BWA Studios

What BWA Studios does

BWA Studios, founded in 2018 as Black Women Animate and rebranded around 2023, is a Black female-owned animation production house headquartered in New York with 11-50 employees. The studio produces animation content across 2D, 3D, CGI, and hybrid 2.5D formats for streaming platforms, broadcast networks, consumer brands, and toy companies; named enterprise clients include Hulu, Netflix, A&E Networks, WarnerMedia, Cartoon Network Studios, Adult Swim, HBO, Mattel, Sony, Hello Sunshine, MTV, and Foot Locker, with project examples spanning the Hulu series 'Your Attention Please,' A&E's 'Biography: You Need To Know I,' Mattel's 'Barbie: Life in the City,' and TBS TNT TruTV's International Women's Day 'Open Your Eyes' campaign.

The business operates four interconnected revenue streams on a professional services model: (1) Animation Production Services (co-production, graphics packages, look development, character design); (2) Creative Services (infographics, DEI services, creative direction, IP development); (3) Training & Development Services (delivered with sister social-impact agency Inspire Justice, covering Thrive Culture, DEI in Entertainment, Systemic Inclusion Barriers, transformational coaching, and impact media training); and (4) DEI Advisory Services (equity script reviews and social impact advising). Pricing is quote-based on a project-by-project basis, with no public rates; the Equity Excelerator (E2) program, launched in 2024, adds a donor-supported revenue tier with contribution levels ranging from $250 to $10,000.

Go-to-market is sales-led via direct inquiry through the company website (contact form fields for Name, Email, Timeline, Budget, and Scope of Work) and email channels ([email protected] and [email protected]). The studio supplements this with social presence on Vimeo, LinkedIn, and Instagram, an email newsletter, and earned media across Deadline Hollywood, Variety, LA Times, Animation Magazine, Emmy, IndieWire, and Animation World Network. Distribution is global in scope but US-anchored, with Atlanta emerging as a secondary market through partnerships with the City of Atlanta and Fox 5. Strategic alliances include the Inspire Justice sister agency (training co-delivery), From the Heart as fiscal sponsor for the E2 program, and a 2023 partnership with Titmouse Foundation on the Equity In Animation Initiative.

Name

BWA Studios

Legal name

BWA Studios

Website

https://bwastudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BWA Studios is a Black female-owned New York animation studio (11-50 employees) producing 2D, 3D, CGI, and hybrid animation for streaming platforms, broadcast networks, and consumer brands including Hulu, Netflix, WarnerMedia, and Mattel. It supplements production with DEI advisory, training programs, and the Equity Excelerator talent pipeline.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Graphic Design Services (541430)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Outsourced Art/Audio Production Services (2D/3D, Animation, VFX, Audio/VO) (MPAFAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio) (BPAFAAAF), Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ)

Keywords

• Animation production services
• Creative content development
• DEI consulting services
• Talent development programs
• 2D 3D CGI animation

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Animation Production Services: Creating and producing programming and content for all platforms including TV, film, and commercial productions. Services include co-production, graphics packages, look development, and character design.
2. Creative Services: Design, animation, and advisory services for commercial and long-form entertainment including infographics, DEI services, creative direction, and IP development.
3. Training & Development Services: Partnership with Inspire Justice for training programs including Thrive Culture, Diversity/Equity/Inclusion in Entertainment, Systemic Inclusion Barriers, transformational coaching, and impact media training.
4. DEI Advisory Services: DEI consulting services, equity script reviews, and social impact advising for studios, networks, and production companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BWA Studios is a Black female-owned animation house that creates and produces animation programming and content for all platforms (TV, film, commercial). It delivers full-service creative services spanning 2D, 3D, CGI, and hybrid 2.5D animation, including character design, look development, graphics packages, infographics, co-production, and creative direction. The studio also runs the Equity Excelerator (E2) talent development program and offers DEI and training services in partnership with sister agency Inspire Justice.

Product overview

BWA Studios is a Black female-owned animation house that creates and produces programming and content for all platforms. Its product portfolio consists of three interconnected offerings: (1) Creative Services — covering design, animation (2D, 3D, CGI, hybrid 2.5D), character design, look development, graphics packages, infographics, co-production, and advisory/DEI services; (2) the Equity Excelerator (E2) — a talent development program providing software training, business acumen, mentorship, and empowerment for emerging and mid-career animation creators; and (3) Training & Development Services — a suite of cultural-change and professional-skills workshops (Thrive Culture, DEI in Entertainment, Systemic Inclusion Barriers, transformational coaching, equity script reviews) delivered in partnership with sister company Inspire Justice. Together, these services form an integrated studio that combines content production with equity-driven talent pipeline and organizational culture services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Equity Excelerator (E2): Program designed to solve the lack of inclusion of Black and diverse talent in animation by providing software training, business acumen development, empowerment, and mentorship for emerging and mid-career animation creators.

Products and services

• Creative Services Full-service design, animation, and advisory offering covering graphics packages, look development, character design, infographics, co-production, 3D and CGI animation, 2D and hybrid 2.5D animation, DEI services, creative direction, partnership development, and IP development and sales. Sold to entertainment networks, streaming platforms, and consumer brands.
• Equity Excelerator (E2) A mission-driven program that broadens opportunities and builds pathways for emerging and mid-career animation creators through software training, business acumen development, empowerment, and mentorship, preparing talent for animated commercial, TV, and film productions.
• Training & Development Services Facilitated training and development programs for studios, networks, and production companies covering Thrive Culture, Diversity Equity and Inclusion in Entertainment, Systemic Inclusion Barriers, transformational coaching, social impact advising, impact media training, equity script reviews, and a Transformative Justice Institute, offered in partnership with Inspire Justice.

Quantifiable outcome

• Founded in 2018, signed with APA agency in 2018, launched inaugural Black In Animation Awards in 2020
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Titmouse FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Black Women Animate Studios partnered with Titmouse Foundation on the Equity In Animation Initiative, focusing on community building and expanding opportunities for diverse talent in animation.
• Inspire JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInspire Justice is BWA Studios' sister company and social impact agency partner. Together they facilitate robust training and development for studios, networks, and production companies, covering topics including Thrive Culture, DEI in Entertainment, and Systemic Inclusion Barriers.
• From the HeartcoreOthersFrom the Heart is BWA Studios' fiscal sponsor for the Equity Excelerator program, enabling tax-deductible donations to support the initiative.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Titmouse Inc. Titmouse is a major independent animation studio producing 2D, 3D, and hybrid animation for adult and kids' networks (Netflix, Amazon, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network). It is the most direct peer to BWA in production services for top-tier streamers and is also an explicit strategic partner of BWA via the Titmouse Foundation.
• Curious Pictures: Curious Pictures is a New York-based independent animation and production studio creating branded content, commercials, and series for major brands and networks. It is comparable to BWA in New York location, mid-size boutique studio scale, and focus on branded animation work for enterprise clients.
• ShadowMachine: ShadowMachine is an independent stop-motion and 2D animation studio producing series for Netflix, Adult Swim, and Cartoon Network (BoJack Horseman, Tuca & Bertie). Comparable to BWA in independent studio positioning, multi-format capability, and the same premium streamer buyer set.
• Powerhouse Animation Studios: Powerhouse is an independent animation studio (Castlevania, Blood of Zeus, Seis Manos) producing premium 2D and 3D content for Netflix and other major streamers — closely comparable to BWA in service offering, target clients, and production style.
• Mercury Filmworks: Mercury is an independent animation studio producing 2D and CG animation for major studios and streamers (Disney, Netflix, Amazon). It competes with BWA for the same enterprise animation production engagements and serves the same Disney/Netflix/Hulu buyer set.
• Lion Forge Entertainment: Lion Forge is a Black-owned animation and comics company that produces IP-driven animated series (e.g., 'Iyanu') with a mission-aligned focus on diverse storytelling. It is a direct peer in mission, target buyer (Netflix, Cartoon Network), and is also an active BWA partner for Iyanu pre-production talent.
• Augenblick Studios: Augenblick is an independent 2D animation studio producing adult and kids' content for Adult Swim, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon. Comparable to BWA in independent studio positioning, 2D animation focus, and adult-skewing network client base (e.g., Adult Swim).
• Bent Image Lab: Bent Image is a Portland-based independent animation and live-action studio producing commercials, branded content, and series for major brands and networks. It is comparable to BWA in mid-size boutique studio scale, hybrid 2D/3D/CGI capability, and branded-content work for large advertisers and networks.
• Six Point Harness: Six Point Harness is an independent Emmy-winning animation studio (BoJack Horseman, Forky Asks a Question) producing 2D/3D and stop-motion content for Netflix, Disney+, and other major platforms — a direct comparable in studio scale, capability mix, and enterprise client roster.

Broad incumbents

• Cartoon Network Studios: Cartoon Network Studios is the in-house animation studio for Cartoon Network/Adult Swim content, an anchor client and co-creation partner of BWA (Black In Animation Awards). It is a broad incumbent that both buys from and competes with independent studios like BWA for talent and production capacity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bwastudios
• Instagraminstagram.com/bwastudios_
• Facebookfacebook.com/Black-Women-Animate-Studios-108981867578701

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 BWA Studios