China / Japan
2000–2010
United States
1915–1918
United States
1960–1963
United States
1958–1984
United States
1958–1962
United States
2004-2009
Label of Walt Disney Television Animation
United States
Japan
1992–1996
1941–1998
United States
1986–1994
Studio inactive as of 1994.
Canada
????
United States
1921–1923
Walt Disney's first animation venture, which didn't last long.
Leon Schlesinger Productions/Warner Bros. Cartoons, Inc./Warner Bros Seven Arts
United States
1933–1964
1967–1969
Schlesinger sold the studio to Warner Bros in 1944, in 1964 the studio closed down, and reopened briefly in 1967 to close down in 1969.
Japan
2002–2015
France
1990-2016
Subsidiary of Zodiak Entertainment, folded after Zodiak Media merged with the Banijay Group
Mathematical Applications Group, Inc.
United States
1966
Also known as MAPI
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio
United States
1937–1957
United States
1993–1999
Dormant since 1999; defunct subdivision of MGM Holdings
MGM Animation/Visual Arts/Sib Tower 12 Productions
United States
1962–1970
France
2003-2014
Filed for administration in 2013. Assets now owned by Dargaud, while US operations were separated as Splash Entertainment
Japan
1961–1973
A new studio with the same name was established in 1977 and is still active.
Canada
2002-2016
Purchased by DHX Media in 2014, folded into DHX Studios Vancouver in 2016
United States
1978–1991
Folded into Colossal Pictures.
United States
1980–2015
Closed by DreamWorks Animation.
United States
1968-1982
Renamed Buzzco Associates by Buzz Potamkin in 1982
United States
1987-1998
Russia
1988–????
United States
1995-2009
defunct subdivision of PorchLight Worldwide, Inc.
Japan
1995-2006
Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment
United States
1960–1987
Founded as VideoCraft International. Folded by Telepictures Corporation. Pre-1974 library owned by DreamWorks Animation through DreamWorks Classics, Post-1974 library owned by Warner Bros.
1949-1970
Operated in Prague by Americans.
United Kingdom
1958–1992
United States
1977–1996
Studio inactive as of 1996.
United States-Israel
1983–2002
Purchased by Disney in 2001 as part of the Fox Family Worldwide purchase. Currently legally known as BVS Entertainment
France
1977–2009
Founded as Saban International Paris. Separated from Saban in 2001 after Disney buyout, stake purchased by Disney in 2002 and renamed to SIP Animation in the same year. Filed for liquidation and closed in 2009
United States
1986–1998
Renamed as Skellington in 1992.
United States
1993–2015
Formerly named Tom Snyder Productions
Japan
????
Canada
1988-2016
Purchased by DHX Media in 2007, renamed to DHX Media Vancouver in 2010, folded into DHX Studios Vancouver in 2016.
Russia
1968–????
Ireland
United States
1979–1995
United States
1980-2004
Purchased by Sony Wonder in 1998 and then TV-Loonland AG in 2000, folded into the latter in 2004
United States
1928–1968
Japan
1971-1985
Became Studio Ghibli
United States
1960–1968
United States
2009–2012
Absorbed into Digital Domain
United States
1991–1996
Folded into Warner Bros. Feature Animation
Germany
1989–2009
First known as TMO-Film and later TMO-Loonland. Filed for insolvency in 2009, majority of former assets now owned by M4E AG
Canada
UK
1961–1979
1988–1997
Ub Iwerks Studio/Cartoons Films Inc
United States
1930–1936
Iwerks sold the studio in 1936, but the studio continued to produce animation commercials into the mid-1940s.
United States
1943–2000
Also known as UPA
United States
1928–1936
Canada
1996–2000
Defunct subdivision of Walt Disney Television Animation
France
1986–2003
Founded as Brizzi Films, Defunct subdivision of Walt Disney Television Animation
Japan
1984–2004
Founded as Pacific Animation. Defunct subdivision of Walt Disney Television Animation
Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida
United States
1989–2004
Became a general satellite studio of Walt Disney Animation Studios, founded after earlier venture Disney's Hollywood Studios went bankrupt and for additional output.
United States
1929–1948
1950–1972
Universal now owns the library.
Warner Bros. Feature Animation
United States
1994–2004
Folded into Warner Bros. Animation
United States
1994-2015
Folded into DHX's other operations, name reused for a streaming service and eventually the rebranding of DHX
United States
1979–2005
Became LAIKA.
Winkler Pictures*/Charles Mintz Studios**/Screen Gems Studio***
United States
1921–1946
*Also known as M.J. Winkler Productions and Robert Winkler Productions
**Re-organization in 1929
***Re-organization in 1940
Japan
1995-2019
Absorbed into Sunrise