The 10 Best Animation Studios in Chicago - 2024 Reviews

Top Animation Studios in Chicago

All Animation Agencies in Chicago

  • Leo Burnett Interactive
     
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Bright Bright Great
    Bright Bright Great is a full-service creative strategy agency located in Chicago, IL focused on improving visual culture through creativity and functional problem solving.
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Kerosene Creative Services

    Kerosene Creative Services

    (0 review)

    Full-service creative marketing firm, servicing the entertainment and lifestyle business verticals.

     
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Pink Eye Group

    Pink Eye Groupcertified-flag

    (0 review)
    Pink Eye Group is an animation and video studio that specializes in Storyplex explainer videos.
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Centiv

    Centivcertified-flag

    (0 review)
    Brandmuscle makes distributed marketing management easy. Our local marketing automation platform provides everything you need to own local. Learn more now.
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • VIRO, LLC

    VIRO, LLC

    (0 review)
     
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Studio One Digital, Inc.

    Studio One Digital, Inc.

    (0 review)

    DESIGN. PRODUCE. EVALUATE. DISTRIBUTE. REPEAT.

    Studio 1 Digital
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Relay Worldwide

    Relay Worldwidecertified-flag

    (0 review)
     
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • OutsideAmerica Inc
    Europe, Asia, Africa & North American operations of OutsideAmerica, a division of ProjectProfile - specialist in internal, external and corporate governance communications production
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Printable Promotions
     
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Acapella Media LLC
     
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Alter Inc.

    Alter Inc.

    (0 review)
    We are an award winning CGI, Animation, Photography and Compositing Studio that creates unique content for the advertising industry specializing in digital compositing for environments, products, food, liquids, automotive, characters and animals.
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Iganic

    Iganiccertified-flag

    (0 review)
     
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Polymyth Productions
    Video Production and content marketing agency in Chicago, IL. We focus on storytelling and create whiteboard video, web video, advertising and more.
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • studiosatellite

    studiosatellitecertified-flag

    (0 review)
     
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Liquidus Marketing
     
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Maxim Innovations LLC
    Increase your sales: encourage salespeople to sell and consumers to buy. Incentives and rewards offer a more concrete return on investment than traditional advertising.
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Good Kids

    Good Kidscertified-flagverified-flag

    5
    (4 reviews)

    We Build Brands Better. Come Play With Us.

    Recommended
    Award-winner
    Hi 👋🏼 We're Good Kids.
 We're an an independent agency based in Los Angeles, NYC & Toronto. We create evocative campaigns that connect with audiences. Our powerful marketing strategy & outstanding advertising take our clients further than ever. Want to see where we can take you?
 ✨ We help small brands become big and big brands become giant. 🏆 Our award-winning strategy is on engagement, awareness & authenticity, underlining what's important. We create evocative campaigns that connects with audiences In meaningful ways. We humanize, amplify & relate. This converts, moves the dial and makes it shareable. In Short: We Build Your Reputation & get you results. We’re very good at: 🧠 Marketing Strategy 💥 Creative Production 📱 Social Media Management 💻 Digital Marketing 🤝 Pr & Partnerships 🎪 Pop Up Events 💰 Paid Advertising & SEO - In a world where you can be anything; don’t be boring.
 We'll give 'em something to talk about!
    7 works in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €5000 for Animation
  • Attack Studios

    Attack Studioscertified-flagverified-flag

    (0 review)
    Attack Studios specializes in exciting animation and motion design for broadcast, film, and digital.  We are business savvy content creators that love to collaborate with ambitious brands and agencies who seek creativity and innovation. We’ll turn your inspiration into a beautifully animated video that has a lasting impact.  We have a small pool of talent that we can access to staff up for bigger jobs, or specialty services like AR, VR, and 3D. We work with ad agencies, post-houses, and also work directly with clients and brands. Our industry focus is on action sports, combat sports, big pharma, tech startups and fortune 500.  
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €6000 for Animation
  • Poison Pencil

    Poison Pencilcertified-flag

    (0 review)
    Poison Pencil creates conceptual artwork for advertising agencies, including storyboards, comps, pencils from script, and now 3d rendering and photo-comping.
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Walltronix

    Walltronixverified-flag

    5
    (3 reviews)

    We are a digital marketing agency that helps brands to achieve their business outcomes.

    Recommended
    Walltronix is a full-service digital marketing agency that lives and breathes “outside the box”. We are a team of digital marketing experts who catch those pure gold ideas and transform them into reality. A key reason why we are confident about delivering the results is that we have the best talent in every digital channel. From design and development to SEO services, pay-per-click, content, social, and beyond, we work together to ensure you see the best results across all campaigns. We are laser focused on ROI and like to keep things transparent so you know exactly where and how your money is being spent, whether that’s with highly targeted search engine marketing, web development or digital advertising.
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Promactive

    Promactivecertified-flagverified-flag

    (0 review)
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • CE International - Video & Design Agency

    CE International - Video & Design Agencyverified-flag

    5
    (1 review)

    We transform brand's Visual Stories

    Recommended
    Award-winner
    CE International is an extended branch of Creative Engine dealing with International Clients only, As a creative agency, We offer complete Social Media Design and Video Solutions to Boost Brand Awareness, Visibility, and conversions. Our Strategy is to bridge the gap between the market niche and potential customers. Creativity is in our DNA, The world is our inspiration & technology is our playground. We have the expertise to solve all of the creative problems that brands and businesses are facing from basic social media reels to complex pitch videos by focusing on the single principle to create value for the customer & consumer. In a rapidly advancing world, we adapt our services and expertise to better serve our partners by turning good ideas into meaningful visual stories.
    3 works in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €500 for Animation
  • Efir Media

    Efir Mediaverified-flag

    (0 review)

    Delivering Unforgettable Customer Experiences | UI/UX Experts

    Award-winner
    Efir Media is a leading digital design agency based in Philadelphia, dedicated to delivering exceptional and customized digital experiences that engage and convert your target audience. Our services include branding, website design and development, e-commerce solutions, and content creation. We are a talented and diverse team of creatives from around the world, committed to helping businesses achieve their goals. With a proven track record of success, including recognition as one of the Top Creative and Design Firms in the World, Gold at the New York Design Awards, and being ranked in the Top 10 Best UI/UX Design Agencies, we have a reputation for excellence in our industry. Our portfolio of awards and accolades speaks to our commitment to providing exceptional results for our clients. Let us help you create a brand that stands out and leaves a lasting impression on your customers. Choose Efir Media for your digital design needs.
    2 works in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    No budget for Animation
  • North Star HQ

    North Star HQverified-flag

    5
    (3 reviews)

    Any agency can get you fans. We deliver sales.

    Better Leads …and More of Them. Get Your Marketing Budget to Work Smarter What’s it like to link up with the crew that produced $8 million in leads produced last year? Never leave money on the table in the form of un-pursued opportunities Consistently stand out to the right decision-makers Rest easy knowing your marketing efforts are at peak efficiency It’s maddening when the content you did in-house doesn’t match your own standards. Do you know that feeling when... Your messages are on-brand but don’t resonate? The effort is there, but the results fall flat… 😕? Going over budget happens lightning-fast!? Leads fall into the rift between sales and marketing? Audience-focused messaging beats casting pitches into the void every time. Direct your messaging to the spaces where buyers make decisions. The “right” tactic is the one that produces leads ready to buy. Sometimes that means ads and landing pages, other times it’s YouTube or even Reddit! If your messages are on point but fail to produce business, a Rescue Package is the perfect way to get that one critical tweak or identify the right creative solution. We get it. You want to work with someone who gets you. Luckily for you, authenticity is our way. We take the time to craft real messages that get real results. That includes understanding what makes you special and what makes your clients tick. Autodesk: When we got on board with North Star HQ, we saw 40 to 60 percent engagement increases in just 60 days. Troy - Product Marketing Manager PegEx: With a few simple tweaks of our existing systems, North Star HQ turned our digital presences into real lead-generating machines. [Dave - Chief Revenue Officer] Altium: “Using Youtube strategically has opened up doors for us globally. The results have blown our expectations out of the water.” [James - Director of Digital Marketing]
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Alconost Inc.

    Alconost Inc.verified-flag

    4.6
    (3 reviews)

    Our mission is to help IT companies to reach new markets abroad.

    🇺🇸 Alconost offers translation and localization services for games, apps, websites, and software localization in more than 100 languages. Professional native translators with experience in the IT industry. 🇩🇪 Alconost bietet Übersetzung und Lokalisierung von Spielen, Apps, Webseiten, Software-Lokalisierung in mehr als 100 Sprachen an. Professionelle muttersprachliche Übersetzer, Erfahrung in IT-Branche.
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
  • Hive Analytics

    Hive Analyticsverified-flag

    4.9
    (7 reviews)

    Harnessing the power of Fractional Marketing teams to bring you data-driven growth.

    Recommended
    Award-winner
    Hive Analytics is a top-tier performance marketing agency utilizing an innovative technique of Fractional Marketing teams to drive your ecommerce growth. Let's take a look at our process: Step 1: Analysis We take a deep look at your business eco-system and digital presence, so we can build on your strengths and identify the gaps where you’re losing potential revenue. Step 2: Build your team Based on our analysis, we carefully select which roles are required to address the issues we’ve identified. Every business is unique and so are the problems it faces. We build the team from the ground up, based around what you need - so that our solutions are specifically designed with your business in mind. Step 3: Plan your Strategy Next we sit down together and design a comprehensive plan that reflects your business objectives. We will create distinct KPIs for your new team that encompass both short-term targets and long-term goals. These will change over time as your business grows and we will adjust accordingly to keep pushing the limits of what you can accomplish. Step 4: Implementation With a clear roadmap in place, we immediately begin executing the plan, giving you regular updates and adapting the strategy to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Step 5: Growth Now you can focus on the core aspects of your business whilst our team of tailored professionals is busy working in the background, maximizing your digital growth. We rely on data science, advanced e-commerce tools, and the strength of our expert talent to unlock maximum profitability for our clients and provide solutions to the challenges of e-commerce. Get in touch with us today and discover what your business can achieve!
    12 works in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €5000 for Animation
  • Rovamedia

    Rovamediaverified-flag

    4.9
    (26 reviews)

    Digital Marketing Redefined

    Recommended
    Award-winner
    PSA NOTE: As part of our terms for Sortlist effective June 1, 2023, we'll not be calling you via your phone line or any unofficial methods asides a virtual meeting via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, after a message has been sent to your email, you have 12 hours to respond, and failure to respond means we'll not follow up with you, we'll further cancel and blacklist your contact for future references. To understand more, learn about Rovamedia processes and protocols for working with us at: https://rovamedia.com/faqs/ Rovamedia is a digital marketing management service that supports subscriptions for various social media services for individuals and organizations. Rovamedia is a network of professional, highly talented, independently certified & advertising agencies with expertise in Digital Marketing Solutions. Rovamedia's vision is to support small medium and large-scale agencies to thrive in their businesses and enhance the intelligence, expertise, reach, and effectiveness of the members through knowledge sharing, international best practices, and compelling digital content collaboration. Rovamedia is a value-driven Digital Marketing agency dedicated to empowering our customers. Over the years, we have worked with Fortune 500s and brand-new startups. We help ambitious businesses like yours generate more profits by building awareness, driving web traffic, connecting with customers, and growing overall sales. All clients we serve, are availed the opportunity to collaborate, share, envision, and bring the digital scope of their objectives close as they realize these using professional top-notch digital marketing services Rovamedia serves. Rovamedia provides the smartest and most innovative method to manage your business online digital media marketing with ease and great pricing. We pursue relationships based on transparency, persistence, mutual trust, and integrity with our employees, customers, and other business partners. We work in areas as diverse as search engine optimization, social media marketing, email marketing, and digital marketing. We provide marketing services to startups and small businesses looking for a partner for their digital media. We work with you, not for you. PSA NOTE: As part of our terms for Sortlist effective June 1, 2023, we'll not be calling you via your phone line or any unofficial methods asides a virtual meeting via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, after a message has been sent to your email, you have 12 hours to respond, and failure to respond means we'll not follow up with you, we'll further cancel and blacklist your contact for future references. To understand more, learn about Rovamedia processes and protocols for working with us at: https://rovamedia.com/faqs/ Our Vision  is dynamic and encompasses a lot. Having been a strategic partner to numerous large and small organizations in providing a sustainable digital marketing experience, we can right align our vision as follows: Create Dynamic Brands Serve More Countries Provide Digital Marketing Education A Large Audience of Loyalists Rovamedia is a network of professional, highly talented, independently certified & advertising agencies with expertise in Digital Marketing Solutions. Rovamedia’s mission is to support small medium and large-scale agencies to thrive in their businesses and enhance the intelligence, expertise, reach, and effectiveness of the members through knowledge sharing, international best practices, and compelling digital content collaboration. Our team of specialists consistently delivers outstanding results combining creative ideas with our vast experience. We can help you build a sustainable, meaningful relationship with your clients by engaging them with your brand leveraging technology. We have developed search strategies for leading brands to small and medium-sized businesses in many industries across the world. PSA NOTE: As part of our terms for Sortlist effective June 1, 2023, we'll not be calling you via your phone line or any unofficial methods asides a virtual meeting via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, after a message has been sent to your email, you have 12 hours to respond, and failure to respond means we'll not follow up with you, we'll further cancel and blacklist your contact for future references. To understand more, learn about Rovamedia processes and protocols for working with us at: https://rovamedia.com/faqs/
    2 works in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    No budget for Animation
  • Motivo Media

    Motivo Media

    (0 review)

    We capture hearts & engage minds through compelling media. 📍 Seattle + D.C.

    We are a creative agency with a mission to captures the heart and engages the mind. We offer services such as video production, branded documentaries, narrative films, educational video courses, marketing campaigns, copywriting and promo videos. Our offices are located in Seattle, Washington.
    No work in Animation
    Active in Chicago, United States
    From €1000 for Animation
12

Struggling to choose? Let us help.

Post a project for free and quickly meet qualified providers. Use our data and on-demand experts to pick the right one for free. Hire them and take your business to the next level.


Expert Chicago Animation Studio: Bringing Ideas to Life

An animation studio is a professional production company specializing in creating animated media. These studios develop a variety of media, such as films, television shows, animated videos in games, and advertisement commercials, using different animation techniques like 2D, 3D, stop motion, and more.

A typical animation studio comprises several departments, including storyboarding, design, modeling, rigging, layout, animation, rendering, and compositing. Each step in this process is vital to bringing characters and stories to life in a way that is both visually stunning and emotionally compelling.

It begins with an idea, which gets fleshed out through scriptwriting and storyboarding. Based on these initial sketches, the concept art team then designs the characters, props, and environments. Once the designs are approved, they're passed on to the modeling department, where 3D models are created. The models are then rigged with skeletal structures that allow animators to manipulate their movements.

The storyboard artists or layout team stages the shots and finalizes camera movement while the animation team meticulously creates the character's movements scene by scene. After the animation, the rendered team adds lighting, texture, and color to scenes. Lastly, the compositing department refines details before the final outputs are delivered.

Thanks to its strategic location in one of the country's vibrant creative hubs, a Chicago-based animation studio has access to a diverse pool of talent and cutting-edge technology to produce high-quality animations. The city's rich artistic culture and tech-savvy milieu contribute significantly to the innovative atmosphere required for inspiring work in spirit.

Whether you want to create an engaging advertising campaign or bring a new animated series to life, a Chicago-based Animation Studio provides comprehensive services from conceptualization to post-production. Their deep understanding of animation's transformative power can help bring any creative concept to life and captivate audiences worldwide.

Types of Animation Agencies Found in Chicago

Animation is a fast-growing industry that continues to evolve with technology and artistic exploration. Numerous animation agencies provide diverse services to satisfy businesses' varied needs for corporate videos or TV commercials, educational institutions, film studios, and more. Chicago, known for its vibrant creative scene, hosts myriad animation agencies with unique specialties.

The first type is a 2D Animation Agency. They use two-dimensional space to create movements, typically in a flat environment. This style harks back to traditional hand-drawn animations but has been modernized through digital platforms. 2D animation is ideal for projects requiring straightforward storytelling or explainer animated videos and remains popular due to its cost-effectiveness.

Next up are 3D Animation Agencies, which construct characters and environments in a three-dimensional space, adding depth and realism. This type is widely used in animated video games, films, virtual reality applications, product demonstrations, and architectural visualizations. It requires specialized skills and software mastery but delivers stunning, immersive results.

Motion Graphics Agencies deal mainly with animated graphic design. This style combines text with moving images, perfect for promotional animation videos, title sequences, logo animations, and event visuals. Motion graphics can engage in complex information, making them excellent for educational animation videos or infographics.

Stop Motion Animation Agencies offer an entirely different animation style where the physical objects are manipulated incrementally and photographed frame by frame to simulate motion when played in sequence. It's time-consuming and labor-intensive but provides a charming hands-on aesthetic that computer-based animations can't replicate.

Lastly, Mixed Media Animation Agencies employ various animation styles to create visually exciting and unique content. This approach offers unlimited creative possibilities and allows for narrative flexibility.

Why Hiring an Animation Agency in Chicago is Beneficial for Your Business

Expanding your business in Chicago requires implementing innovative strategies to captivate your target audience. One such method is employing the expertise of an animation agency. Animation can bring life to your brand and make it easier for customers to understand what you do.

The uniqueness of animated content helps you stand out in the competitive market. It's not just about creating animations but ensuring they are professional, appealing, and purposeful to achieve desired results. Therefore, hiring a service with appropriate skills and experience is vital.

A professional animation agency in Chicago benefits businesses aiming for growth and success. These agencies have teams of experts equipped with advanced tools and techniques required to create engaging animations. They keenly understand the local market trends and audience preferences, enabling them to develop campaigns that resonate with Chicago residents.

Animation agencies add value by translating complex business ideas into simple, attractive visual narratives that viewers can effortlessly relate to. These agencies also can customize animations based on target demographics, making the content more personalized and impactful. Animated content created this way encourages viewer engagement, boosting conversion rates and ROI for businesses.

The unifying aspect of animation videos is another reason to hire an animation studio. It caters to all age groups and has universal appeal. This makes energy a vital marketing tool that transcends language barriers and cultural differences.

Moreover, businesses in Chicago will have regular access to fresh, creative ideas for their marketing campaigns by partnering with an animation agency. These agencies are constantly improving their skills and staying up-to-date with technological advances, ensuring that clients receive only the best quality service.

In summary, animating your brand can provide a competitive edge and set you apart. Hiring an experienced animation agency in Chicago to enrich your marketing strategy with compelling animated content is more than worth the investment.

5 Essential Questions to Ask Potential Studios Aside from Their Animation Techniques

When seeking a professional animation video production, you must know what questions to ask to ensure they fit your project. Here are five essential questions you should consider asking an animation studio:

  • What kind of animation styles does your studio specialize in?
  • Can you share examples of past projects similar to the type of animation I want?
  • How do you manage deadlines and ensure projects stay on track with the scheduled timeline?
  • Can you explain your process for developing unique, engaging animated content?
  • What input will I have in the animation production process?

7 Key Services Offered By an Animation Studio: Discover Their Full Potential

An animation studio is a service provider that can offer numerous benefits for various businesses. Here are seven things an Animation Studio can do:

  • Create custom animations: An animation studio can tailor animations to suit the specific needs of a project or company.
  • Storyboarding: They can help you create a visual representation of your idea before the animation process begins.
  • Voice-over services: Many studios provide voice-overs for animated characters or presentations.
  • Post-production editing: After the animation is complete, Animation Studios can offer post-production editing to fine-tune and improve the final product.
  • 3D Modelling: If you need 3D animations, many studios possess this specialized skill.
  • Motion graphics design: Animation Studios can also create motion graphics, perfect for introductions, business presentations, and promotional animated videos.
  • Sound design: The best animations include high-quality sound effects and music. Animation Studios often have this in their range of services.


Frequently Asked Questions.


Some animation studios in Chicago may specialize in specific types of animation such as 2D animation, 3D animation, or motion graphics, while others may offer services to businesses across various industries including entertainment, advertising, education, healthcare, or gaming.



Yes, many animation studios in Chicago have experience working on both short-form projects such as commercials, explainer videos, and social media content, as well as long-form projects such as animated series, feature films, and documentaries.



Yes, most animation studios in Chicago offer pre-production services including storyboarding, concept art, character design, and environment design to help clients visualize their ideas and concepts before moving into the production phase.



Yes, many animation studios in Chicago offer full-service animation production including sound design, voiceover recording, music composition, and audio post-production to deliver a complete and polished final product.



Animation studios in Chicago typically follow a structured process for client projects which may include initial consultation and project briefing, concept development and visualization, production planning and scheduling, animation production, client feedback and revisions, and final delivery of the project.



Animation studios in Chicago use a variety of software and tools for animation production including Autodesk Maya, Blender, Adobe After Effects, Toon Boom Harmony, Cinema 4D, and various plugins and third-party software for specific effects or techniques.



The duration of a project with an animation studio in Chicago can vary widely depending on factors such as the complexity of the project, the length of the animation, the level of detail required, and client feedback and revisions. Some projects may be completed within a few weeks or months, while others may take longer for larger or more complex animations.



The benefits of hiring an animation studio in Chicago include access to expertise and resources, high-quality animation production, professional project management and client communication, creative collaboration and problem-solving, and ultimately, delivering engaging and impactful animated content that meets the client's objectives.