Monkeystack
Monkeystack is an Adelaide-based multidisciplinary creative production studio (founded 2004, 11-50 staff) delivering 2D/3D animation, XR experiences, game development, and interactive installations for entertainment, defence, government, museum, and education clients across Australia and internationally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersAdelaide, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Monkeystack does
Monkeystack is a multidisciplinary creative production studio headquartered at Adelaide Studios in Glenside, South Australia. Founded in 2004, the company employs 11-50 staff across animation, immersive experience design, game development, and interactive application development, serving clients in entertainment, broadcasting, defence, government, museums, education, health, and First Nations cultural sectors across Australia and internationally (UK, US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France). Its client roster includes Adult Swim (WarnerMedia), ABC, Nickelodeon, BAE Systems Australia, the Australian Museum, the Australian Electoral Commission, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Flinders University.
The studio's core technology stack combines 2D and 3D animation production, XR (AR/VR/MR) experience design, Unity-based interactive experience development, advanced photogrammetry asset processing for real-time VR environments, and an in-house commercial-grade render farm that supports rapid turnaround on animation and VFX projects. It also develops proprietary consumer IP under the Exo Pexo sub-brand, distributing edutainment games through the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Monkeystack operates a project-based services business with revenue derived from one-time production licenses (broadcast animation, game IP), professional services fees (interactive installations, XR experiences, consultancy for co-productions), and modest recurring app-store income from its own-IP games. Clients are acquired through portfolio marketing, industry awards, direct outreach, referrals, and approved-supplier panels across Australian federal and state government procurement frameworks (Defence SA, eProjects Panel, Local Buy, Commonwealth Deed of Standing Offer, SA Water Landing Pad). Pricing is custom per project; no standardised pricing is publicly disclosed.
Monkeystack firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Monkeystack
- Legal name
- Monkeystack
- Website
- https://monkeystack.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Monkeystack is an Adelaide-based multidisciplinary creative production studio (founded 2004, 11-50 staff) delivering 2D/3D animation, XR experiences, game development, and interactive installations for entertainment, defence, government, museum, and education clients across Australia and internationally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Monkeystack industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Creative Production & Animation Services
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Labs, Simulations & Virtual Practicals (Non-XR) (EDAFACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Educational Games & Kids/Families Game Studios (MPAFAAAI)
Keywords
Where Monkeystack is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Adelaide
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Monkeystack business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Animation and VFX Production: Project-based production services for 2D and 3D animated content for broadcast, theatrical, streaming and social platforms. Includes pilot, series, and feature-length productions.
- Interactive Experience Design: Design and development of interactive touchscreen experiences, XR installations, immersive projections, and gamified learning solutions for museums, exhibitions, and educational institutions.
- Game Development: Development of narrative-driven games and interactive experiences, including own IP under the Exo Pexo brand of edutainment games for mobile platforms.
- Consultancy Services: Creative development, animation production and international co-production guidance services offered to animation creators and producers.
- Branded Content and TVCs: Animated content production for advertising campaigns, brand mascots, and promotional materials for commercial clients.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Monkeystack product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Monkeystack is a multidisciplinary creative production studio that provides animation, visual effects, XR/immersive experiences, game development, interactive touchscreen installations, and app development services for clients across entertainment, defence, government, education, museums, health, and First Nations sectors. They operate an in-house commercial-grade render farm and use game engines such as Unity to deliver project-based work. The studio also develops and distributes its own consumer edutainment games under the Exo Pexo sub-brand via app stores.
Product overview
Monkeystack is a multidisciplinary creative production studio that operates as a service-based business rather than a product company. They offer a portfolio of creative services including 2D and 3D animation production, XR/VR/MR immersive experiences, game development, interactive touchscreen installations, and app development. Their work spans across sectors including entertainment, education, defence, health & wellbeing, museums & exhibitions, and First Nations cultural storytelling. Under the Exo Pexo sub-brand, they develop their own edutainment IP for children. Projects are typically custom commissions for clients rather than standardized product offerings, with notable productions including Yabarra: Dreaming in Light, Thin Ice VR, and various animated series for clients like Adult Swim, ABC, and Nickelodeon.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Exo Pexo: Edutainment brand for young people featuring educational games including Alphabet Apartments, Draw & Paint, Letter & Number Trace, and Dots & Diamond: The Mysterious Case of the Missing Mummies.
Products and services
- Animation Production Services Full-service 2D and 3D animation production for pilot, series, and feature-length content released across broadcast, theatrical, streaming, and social platforms, supported by an in-house commercial-grade render farm for quick turnaround.
- XR & Immersive Experiences Design and development of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) experiences including interactive installations, projection mapping, and spatial narrative applications.
- Game Development Development of games for mobile platforms (iOS, Android), PC, and VR, including original IP creation and game design services for educational and entertainment purposes.
- Interactive Touchscreen Experiences Creation of interactive touchscreen installations for museums, exhibitions, and educational facilities featuring multi-user capabilities, gamified learning, and multimedia content.
- App Development Development of applications for web and smart devices including iOS and Android platforms, featuring educational content, gamification, and interactive experiences.
- Exo Pexo Edutainment Games Monkeystack's own edutainment game brand for young people, including titles Alphabet Apartments, Draw & Paint, Letter & Number Trace, and Dots & Diamond: The Mysterious Case of the Missing Mummies, distributed through app stores.
Quantifiable outcome
- 93% of participants had a straighter neck angle while playing POSITURE Discovery Island using The Grip ergonomic device (Flinders University trials)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Monkeystack
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Monkeystack technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Monkeystack partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- YellakacoreAboriginal arts collective that partnered with Monkeystack for Yabarra: Dreaming in Light, a signature installation at Adelaide Fringe Festival 2020. Yellaka brings cultural knowledge and First Nations storytelling expertise to co-create meaningful experiences.
- Killerfish GamesminorSouth Australian indie game developer that partnered with Monkeystack to co-produce War on the Sea, a WW2 naval strategy game.
- Princess Bento StudiocoreProduction company that partnered with Monkeystack for YOLO Crystal Fantasy and subsequent seasons, commissioned by Adult Swim.
- Smoking Gun ProductionsminorProduction company that co-produced The Moment with Monkeystack, an adaptation of Shaun Micallef's short story.
- Dentsu Creative PRcoreAgency partner collaborating with Monkeystack on Smartraveller Know Before You Go and Travel Smart campaigns for Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
- Flinders University Digital Health Research CentreminorAcademic research partner that conducted trials on POSITURE games, finding 93% of participants had improved neck posture using The Grip device.
- ARC Centre of Excellence for the History of EmotionsminorAcademic partner that collaborated with Monkeystack and Queen Mary University of London to develop The Vault game.
- Queen Mary University of LondonminorInternational academic partner collaborating on The Vault game project with Monkeystack and ARC Centre of Excellence.
- 57 FilmsminorFilm production company that partnered with Monkeystack to produce Riverland on the Verge VR experience.
- Adelaide Fringe FestivalcoreFestival organizer that co-produced Yabarra: Dreaming in Light installation at Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute.
- NovatechminorImplementation partner for Yabarra installation providing technical expertise for projection systems.
- EpsonminorEquipment partner for Yabarra installation providing projection technology.
- Australian MuseumcoreMajor cultural institution client that partnered on multiple projects including Wansolmoana, Making Minerals, Changing Climate interactive, and Thin Ice VR.
- Game Connection EuropeminorIndustry body that recognised The Vault with Best Console/PC Hardcore award in 2018 and Best Indie in 2015.
- Space and Defence Landing Pad (Defence SA)coreGovernment initiative that selected Monkeystack as approved supplier for defence and space-related projects.
- SA Water Landing PadminorGovernment initiative that Monkeystack is an approved supplier on for water-related projects.
- IlluminartminorCreative partner for Yabarra installation providing projection and lighting expertise.
- Andrew Rogers Industrial Design (ARID)minorIndustrial design firm that collaborated with Monkeystack to develop The Grip ergonomic handset for POSITURE games.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Monkeystack competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Start VR: Australian virtual reality content studio producing immersive experiences for enterprise, education, and entertainment. Closely comparable in XR/immersive content development for Australian enterprises and cultural institutions.
- Fin Design + Effects: Australian visual effects and animation studio serving film, television, and advertising. Comparable in VFX/animation service offering, Australian base, and multi-platform content delivery.
- Ludo Studio: Brisbane-based animation studio behind Bluey and other globally successful animated series. Comparable in 2D/3D animation production for broadcast/streaming, awards profile, and Australian creative-studio model.
- Mighty Kingdom: Adelaide-based game developer creating mobile, PC, and serious games. Closely comparable in cross-format (animation, games, interactive), Australian base, and serious-game/educational-game vertical overlap with Monkeystack.
- Rising Sun Pictures: Adelaide-based visual effects studio serving Hollywood feature films (e.g., Marvel, Game of Thrones). Comparable in Australian creative-services DNA, Adelaide heritage, and VFX/animation capability for global clients.
- Flying Bark Productions: Australian 2D/3D animation studio producing series and features (e.g., Yabba-Dabba-Dinosaurs!, Lego Star Wars animations) for global networks. Closely comparable in services (animation production), client base (US/UK networks), and studio size to Monkeystack.
- Halfbrick Studios: Brisbane-based game developer (Fruit Ninja, Jetpack Joyride) with growing XR and animation capabilities. Comparable in Australian creative-studio roots, game/IP development, and animation-adjacent service offering.
- Plastic Wax: Sydney-based animation and game-art studio producing cinematics, game trailers, and immersive content. Comparable in cross-disciplinary animation/game/immersive offering and entertainment industry client base.
Broad incumbents
- Weta Workshop: New Zealand-based creative effects and immersive experience studio (Lord of the Rings, Thunderbirds Are Go, spatial experiences). Comparable in combining animation, immersive, and themed experience design, but operates at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
- Animal Logic: Sydney-based animation and VFX studio (Happy Feet, The LEGO Movie) now owned by Netflix. Comparable in animation/VFX service offering for film/streaming clients, but operates at substantially larger scale and broader portfolio than Monkeystack.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Monkeystack social profiles
Digital presenceMonkeystack financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Monkeystack leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Monkeystack funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Monkeystack 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 Monkeystack
What does Monkeystack do?
Monkeystack is a multidisciplinary creative production studio that provides animation, visual effects, XR/immersive experiences, game development, interactive touchscreen installations, and app development services for clients across entertainment, defence, government, education, museums, health, and First Nations sectors. They operate an in-house commercial-grade render farm and use game engines such as Unity to deliver project-based work. The studio also develops and distributes its own consumer edutainment games under the Exo Pexo sub-brand via app stores.
Is Monkeystack a public or private company?
Monkeystack is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Monkeystack founded?
Monkeystack was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Monkeystack based?
Monkeystack is headquartered in Adelaide, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Monkeystack make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Animation and VFX Production is the primary driver. The others are interactive Experience Design, game Development, consultancy Services and branded Content and TVCs.
Who are Monkeystack's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Start VR, Fin Design + Effects, Ludo Studio, Mighty Kingdom, Rising Sun Pictures, Flying Bark Productions, Halfbrick Studios and Plastic Wax. Broad incumbents are Weta Workshop and Animal Logic.
Does Monkeystack have an API?
No public API is recorded for Monkeystack.
What industry is Monkeystack in?
Monkeystack's product category is Creative Production & Animation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFACAF, Digital Labs, Simulations & Virtual Practicals (Non-XR), with a secondary code of MPAFAAAI, Educational Games & Kids/Families Game Studios. Its NAICS code is 512110 and its SIC code is 7812.