Top 10 Animation Studios in New York for Award-Winning Storytelling [Updated For 2025]

If you want to describe the lifestyle of New York in one word, it would be fast-paced.

Let’s see two major stats:

• According to Hubspot, 50% of viewers look for a related video online before they make a purchase. 
• According to Explain Ninja, a well-crafted animated video can bring 68% better results than Google Ads. 

Now, we can safely say that with a fast-paced lifestyle, New Yorkers will obviously go for animated videos for their businesses. 

Before we get into today’s discussion:

• The USA is leading the way in the global animation industry and has the biggest market share. [Source: Sortlist]
• Animators in the  USA get an average $71,512 annual salary. [Source: Glassdoor]
• In the U.S., around 70% of animation and art school students are women. [Source: Womeninanimation]

As we head into 2025, it’s clear that New York is turning into a hotspot for some seriously talented animation studios.

Here are our top 10 picks of exceptional studios pushing the boundaries of animation and storytelling in 2025. 

But First: Why Does Animation Storytelling Matter for Your Brand?

Look at the animated films bringing amazing results in the last few years. Though it’s the entertainment industry, the difference in results is pretty visible. 

[Source: Highest-grossing animated feature films of selected studios worldwide as of November 2024]

One of the major challenges many brands face currently is capturing audience attention. Here, animation comes with unique and reliable solutions for it. What animation does is bring eye-catching visuals and engage narratives in one place. 

This is how it takes the brand’s storytelling to the next level.

Storytelling: More Magical Than You Think

Storytelling has always been an innate human trait that hooked audiences for centuries. Please understand that it’s a very primitive trait. 

Animation has given a new look to storytelling.

It can trigger emotions, inspire actions, and forge lasting connections (when done right).

• Relatable Reads: Storytelling Techniques for Video Production: 10 Methods for Maintaining Audience Attention – LocalEyes

Why Do NYC Studios Lead in Creative Innovation?

New York is known for its cultural and artistic outlook. Even the environment here is vibrant and energetic. 

The diverse population and constant influx of talents always kept the city busy with creative innovation. Animation is a part of it, too. 

Here is why NYC studios are at the forefront of animation:

• A Melting Pot of Talent: NYC attracts top animators, writers, and designers from around the world. These new talents bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the table.
• Cut through Technology: NYC studios walk with the latest technology and software. They know how to use them to create visually stunning work.
• A Moving Creative Community: The city welcomes a creative community with friendly collaboration and inspiration for groundbreaking projects.
• A Strong Grip on Storytelling: NYC knows storytelling sells. Their first priority is to write the narrative to ensure the audience doesn’t move from their chair while watching the animation.

How Did We Select the Top Animation Studios?

You might wonder how we compiled our long list of 10 animation studios in New York or why you should trust our top picks. The answer is pretty simple. 

We put together this list by focusing on storytelling skills, client satisfaction, and the strength of their portfolios. Even if you’re doing your search, you should keep these things in mind, too!

Key Selection Criteria:

1. Storytelling Skills: We go for studios with proven records of making animation with good storytelling. We want to see how they develop their characters’ plots so that the story resonates with audiences.
2. Client Reviews and Testimonials: Positive feedback and ratings from past clients. How did those clients benefit, and what are the skills that the company put into pulling off the project?

3. Diverse Portfolio: Seeing the range of styles, techniques, and genres these studios covered to gain experience. Their portfolio will say how they adapt to different project requirements.
4. Technical Expertise: Going through the work to see how the production team uses technical parts of the animation. What are the techniques they have used behind those stunning shots?
5. Industry Recognition and Awards: Looking for their reputation in the industry. Awards from prestigious organizations to know the studio’s reputation and innovative approach.

• Check out Complete Animation Video Production Process: Step-by-Step Guide (2025) – LocalEyes

The Top 10 Animation Studios in NYC for 2025

1. LocalEyes

We will talk about animation studios in New York and won’t mention LocalEyes; that can’t happen! If you are looking for something simple for your complex topic or need something on a budget but the visual needs top-notch, LocalEyes has everything under its sleeves!

Specialization:

• Animation Video
• Explainer Video
• Teaser Video
• Testimonial Video
• Promo Video
• Company Video
• Brand Video
• Event Video
• Product Video

[Our Work Process]

Notable Projects:

• Gucci
• Philips
• Microsoft
• Dropbox
• Amazon
• CocaCola
• Wholefoods
• Cisco
• Zaiper

Why It Stands Out:

• LocalEyes has a strategic marketing approach to understanding your needs, and they all want to learn about your brand goals.
• The production team mixed all the story elements and visuals to bring the animated character to life.
• LocalEyes post-production team ensures that you get your project done in two weeks if needed. 
• After finishing the project, they even handle the distribution of your video to reach your target audience in no time.

Our Rating: 09/10

2. Luminoustudios

All female employees of Luminoustudios are currently thriving with their ideas and creativity to put everything together. 

They go over all the details, from crafting the perfect storyboard to adding motion graphics. 

Specialization:

• Animations
• Explainers
• Crowdfunding
• Motion graphics
• Social Medias
• Testimonials
• Events

Notable Projects:

• Snapchat
• H&M
• Canon
• Joybird
• Remitly
• Gillette venus

Why It Stands Out:

• Luminoustudios operates in three stages, which means you can get all your services done in one place.
• The team has a good grip on motion graphics and can write down a catchy story.
• They claim to be working on efficient budgets, tight resources, and quick turnarounds.

Our Rating: 08/10

3. Hound Studio

Another big hulk in the animation industry. They are a fully grown team; working diligently with mind-blowing animation and design. In New York, they are one of the known names among businesses and brands. Till now, Hound Studio has served S&P 500 companies.

Specialization:

• Commercial
• Explainer
• Live-action
• Music video 
• Promo video
• Short film

Notable Projects:

• Spotify
• Vodafone
• Bic
• Gett.
• Konica Minolta
• Nato Otan

Why It Stands Out:

• Hound offers clean 2D and 3D animation in your video using frame-by-frame techniques.
• You’ll get awesome designs for presentations, websites, branding, and even animated commercials and series production.
• Another thing they do is to pay attention to clients’ needs to incorporate that into the animation.

Our Rating: 08/10

4. Pixel Dust Studios

Here comes number four, with multiple services one can ask for. Pixel Dust Studio flickers its animation magic dust on every side of your video content. Their impactful storytelling and visuals make the animation leave a lasting impression.

Specialization:

• TV commercials
• Marketing videos
• Explainers
• Motion graphics
• 2D/3D animation and VFX
• UI/UX design

Notable Projects:

• Spike
• Showtime
• PBC
• TLC
• NDI
• Fema

Why It Stands Out:

• Pixel Dust Studios is a one-stop for all. They are packed with every kind of service.
• They can pull off 30-second promos to full-length programs for you with top-tier creativity.

Our Rating: 07/10

5. MotionCue

MotionCue gives the cue for your business/brands to take them with them for digestible and easy-to-understand video animation. 

They are willing to guide you throughout the production process and keep your costs low. 

Specialization:

• Explainer video
• Promotional video
• Motion Graphics
• Live filming
• Training video
• Corporate video

Notable Projects:

• Slack
• Sony
• Unilever
• Microsoft
• Tide

Why It Stands Out:

• They are here to help you build the strategy and video content that will help you achieve your goals.
• Their list of services makes it easier for clients to mix and match.
• MotionCue helps make your animation workflow super smooth and easy.

Our Rating: 07/10

6. Roof Studio

Even if it’s just number six, Roof has some awesome skills for crafting a captivating story. The way they tell their tales and develop the characters is spot-on. 

Plus, Roof keeps up a great level of detail, even for smaller projects.

Specialization:

• 2D animation
• 3D animation
• Stop Motion
• Live action
• VFX

Notable Projects:

• HONDA
• HBO
• Autotrader
• TOSHIBA
• Nespresso
• HP

Why It Stands Out:

• Roof has ranked the most awarded animation company in the US
• They pay attention to every little detail in each scene, and the VFX looks more real than ever.
• Roof has 10 years of experience with brands and media makers all across the country.

Our Rating: 06/10

7. Titmouse Animation

Titmouse is a well-known animation studio based in New York that has snagged some awards. 

They’ve been around for a while, working in NYC, Vancouver, and Los Angeles.

Specialization:

• Animated television programming
• Feature films
• Music videos
• Title sequence
• Commercials
• Short films

Notable Projects:

• Netflix
• Amazon Prime Video
• MTV
• Cartoon Network
• Fox

Why It Stands Out:

• TitMouse has 700 employees ready to tackle your projects, pouring their efforts into every detail along the way.
• They offer skilled editors to handle the post-production with mind-blowing finishing.
• They’ve worked with some pretty big names and really showcased their cartoon production skills, taking animation to the next level.

Our Rating: 06/10

8. Yum Yum Video

Yum Yum is another NYC anion studio that works day and night to bring the vision to life with lively animation. Their main focus is to create top-tier production value for their clients with every type of project.

Specialization:

• 2D Animation
• 3D Animation
• Stop-motion animation
• Educational videos
• Tutorial videos
• Whiteboard animation
• Live action

Notable Projects:

• Google
• Amazon
• Mcksson
• Thermo Fisher
• Red Bull

Why It Stands Out:

• Their production process is simple and smoother for clients to see every detail in each video they make.
• Yum Yum takes pride in making the best explainer video in New York.
• They address the main pain points and brainstorm ideas with clients before making the animated film.

Our Rating: 05/10

9. Indigo Productions

Indigo Productions definitely deserves a shout-out on the list! They have been in video production for a long time. During this time, they’ve really nailed a bunch of services, from ads to motion graphics, and clients are pretty happy with the results.

Specialization:

• Video Production
• Virtual Events
• Commercials
• Motion Graphics
• Corporate videos

Notable Projects:

• Sony Pictures
• Salesforce
• Viacom
• SAMSUNG
• Duracell

Why It Stands Out:

• The Indigo team suggests some of the best locations that match your requirements and go with the script.
• They are packed with everything from animation artists to writers.
• Indigo may not have a long list of service,s but their work in corporate and commercial videos is worth mentioning.

Our Rating: 05/10

10. Push Collaborative

The animation studio in NYC ended up being called the Push Collaborative. They really focus on making cool explainer videos that mix both animation and live-action together. Their team is small, but the amount of expertise they put in is really worth mentioning.

Specialization:

• Product Demo Video
• Explainer video
• Testimonial video
• Educational video
• Social media video

Notable Projects:

• McAfee
• Symantec
• Paloalto
• Amazon
• Payability
• MongoDB

Why It Stands Out:

• Even though their team is small, they build close relationships with clients and personalize their experiences.
• Push Collaborative is an animation studio for all sizes of businesses, from startups to large enterprises.

Our Rating: 04/10

• Relatable Reads: Top 20 Video Production Companies in New York: Expert Picks and Reviews – LocalEyes

Key Features of a Great Animation Studio

[Source: GIF Tenor]

You can’t just grab a bunch of talented artists and expect to create a big-time animation studio out of thin air. You will need a collaborating environment to grow creativity, innovation, and effective communication.

Here is our take on what makes a top-tier animation studio:

1. Creativity and Storytelling Capabilities:

• Strong Narratives Foundation: Great animation studios know what a compelling story can do. They highly focus on the story and develop characters around it to bring out the authenticity of the story to which audiences can relate.
• Visual Innovation: They break bars and set new bars of visual styling in animation. Every day, new experiments with different techniques and aesthetics are on the screen.
• Emotional Impact: Great animation makers are those who can grow emotion within their audiences. It can be laughter, tears, fear, or awe. 

2. Collaboration and Client Communication:

• Effective Teamwork: A strong team can complete any project. That is why successful studios focus more on collaboration among artists, writers, and producers.
• Clear Communication: Open and honest communication with clients makes them more reliable and genuine. If your animation production wants to succeed, then meeting deadlines and understanding clients’ needs is the way. 
• Project management: When your goal is to make your animation studio one of the best in town, you will concentrate on ensuring timely delivery without compromising the quality of the output.

3. Portfolio Diversity and Industry Recognition:

• Diverse Portfolio: A great studio with expertise in various projects, from short films to feature-length animation, commercials, and video games. Everything is in one pot to attract clients in a niche. 
• Industry Recognition: Awards and nominations from prestigious organizations are the sign or, let’s say, a testament to the studio’s talent and reputation.

Tips for Choosing the Right Studio for Your Needs

[Source: GIF Tenor]

If you are thinking of going to any of the animation studios in NYC, then there are some tips we would like to share with you. These tips will help you make informed decisions.

1. Align Services with Your Project Goals:

• Communicate about your project needs, your motto for the story, your target audience, and, lastly, the outcome you are looking for.
• Go for the studio that has every service you will need in your project. It can be 2D animation, 3D animation, motion graphics, or character animation.
• Ensure the studio has everything they need to fulfill your requirements. They have the style and technique you chose for your projects.

2. Evaluate Storytelling Techniques in Their Portfolio:

• Review their past work related to your niche or others to understand their work style, expertise, and how they craft their story and make characters out of it.
• See how their proven animated films turned out and how the audiences reacted to them.
• Evaluate their consistency of work and see the differences between the initial concept and the final product. 

3. Compare Pricing and Timelines:

• Ask for quotes from multiple studios to compare pricing.
• Even though the budget is something to look after, do not compromise quality because of the cost.
• Additional costs, such as revisions, sound design, or music composition, can occur, so allocate a budget for unexpected costs.

4. Communicate Effectively:

• Talk about your deadlines clearly without keeping any details aside.
• Have open communication with the studio team throughout the project.
• Keep the timing in your head and be specific with details so there is no blunder in turnaround time.

5. Check Their Workflow and Technology:

• Look for the time they spent on each project. Their workflow will tell you how much production time they could take. 
• Your chosen studio should have the latest software and hardware to deliver high-quality results.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)