Dragonframe
Dragonframe is the developer of Dragonframe 2026, an industry-standard stop-motion animation software for Mac, Windows, and Linux, serving professional film studios, educational institutions, and independent animators, complemented by proprietary motion-control and lighting hardware accessories.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersOjai, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Dragonframe does
Dragonframe monetizes primarily through perpetual software licenses — US$195–$205 for individuals, US$125–$205 per seat for educational institutions with volume discounts, and a 15% reseller margin — plus a 30-day watermarked free trial that drives top-of-funnel conversion. A secondary hardware revenue stream covers proprietary accessories: the Dragonframe Controller (Bluetooth/USB remote in a shock-resistant case), the DMC-32 32-axis motion control system, the DDMX-512 DMX lighting interface, and the EOS Live-View Correction Cap. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the dragonframe.com storefront in eight languages, augmented by a formal reseller channel and an educational institution program with remote license distribution. The company operates without disclosed investors, parent entities, or M&A activity, and runs as a self-funded niche leader in a small but durable professional creative-tools category.
Dragonframe firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dragonframe
- Website
- https://dragonframe.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Dragonframe is the developer of Dragonframe 2026, an industry-standard stop-motion animation software for Mac, Windows, and Linux, serving professional film studios, educational institutions, and independent animators, complemented by proprietary motion-control and lighting hardware accessories.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dragonframe industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animation Software
- akta.pro primary industry
- Stop-Motion & Hybrid Animation (MPAHACAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Character & Creature Animation (MPADACAE)
Keywords
Where Dragonframe is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ojai
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Dragonframe business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Software Licenses: Dragonframe sells perpetual software licenses for its Dragonframe 2026 stop motion software. Licenses can be activated on up to two machines and used on one at a time. Standard pricing, educational pricing, and reseller pricing are available. The company also offers a 30-day free trial with watermarked output and limited frames per take.
- Hardware and Accessories: Sale of hardware products including Dragonframe Controller (Bluetooth/USB device), DMC-32 motion control system, DDMX-512 lighting controller, and EOS Live-View Correction Cap. Bundled with software in some SKUs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Student/Teacher - Dragonframe 2026 + Bluetooth/USB Keyboard |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Student/Teacher - Dragonframe 2026 Software Only |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Educational Institution - Dragonframe 2026 + Bluetooth/USB Keyboard |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Educational Institution - Dragonframe 2026 Software Only |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Standard Retail |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Dragonframe product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dragonframe develops and sells Dragonframe 2026, a cross-platform (macOS, Windows, Linux) stop motion animation software that integrates camera control, timeline and x-sheet management, DMX lighting control, multi-camera/3D stereo cinematography, and motion control (Arc workspace) in a single application. The software is sold via perpetual licenses and bundled with proprietary hardware accessories (Dragonframe Controller, DDMX-512 lighting interface, DMC-32 motion control system, EOS Live-View Correction Cap) available through its direct online store.
Product overview
Dragonframe is a stop motion animation software company offering a unified platform for professional stop motion production. The core product is Dragonframe 2026 software supporting Mac, Windows, and Linux, complemented by specialized hardware accessories including the Dragonframe Controller (Bluetooth/USB remote), DDMX-512 (DMX lighting interface), DMC-32 (32-axis motion control system), and EOS Live-View Correction Cap (Canon camera accessory). The software serves major movie studios and independent filmmakers, providing integrated camera control, motion control, DMX lighting management, and multi-camera support in a single application.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Dragonframe 2026: Primary stop motion animation software for Mac/Win/Linux
- Dragonframe Controller
- DDMX-512
- DMC-32
- EOS Live-View Correction Cap
Products and services
- Dragonframe 2026 Cross-platform (macOS, Windows, Linux) stop motion animation software providing frame-accurate camera control, timeline and x-sheet management, DMX lighting control, Arc motion control, multi-camera/3D stereo cinematography, OCIO color management, and audio workspace. Targeted at professional animation studios, educational institutions, and independent filmmakers producing stop motion feature films, shorts, commercials, and branded content.
- Dragonframe Controller Bluetooth and USB-connected controller housed in a shock-resistant case for wireless capture control of Dragonframe software during stop motion shoots. Pairs with Dragonframe 2026 software.
- DDMX-512 DMX512 lighting control device that integrates with Dragonframe software to drive stage lighting fixtures from the DMX workspace.
- DMC-32 32-axis motion control system supporting virtual world offset, SCARA virtualization, CoreXY virtualization, camera trigger during real-time camera moves, and LTC sync, designed to integrate with Dragonframe's Arc workspace.
- EOS Live-View Correction Cap Canon EOS camera accessory that corrects live view output for accurate stop motion framing when used with Dragonframe software.
Quantifiable outcome
- Academy Scientific and Engineering Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Dragonframe
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Dragonframe technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Dragonframe partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Dragonframe competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- eMotimo: eMotimo makes motorized camera motion control hardware (e.g., ST4, Spectrum) that integrates directly with Dragonframe. It competes with Dragonframe's DMC-32 hardware line and is a partial ecosystem partner.
- TVPaint Animation: TVPaint is a professional 2D animation and stop motion-friendly software used across feature film and TV animation. It overlaps with Dragonframe's professional animator base and is sometimes used alongside it.
- Moho (Lost Marble): Moho (formerly Anime Studio) is a 2D character animation tool that competes in the same animator workflow Dragonframe targets, especially for indie and education customers.
- Stop Motion Pro: Stop Motion Pro is the closest direct competitor to Dragonframe, providing professional stop motion capture and timeline software for Mac and Windows. Both target professional studios and independent animators in the same niche.
- iStopMotion (Boinx Software): iStopMotion is a consumer/prosumer stop motion application for macOS and iOS. It competes with Dragonframe at the hobbyist and education tier of the same stop motion workflow.
Emerging players
- Blender Foundation: Blender is a free, open-source 3D suite increasingly used by independent animators and smaller studios. While not a stop motion tool, it competes for the same hobbyist/indie animator audience at the lower end of the market.
Broad incumbents
- Toon Boom Animation: Toon Boom (Harmony, Storyboard Pro) is the industry standard for 2D animation production, used in many of the same studios that use Dragonframe. Different primary workflow (2D/CG vs stop motion), but shared customer base.
- Autodesk Maya: Autodesk Maya is the dominant 3D animation and pre-visualization tool used by major studios including stop motion houses (Aardman, Laika) for pre-vis and asset pipelines adjacent to Dragonframe's capture workflow.
- Maxon (Cinema 4D): Maxon's Cinema 4D and Redshift ecosystem serve motion graphics, broadcast, and animation production — overlapping with the broader professional animation tool set where Dragonframe operates.
- Adobe (Animate / After Effects): Adobe's animation and motion-graphics tools are part of the broader creative stack used in film production pipelines. Dragonframe complements rather than directly competes, but Adobe Creative Cloud is the default creative-suite incumbent.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dragonframe social profiles
Digital presenceDragonframe financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dragonframe leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Dragonframe funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dragonframe 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 Dragonframe
What does Dragonframe do?
Dragonframe develops and sells Dragonframe 2026, a cross-platform (macOS, Windows, Linux) stop motion animation software that integrates camera control, timeline and x-sheet management, DMX lighting control, multi-camera/3D stereo cinematography, and motion control (Arc workspace) in a single application. The software is sold via perpetual licenses and bundled with proprietary hardware accessories (Dragonframe Controller, DDMX-512 lighting interface, DMC-32 motion control system, EOS Live-View Correction Cap) available through its direct online store.
Is Dragonframe a public or private company?
Dragonframe is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Dragonframe founded?
Dragonframe was founded in 1993.
Where is Dragonframe based?
Dragonframe is headquartered in Ojai, United States, in the North America region.
How does Dragonframe make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Software Licenses are the primary driver. The others are hardware and Accessories.
Who are Dragonframe's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are eMotimo, TVPaint Animation, Moho (Lost Marble), Stop Motion Pro and iStopMotion (Boinx Software). Blender Foundation is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Toon Boom Animation, Autodesk Maya, Maxon (Cinema 4D) and Adobe (Animate / After Effects).
Does Dragonframe have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dragonframe.
What industry is Dragonframe in?
Dragonframe's product category is Animation Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHACAM, Stop-Motion & Hybrid Animation, with a secondary code of MPADACAE, Character & Creature Animation.