Locksmith Animation
Locksmith Animation is an independent animation studio producing CGI animated feature films and series for global family audiences, with dual headquarters in London and West Hollywood. It co-produces and develops original IP with tier-one partners including 20th Century Studios, Netflix, and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Locksmith Animation does
Locksmith Animation is an independent animation studio co-founded by Elisabeth Murdoch and Julie Lockhart, operating dual headquarters in London (113 Regent's Park Road) and West Hollywood (9255 W Sunset Blvd). The studio produces high-quality animated feature films and series for global family audiences, delivered through CGI-driven digital production pipelines. Its released slate includes Ron's Gone Wrong (2021, co-produced with 20th Century Studios) and That Christmas (2024, exclusive Netflix release based on Richard Curtis's children's books), with a short film Cardboard earning BAFTA longlist and Annie Award nominations in 2026. The active pipeline comprises Bad Fairies (in production with Warner Bros. Pictures Animation), Wed Wabbit, and The Lunar Chronicles (in development with Warner Bros.).
The studio's leadership draws from marquee animation houses including Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, Blue Sky Studios, Aardman, Sony Pictures Animation, and Framestore, with deep creative and technical bench strength across story, layout, VFX, art direction, and production management. Notable hires include Simon Otto (Director of That Christmas, former Head of Character Animation on How to Train Your Dragon), Christina Steinberg (Producer of The Lunar Chronicles, producer of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), and Michael Thurmeier (Director, former Blue Sky Ice Age franchise director). Primary animation production services are delivered by DNEG Animation as core partner.
Locksmith generates revenue through one-time production licensing deals with studios, theatrical distribution agreements, and streaming platform licensing royalties. Its customer base consists of four enterprise counterparties - 20th Century Studios, Netflix, Disney+, and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation - with each major feature typically tied to a single distribution partner. The studio is registered as a private limited company in England and Wales, with no disclosed funding rounds, institutional investors, or parent company affiliations. Its go-to-market motion is sales-led, relying on industry relationships, film festival presence (BAFTA, Annie Awards), and studio-partner marketing channels to drive global theatrical and streaming distribution.
Locksmith Animation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Locksmith Animation
- Legal name
- Locksmith Animation
- Website
- https://locksmithanimation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Locksmith Animation is an independent animation studio producing CGI animated feature films and series for global family audiences, with dual headquarters in London and West Hollywood. It co-produces and develops original IP with tier-one partners including 20th Century Studios, Netflix, and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Locksmith Animation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animated Film Production
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animated Feature Film Production (MPADACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG), 3D Character Animation (MPAHACAB)
Keywords
Where Locksmith Animation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Locksmith Animation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Feature Film Production & Distribution: Produces animated feature films for theatrical release and streaming platform distribution. Revenue generated through production deals with studios, theatrical distribution deals, and streaming licensing agreements.
- Streaming Platform Licensing: Content licensed to streaming platforms including Netflix and Disney+ for exclusive distribution rights.
- Short Film Production: Production of short films including Cardboard, with festival screenings and PR exposure.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Locksmith Animation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Locksmith Animation is an independent animation studio that develops, produces, and delivers high-quality CGI animated feature films and series for global family audiences. The studio produces original and adapted animated content under production deals with major distributors including 20th Century Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Netflix, and Disney+, with DNEG Animation providing primary animation production services.
Product overview
Locksmith Animation is an independent animation studio that produces high-quality animated features and series. The company's portfolio includes released feature films (Ron's Gone Wrong, That Christmas), short films (Cardboard), and projects in various stages of development (Bad Fairies, Wed Wabbit, The Lunar Chronicles). The studio operates as a filmmaker-led studio based in London and Los Angeles, bringing together accomplished industry leaders and world-class creative talent.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ron's Gone Wrong A feature-length animated film about Barney, a socially awkward middle-schooler, and Ron, his walking, talking digitally connected device, exploring themes of friendship in the social media age. Produced for global theatrical and streaming distribution through 20th Century Studios, Disney+, and other partners.
- That Christmas An animated feature film based on Richard Curtis's children's book trilogy, following entwined tales about family, friends, love, loneliness, and Santa Claus making a big mistake. Distributed exclusively on Netflix globally.
- Cardboard A short animated film about an overwhelmed single dad pig who moves his piglets into a rundown trailer park, with his kids creating a game from a cardboard box that leads to an intergalactic adventure. Screened at festivals and submitted for industry awards.
Companies that use Locksmith Animation
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Locksmith Animation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Locksmith Animation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- NetflixcoreStreaming distribution partner for That Christmas, released exclusively on Netflix platform.
- 20th Century StudioscoreCo-produced and distributed Ron's Gone Wrong with 20th Century Studios for worldwide theatrical and streaming release.
- Disney+coreStreaming platform for Ron's Gone Wrong availability on Disney+ service.
- Warner Bros. Pictures AnimationcoreDevelopment partner for The Lunar Chronicles, currently in development at Warner Bros. Pictures Animation.
- DNEG AnimationcorePrimary animation production partner providing feature animation services for studio's productions including Ron's Gone Wrong, That Christmas, and Bad Fairies.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Locksmith Animation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Aardman Animations: Independent UK-based animation studio producing feature films and series with a filmmaker-led approach. Highly comparable to Locksmith: similar UK creative base, independent distribution model, and shared talent lineage (J.P. Vine and Julie Lockhart both came from Aardman before founding/leading Locksmith).
- Laika: Independent US-based feature animation studio (stop-motion and CG hybrid) producing original IP feature films with major studio distribution. Comparable to Locksmith in being an independent animation house focused on filmmaker-driven original content with global theatrical/streaming release.
Emerging players
- Jellyfish Pictures: UK-based animation and VFX studio with feature animation credits (Netflix's The Twits, DreamWorks' Dogman). Locksmith's Bad Fairies layout lead previously worked at Jellyfish; comparable as a UK-headquartered animation services provider scaling into original features.
- Mikros Animation: International animation studio (part of Technicolor) producing feature animation (Sherlock Gnomes, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Several Locksmith producers and artists previously worked at Mikros; comparable as a feature animation services provider with European footprint.
- DNEG Animation: DNEG's animation division is Locksmith's primary production services partner, providing animation for Ron's Gone Wrong, That Christmas, and Bad Fairies. Comparable as a CG animation production entity with feature film capability, though also overlapping as a service provider to other studios.
Broad incumbents
- Illumination Entertainment: Universal-owned animation studio producing globally distributed family features (Despicable Me, Minions, Sing). Comparable to Locksmith as a feature animation studio targeting global family audiences, though significantly larger and vertically integrated with Universal distribution.
- Pixar Animation Studios: Disney-owned CG feature animation studio, the gold standard in the industry. Comparable as a CG animation studio with global distribution; Locksmith draws talent from Pixar and competes for the same creative talent pool.
- DreamWorks Animation: Major CG feature animation studio producing family entertainment franchises (Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda). Locksmith shares significant talent lineage with DreamWorks (multiple executives came from there) and competes for the same theatrical/streaming family audience.
- Sony Pictures Animation: Major feature animation studio behind franchises including Spider-Verse and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Locksmith's The Lunar Chronicles producer Christina Steinberg came from Sony, indicating strong talent overlap.
- Warner Bros. Pictures Animation: Warner Bros.' feature animation division and a current development partner for The Lunar Chronicles. Comparable as a major feature animation studio competing for the same global family audience and commissioning third-party content.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Locksmith Animation social profiles
Digital presenceLocksmith Animation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Locksmith Animation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Locksmith Animation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Locksmith Animation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Locksmith Animation
What does Locksmith Animation do?
Locksmith Animation is an independent animation studio that develops, produces, and delivers high-quality CGI animated feature films and series for global family audiences. The studio produces original and adapted animated content under production deals with major distributors including 20th Century Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Netflix, and Disney+, with DNEG Animation providing primary animation production services.
Is Locksmith Animation a public or private company?
Locksmith Animation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Locksmith Animation founded?
Locksmith Animation was founded in 2014. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Locksmith Animation based?
Locksmith Animation is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Locksmith Animation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Feature Film Production & Distribution is the primary driver. The others are streaming Platform Licensing and short Film Production.
Who are Locksmith Animation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Aardman Animations and Laika. Emerging players are Jellyfish Pictures, Mikros Animation and DNEG Animation. Broad incumbents are Illumination Entertainment, Pixar Animation Studios, DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures Animation and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation.
Does Locksmith Animation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Locksmith Animation.
What industry is Locksmith Animation in?
Locksmith Animation's product category is Animated Film Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADACAH, Animated Feature Film Production, with a secondary code of MPADACAG, Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming).