What Flow Creative does

Flow Creative is a Manchester-based, founder-owned animation studio founded in 2016 that delivers bespoke 2D and 3D animation, motion branding, character and mascot design, compositing, VFX, illustration, and sound design services. The studio's client base is anchored in purpose-driven organisations across charities and non-profits (BBC Children in Need, Trussell Trust, WWF, Greenpeace, Mental Health Foundation, World Mosquito Program), government and public sector (Met Office, Transport for Greater Manchester, GMCA, Arts Council England), broadcasters (BBC, CBBC), education (Open University), and technology and consumer brands (Hotjar, Wejo, Zaptic, Coventry Building Society, Pets at Home, Hasbro). Core production relies on established creative tools including Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, Moho, Procreate, Photoshop, Stardust for particle simulation, and Boords for storyboarding, with proprietary workflows in bone-based character rigging and mixed-media compositing developed across marquee projects. The studio also produces original creative IP, notably the short film 'The Forest of Eels' which has screened at international festivals.

The business operates on a professional services model, generating revenue through project-based fees for creative development, design, illustration, animation, and post-production work. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is scoped per project based on complexity and team requirements. All client acquisition runs through direct engagement via the website (weareflow.uk) and email ([email protected]), with no intermediary channels, marketplace listings, or self-serve products. The go-to-market motion is relationship-driven enterprise field sales supplemented by organic digital marketing across Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and Facebook, thought leadership via a journal/blog, and earned media through industry awards including MPA, Roses, Prolific North, Big Chip, Drum Design, and Dadi.

Flow Creative is a privately held, independent company with no disclosed external funding, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no institutional investors. The studio employs 1-10 people and is led by founder and creative director Karl Doran. Its operational footprint is primarily UK-based with claimed global reach demonstrated through international collaborations such as the World Mosquito Program 'Releasing Hope' campaign and a studio session with Danish band Efterklang in Copenhagen.

Name

Flow Creative

Legal name

Flow Creative

Website

https://weareflow.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Flow Creative is a Manchester-based, founder-owned animation studio founded in 2016 that delivers bespoke 2D/3D animation, motion branding, character design, and VFX services primarily to charities, government bodies, broadcasters, and purpose-driven brands on a project-fee basis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Animation Pipeline Tools & Technical Direction (Scripts, Plugins, Automation) (MPAHACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creative & Brand Campaign Development (BPAFAAAB), Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ)

Keywords

• Animation studio
• Motion graphics
• Brand storytelling
• Creative services
• TV commercial production

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Bespoke Animation and Motion Design Services: Flow Creative operates as a creative services studio producing custom animation, motion branding, brand films, TV commercials, explainer videos, and educational content for clients on a project-by-project basis. Revenue is generated through project fees for creative development, design, illustration, animation, and post-production services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Flow Creative is a bespoke story-led animation studio that produces custom 2D and 3D animation, motion branding, brand films, TV commercials, explainer videos, educational content, title sequences and broadcast graphics on a project-by-project basis. The studio covers end-to-end production including creative strategy, illustration, character and mascot design, compositing, VFX and bespoke sound design, serving charities, broadcasters, government and purpose-driven organisations.

Product overview

Flow Creative is a Manchester-based story-led animation studio offering a comprehensive suite of creative services rather than a software product. Their core offering encompasses motion branding and animated storytelling services, including creative strategy, 2D and 3D animation, compositing and VFX, and sound design. The studio specialises in producing brand films, explainer animations, TV commercials, educational content, title sequences, and broadcast graphics. Their service portfolio includes brand character and mascot design, illustration systems, and motion guidelines. Projects span across charity/non-profit, broadcasting, government, education, health/fitness, environment, transport, and tech sectors. The studio also produces original studio projects such as The Forest of Eels. Key clients include BBC Children in Need, Trussell Trust, Met Office, Transport for Greater Manchester, World Mosquito Program, Coventry Building Society, Open University, and WWF.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Motion Branding Motion principles and guidelines that define how and why a brand moves, creating frameworks that reflect brand personality, values and communication goals.
• Animated Storytelling Story-led animation production including brand films, explainer animation, TV commercials, educational content, and titles and broadcast graphics that communicate complex ideas through narrative.
• Brand Character & Mascot Design Design and development of memorable characters that embody organisational personality and values, including mascots for brand assets and animated content.
• Illustration Systems Development of illustration styles and asset libraries that work consistently across multiple channels, including scalable motion templates for brand communications.
• 2D Animation Crafting engaging character animation and 2D motion content using frame-by-frame and keyframed animation techniques.
• 3D Animation Creating characters, products, environments and visual experiences through 3D animation using software such as Cinema 4D.
• Compositing & VFX Combining visual elements and effects to create polished and seamless final films, including mixed-media approaches integrating animated content into live-action footage.
• Sound Design & Music Production Enhancing storytelling through bespoke soundtracks, sound design, audio production, voice casting and recording.
• Creative Strategy & Concept Development Developing creative ideas, campaign concepts and narrative frameworks that give projects direction, clarity and purpose.
• Campaign Content Production Producing animated content for social media, advertising, events and digital communications as part of wider campaign initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Doubled Met Office GIPHY channel views to over 850 million; over 450 million views on GIPHY; featured #1 on GIPHY homepage on National GIF Day; trending #1 GIF and Sticker suggestion on WhatsApp and Facebook worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered notable, minor and core.

• MeanwhilenotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Flow Creative partnered with Meanwhile advertising agency to create a TV commercial for Coventry Building Society. Meanwhile handled overall creative direction while Flow produced the animated film in a paper craft style for the campaign.
• The Good GuysminorOthers · 1 January 2024Production company The Good Guys handled the live-action shoot for Transport for Greater Manchester's 'Summer in the City' campaign. Flow Creative managed animation and compositing elements.
• GIPHYnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Flow Creative collaborated with the Met Office and GIPHY to create an animated GIF and sticker pack featuring the cloud character 'Christopher Cumulonimbus' for the Met Office's GIPHY channel. The pack has achieved over 850 million Met Office channel views and 450 million views on GIPHY, trending as #1 on GIPHY homepage on National GIF Day.
• BBC CreativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Ongoing creative partnership with BBC Creative on multiple BBC Children in Need campaigns including the 'Goodbye Rainclouds' fully animated 2020 commercial and the 'SPOTacular' 2023 campaign launch film.
• Sonos SanctusminorOthers · 1 January 2019Sound design studio Sonos Sanctus (US) created a bespoke sound bed and music track for the Motion Hatch animated film.
• Eiko OjalaminorOthersIllustrator Eiko Ojala created the original paper craft textured illustrations for Coventry Building Society, which Flow Creative then recreated for animation in a 2.5D environment.
• Sanctus AudiominorOthersSound design studio Sanctus (Wesley Slover, Trevor Richardson, Kevin Mosher) created the bespoke soundscape for the Forest of Eels short film, including violin strokes for key moments.
• GAS MusicminorOthersAudio experts GAS Music created the bespoke soundtrack for the Coventry Building Society TV commercial, sonically telling the story from the bleak world of traditional banks to the brighter world of Coventry.
• EfterklangnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish band Efterklang composed a bespoke orchestral musical score for the World Mosquito Program 'Releasing Hope' film. The collaboration included studio sessions near Copenhagen to develop instrumentation and composition aligned with the film's storyboard and animatic.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Nexus Studios: London-based independent animation and film studio producing branded content, commercials, and short films for global brands, broadcasters, and charities. Highly comparable to Flow Creative in scale, craft-led story approach, and client mix across purpose-driven and commercial work.
• Not To Scale: London animation and motion design studio producing commercials, brand films, and digital content for agencies and brands. Direct competitor in the UK mid-sized bespoke animation studio segment that Flow Creative operates in.
• Golden Wolf: London-based animation studio specialising in bold, character-driven 2D and 3D animation for advertising, music videos, and brand content. Comparable in craft-led studio model, advertising focus, and similar team scale.
• Blink Industries: London animation and creative studio producing commercials, branded content, and original IP. Comparable in bespoke services model, 2D/3D animation capabilities, and focus on character-driven storytelling.
• Dazzle Ship: UK-based animation and motion design studio producing brand films, title sequences, and broadcast graphics. Similar in size, craft focus, and service mix to Flow Creative's brand-character and motion-branding work.
• The Line: London animation studio producing commercials, title sequences, and brand films for global brands and broadcasters. Direct competitor in the UK mid-sized bespoke animation segment with comparable client types.

Broad incumbents

• Buck: Los Angeles and London creative studio specialising in motion design, animation, and brand experiences for global brands. Larger and more international than Flow Creative but overlapping on motion branding and story-led campaign work for major brands.
• Studio AKA: Award-winning London animation studio working across commercials, broadcast, and short films. Comparable in craft pedigree and story-led approach, though significantly larger and with deeper broadcast/IP relationships than Flow.
• Aardman Animations: Iconic Bristol-based animation studio producing feature films, series, commercials, and branded content. Much larger and IP-led than Flow, but shares UK craft pedigree, brand campaign work, and award-winning reputation.
• The Mill: Global VFX, content, and experiential studio with strong advertising and broadcast motion design practices. Comparable on the motion branding and VFX/compositing capabilities Flow Creative offers, but at significantly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/we_are_flow
• Facebookfacebook.com/weareflowcreative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/flow-creative-studio
• Instagraminstagram.com/weareflow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Flow Creative