Netflix Animation (2018 -): American Animation Studio and Production Company

Netflix Animation (also known as Netflix Animation Studios) is an American animation studio and production company that operates as a subsidiary of Netflix, Inc. Founded in March 2018, the studio is headquartered in Burbank, California, with additional offices in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Netflix Animation develops and produces animated feature films, television series, miniseries, and specials that premiere exclusively on the Netflix streaming service.

• Company type: Subsidiary
• Industry: Animation; Film production; Television production
• Founded: March 2018
• Headquarters: Burbank, California, United States
• Locations: Sydney (Australia); Vancouver (Canada)
• Key people: Hannah Minghella (Head of Feature Animation & Live-Action Family Film), Sharon Taylor (Head of Production)
• Parent: Netflix, Inc.
• Subsidiaries: Animal Logic (acquired 2022–present)
• Website: netflixanimation.com

Overview

Netflix Animation consolidates the company’s original animation slate across kids, family, young adult, and adult audiences. While Netflix began commissioning animated originals from third-party suppliers in 2013 (notably DreamWorks Animation Television), the creation of Netflix Animation in 2018 marked a strategic shift to in-house development and production alongside external partnerships. Its output spans 2D, 3D/CG, stop-motion, hybrid, and interactive works.

History

Early originals and in-house pivot (2013–2019)

From 2013, Netflix licensed and commissioned animated series produced by external studios. In November 2018, Netflix confirmed it would build an internal animation pipeline, announcing projects such as Klaus and Kid Cosmic. In 2019, Netflix Animation expanded operations and leased production and creative office space in Burbank and Hollywood to support features, series, and specials.

Expansion, acquisitions, and leadership (2020–present)

• July 2022: Netflix acquired Animal Logic, the Australian animation/VFX studio behind numerous CG features, strengthening the studio’s first-party feature capacity. Around the same time, Melissa Cobb exited the VP role for film animation and continued as a producer; Karen Toliver succeeded her.
• June 2024: Hannah Minghella was appointed Head of Feature Animation and Live-Action Family Film, succeeding Toliver.
• Ongoing production occurs across Burbank (creative/production HQ), Sydney (via Animal Logic), and Vancouver.

Operations and Structure

Netflix Animation develops projects internally and with outside creators, often co-producing with specialized partners. Production models vary:

• In-house development with external or internal animation services (e.g., Animal Logic, Sony Pictures Imageworks, ShadowMachine, etc.).
• Co-productions with established studios and rights holders (e.g., The Roald Dahl Story Company, The Pokémon Company, Ubisoft Film & Television).
• Global production services with studio partners for layout, character/asset builds, animation, lighting, and compositing.

The slate encompasses:

• Family features and event films
• Preschool and kids’ series
• YA and adult animation (comedy, action, genre hybrids)
• Stop-motion and hybrid specials/miniseries
• Interactive animated titles

Facilities

• Burbank, California (HQ): Creative development, series and feature production management, editorial, post, and corporate operations.
• Sydney, Australia (Animal Logic): Feature animation and VFX capacity; pipeline innovation for large-scale CG projects.
• Vancouver, Canada: Additional production and support footprint.

Filmography

Feature Films (selected)

• Klaus (2019) – Dir. Sergio Pablos; co-pro: The SPA Studios, Atresmedia Cine; animation by Yowza! Animation. (First original feature)
• The Willoughbys (2020) – Dir. Kris Pearn; co-pro: Bron; based on Lois Lowry’s novel.
• Over the Moon (2020) – Dir. Glen Keane; co-pro: Pearl Studio; animation by Sony Pictures Imageworks.
• Arlo the Alligator Boy (2021) – Dir. Ryan Crego; Titmouse; prequel to I Heart Arlo.
• America: The Motion Picture (2021) – Dir. Matt Thompson; Lord Miller Productions et al.
• Back to the Outback (2021) – Reel FX co-pro.
• Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood (2022) – Dir. Richard Linklater; hybrid rotoscope.
• The Sea Beast (2022) – Dir. Chris Williams; animation by Sony Pictures Imageworks.
• Wendell & Wild (2022) – Dir. Henry Selick; co-pro: Monkeypaw; stop-motion by ShadowMachine.
• My Father’s Dragon (2022) – Dir. Nora Twomey; Cartoon Saloon; based on Ruth Stiles Gannett.
• Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022) – Dirs. del Toro/Mark Gustafson; stop-motion; co-pro: The Jim Henson Company, ShadowMachine.
• The Magician’s Elephant (2023) – Dir. Wendy Rogers; animation by Animal Logic.
• The Monkey King (2023) – Dir. Anthony Stacchi; Pearl Studio co-pro.
• Leo (2023) – Dirs. Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel, David Wachtenheim; Happy Madison; animation by Animal Logic.
• Thelma the Unicorn (2024) – Dirs. Jared Hess, Lynn Wang; animation by Mikros/Agora; based on Aaron Blabey.
• Ultraman: Rising (2024) – Dir. Shannon Tindle (co-dir. John Aoshima); co-pro: Tsuburaya; ILM animation.
• The Twits (2025) – Dir. Phil Johnston (co-dirs. Todd Demong, Katie Shanahan); co-pro: The Roald Dahl Story Company; animation by Jellyfish Pictures (announced).
• In Your Dreams (2025) – Dir. Alex Woo; co-pro: Kuku Studios (announced).

In Development (selected)

• The Buried Giant – Dir. Guillermo del Toro; co-pro: ShadowMachine/DDY; based on Kazuo Ishiguro.
• The Goon – Dir. Patrick Osborne; co-pro: Blur Studio, Chernin, Dark Horse.
• Untitled Redwall film – With Penguin Random House.
• Steps – Dir. Alyce Tzue; co-pro: Paper Kite Productions.
• Sulwe – Based on Lupita Nyong’o’s picture book.
• Untitled Chris Williams fantasy film; The Sea Beast sequel; Untitled Steve Box film; The Witch Boy; Untitled Jorge R. Gutiérrez film.

Television

Series (selected; released or concluded)

• The Midnight Gospel (2020) – Pendleton Ward & Duncan Trussell; Titmouse.
• Trash Truck (2020–2021) – Glen Keane Productions.
• Kid Cosmic (2021–2022) – Craig McCracken.
• City of Ghosts (2021) – Elizabeth Ito.
• Ridley Jones (2021–2023) – Chris Nee.
• Centaurworld (2021) – Megan Nicole Dong.
• I Heart Arlo (2021) – Titmouse.
• Ada Twist, Scientist (2021–2023) – Chris Nee; Brown Bag Films.
• A Tale Dark & Grimm (2021) – Boat Rocker Studios.
• Karma’s World (2021–2022) – Brown Bag Films.
• Inside Job (2021–2022) – Shion Takeuchi.
• Dogs in Space (2021–2022) – Atomic Cartoons.
• Action Pack (2022) – OddBot/ICON.
• The Cuphead Show! (2022) – King Features; Studio MDHR.
• Battle Kitty (2022) – Interactive.
• Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles (2022) – Gaumont/Atomic Monster.
• Dead End: Paranormal Park (2022).
• Farzar (2022) – Bento Box.
• Super Giant Robot Brothers (2022) – Reel FX.
• Oddballs (2022–2023) – Atomic Cartoons.
• Spirit Rangers (2022–2024) – Superprod/Laughing Wild.
• Daniel Spellbound (2022–2023) – Boat Rocker/Industrial Brothers.
• Dragon Age: Absolution (2022) – BioWare/Red Dog Culture House.
• Sonic Prime (2022–2024) – Sega/WildBrain.
• My Dad the Bounty Hunter (2023) – Dwarf.
• Skull Island (2023) – Legendary/Powerhouse.
• Captain Fall (2023).
• Mech Cadets (2023) – Boom!/Polygon Pictures.
• Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix (2023) – Ubisoft/Bobbypills.
• Blue Eye Samurai (2023– ) – Renewed; Blue Spirit.
• Pokémon Concierge (2023– ) – Stop-motion; Dwarf Studio; renewed.
• Bad Dinosaurs (2024).
• Exploding Kittens (2024– ) – Jam Filled.
• Mermaid Magic (2024).
• Terminator Zero (2024) – Production I.G.
• Twilight of the Gods (2024) – Xilam (animation services).
• Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (2024– ) – Crystal Dynamics, Powerhouse; renewed.
• Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld (2024).
• Wolf King (2025), 7 Bears (2025), Long Story Short (2025– ), Dr. Seuss titles (2025), Splinter Cell: Deathwatch (2025) – announced.

Upcoming & In Development (selected)

• Strip Law (2026) – Titmouse; Alley Cats (Ricky Gervais); Gears of War; Magic: The Gathering; Untitled Minecraft series (Mojang/WildBrain); Untitled BRZRKR anime; Stranger Things: Tales From ’85; Dr. Seuss projects.

Miniseries & Specials (selected)

• Maya and the Three (2021) – Jorge R. Gutiérrez.
• Oni: Thunder God’s Tale (2022) – Tonko House.
• Carol & The End of The World (2023).
• Asterix and Obelix: The Big Fight (2025) – Dargaud/TAT Productions.
• Specials include The House (2022), Entergalactic (2022), We Lost Our Human (2023 interactive).
• Upcoming: Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches (2025).

Canceled or Discontinued Projects (selected)

A number of announced titles were canceled, suspended, or moved during slate reorganizations, including Raise the Bar!, Toil & Trouble, Bone, Boons and Curses, Dino Daycare, Pearl, Wings of Fire, Antiracist Baby, With Kind Regards from Kindergarten, Kung-Fu Space Punch, Bad Crimes, Pashmina, Ember, Inside Job – Season 2, Dead End: Paranormal Park – Season 3, the Untitled Gorillaz film, Cattywumpus, Ghee Happy (relaunched independently), High in the Clouds (moved off Netflix), I, Chihuahua, Escape from Hat, TREES!, and others.

Reception

Netflix Animation’s features have earned strong critical notices and awards recognition, particularly in stop-motion and prestige CG:

• Klaus (2019) – Widespread acclaim; 95% Rotten Tomatoes; stylized 2D/3D pipeline praised.
• Over the Moon (2020) – Oscar-nominated; music and visuals highlighted.
• The Sea Beast (2022) – 94% Rotten Tomatoes; noted for world-building and action.
• My Father’s Dragon (2022) – 87% Rotten Tomatoes; Cartoon Saloon craftsmanship.
• Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022) – 96% Rotten Tomatoes; Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature (widely lauded stop-motion achievement).
• Leo (2023) and Ultraman: Rising (2024) received positive notices for family appeal and character work.

Reception varies by title, with some adult comedies (e.g., America: The Motion Picture) drawing mixed or negative reviews, while family and auteur-driven works tend to perform critically and culturally.

Notable Creative Partnerships

• Auteur features & stop-motion: Guillermo del Toro, Henry Selick.
• Prestige independents: Cartoon Saloon, The SPA Studios.
• Games/IP partners: Sega, Ubisoft, The Pokémon Company, Crystal Dynamics.
• Roald Dahl Universe: Multiple adaptations including The Twits and upcoming specials/series.