BIEN
BIEN is a Los Angeles-based, minority-owned motion design and animation studio founded in 2017, serving enterprise brands and entertainment companies (Meta, Disney, AT&T, IBM, Hulu) through custom 2D/3D/cel animation and live-action services built around its proprietary Inclusive Motion Design (InMoDe™) methodology.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What BIEN does
BIEN is a privately held, minority-owned motion design and animation studio headquartered in Los Angeles, founded in 2017 by co-founders Ricardo Roberts (Ecuadorian-American) and Hung Le (Vietnamese American). The studio provides custom creative services including 2D, 3D, and cel animation, character animation, live-action production, digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising, and custom music and sound design. Its central differentiator is the proprietary Inclusive Motion Design (InMoDe™) methodology — pioneered at inception — which structures projects around teams with lived cultural experience and embeds cultural and accessibility consulting into production under a "design with, not for" philosophy.
The studio's customer base consists of global enterprise brands and entertainment companies, with named engagements for Meta, Disney, AT&T, Hulu, Dropbox, IBM, Red Hat, Google, Getty Museum, IDEO, and Healthcare.gov. Revenue is generated through quote-based professional services engagements, delivered via a combination of direct client relationships and two channel sales representatives: Brand Yew Friends for agency and direct-to-brand channels, and Astra Reps for entertainment and gaming verticals. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the business is bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding.
Beyond client work, BIEN operates a community and talent ecosystem that doubles as a brand-building asset: the Fliers-on-the-Wall (FOTW) industry observation program (142+ participants from 25 countries), annual School of Motion scholarships (8 per year), a Portfolio Builder mentorship program, and the Creative Codex knowledge wiki. The studio has 11–50 employees distributed across Los Angeles, Raleigh-Durham, and Barcelona, and is operating and expanding — having added both channel partnerships in late 2025 / early 2026 and won two 2025 Collision Awards Silver prizes in Craft-Motion Design.
BIEN firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BIEN
- Legal name
- BIEN
- Website
- https://thisisbien.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BIEN is a Los Angeles-based, minority-owned motion design and animation studio founded in 2017, serving enterprise brands and entertainment companies (Meta, Disney, AT&T, IBM, Hulu) through custom 2D/3D/cel animation and live-action services built around its proprietary Inclusive Motion Design (InMoDe™) methodology.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BIEN industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Motion Design & Animation Services
- NAICS
- Graphic Design Services (541430)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Out-of-Home (OOH), DOOH & Ambient Advertising (BPAFAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) Advertising (MPAAAKAB)
Keywords
Where BIEN is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
BIEN business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Motion Design and Animation Services: BIEN generates revenue through creating custom motion design, character animation, and live action content for enterprise clients and agencies. Projects include brand campaigns, social media content, DOOH advertising, and documentary production.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
BIEN product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BIEN is a motion design and animation studio that produces custom 2D, 3D, and cel animation, character animation, live action video, digital out-of-home (DOOH) campaigns, and custom music and sound design for enterprise brands and advertising agencies. All client work is guided by the studio's proprietary Inclusive Motion Design (InMoDe™) methodology to ensure authentic cultural representation and accessibility.
Product overview
BIEN is a Los Angeles-based inclusive motion design and animation studio offering a comprehensive suite of creative services. The studio specializes in motion design, character animation (2D, 3D, and cel animation), live action production, and digital out-of-home (DOOH) campaigns. Central to their offering is their proprietary Inclusive Motion Design methodology (InMoDe™), which guides all creative work to ensure authentic representation and accessibility. The studio also provides custom music and sound design services, cultural consultation, and disability consultation. Beyond client work, BIEN operates educational programs including the Fliers-on-the-Wall observation program, School of Motion scholarships, and the Portfolio Builder mentorship initiative. The studio serves major brands including Meta, Disney, AT&T, Hulu, Dropbox, IBM, Google, and Red Hat.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- InMoDe™: Inclusive Motion Design - BIEN's proprietary methodology championed to create accessible content on-screen through diverse representation behind-the-scenes.
- Fliers-on-the-Wall (FOTW)
Products and services
- Motion Design Custom motion design services creating animated graphics and visual content for brands across digital platforms, social media, and broadcast, guided by BIEN's InMoDe™ inclusive design methodology for enterprise brand and agency clients.
- Character Animation Character animation service creating animated characters and storytelling for brand campaigns, delivered via 2D, 3D, and cel animation techniques for enterprise clients such as Meta, Instagram, and Disney.
- Live Action Production Live action video production including documentary filmmaking and production services delivered for enterprise brand and agency clients (e.g., Quad Life Documentary).
- Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) Campaigns Digital out-of-home advertising campaigns for digital billboards, Times Square, and other outdoor media installations; capable of delivering large-scale asset packages across multiple OOH vendors for enterprise clients such as Hulu on Disney+ (156 assets across 12 vendors in 9 weeks).
- Custom Music and Sound Design Original music composition and sound design services including voice-over casting and direction, supporting motion design, animation, and live action projects for enterprise brand clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- 12.67% of Meta's total global conversions from 'For The Fans' campaign
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use BIEN
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
BIEN technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
BIEN partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Brand Yew FriendscoreFounded by executive producer Tino Sladavic, Brand Yew Friends is a global production ecosystem assembling bespoke creative teams across live action, design, animation, and emerging tech. They provide additional sales representation to BIEN for agency and direct-to-brand channels in the United States.
- Astra RepscoreAstra Dorf represents BIEN in the entertainment and gaming industries. Based in New York City, she brings experience from Lee Hunt Associates and founded Astra Reps in 2008, representing top creative companies and collaborating with NBCUniversal, Hulu, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BIEN competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Psyop: Psyop is an award-winning production company specializing in animation, design, and live-action for advertising and entertainment. It is a direct peer in high-end commercial motion design and VFX work for global brands.
- Buck: Buck is a leading independent motion design, animation, and design studio headquartered in Los Angeles with global offices. It directly competes with BIEN for enterprise brand campaigns, character animation, and design-driven advertising work for Fortune 500 clients.
- Hornet Inc. Hornet is a New York-based animation and motion design studio producing commercials, branded content, and series work. It directly competes with BIEN for advertising, character animation, and entertainment-industry briefs.
- Giant Ant: Giant Ant is a Toronto-based motion design and animation studio producing character animation, brand films, and commercial content for major global brands. It is a direct peer in scale and service offering to BIEN.
- Scholar (Studio): Scholar is a creative production studio working in motion design, live action, and design for advertising. It is a direct peer in commercial creative services for major brands.
- Gentleman Scholar: Gentleman Scholar is a Los Angeles and Melbourne-based motion design and production studio serving advertising and entertainment clients. It is a direct peer in boutique motion design services for enterprise brands.
- Tool of North America: Tool of North America is a bicoastal commercial production and motion design company working with agencies and brands. It is a direct peer in commercial production and motion design services.
- Oddfellows Pictures: Oddfellows is an LA- and Atlanta-based animation and motion design studio producing short-form content, advertising, and character animation. Direct peer in boutique commercial animation services.
Others
- Marmoset: Marmoset is a music and sound design agency, with a custom music/sound offering that overlaps with BIEN's custom music and sound design service line. It is an adjacent service provider in the creative production ecosystem.
Emerging players
- Block & Tackle: Block & Tackle is a Brooklyn-based animation and motion design studio focused on character-driven commercial work. It is an emerging player in the same boutique commercial animation space as BIEN.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BIEN social profiles
Digital presenceBIEN financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BIEN leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
BIEN funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BIEN 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 BIEN
What does BIEN do?
BIEN is a motion design and animation studio that produces custom 2D, 3D, and cel animation, character animation, live action video, digital out-of-home (DOOH) campaigns, and custom music and sound design for enterprise brands and advertising agencies. All client work is guided by the studio's proprietary Inclusive Motion Design (InMoDe™) methodology to ensure authentic cultural representation and accessibility.
Is BIEN a public or private company?
BIEN is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was BIEN founded?
BIEN was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BIEN based?
BIEN is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does BIEN make money?
One revenue line is on record: motion Design and Animation Services.
Who are BIEN's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Psyop, Buck, Hornet Inc., Giant Ant, Scholar (Studio), Gentleman Scholar, Tool of North America and Oddfellows Pictures. Marmoset is listed as an others. Block & Tackle is listed as an emerging player.
Does BIEN have an API?
No public API is recorded for BIEN.
What industry is BIEN in?
BIEN's product category is Motion Design & Animation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAAAI, Out-of-Home (OOH), DOOH & Ambient Advertising, with a secondary code of MPAAAKAB, Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) Advertising. Its NAICS code is 541430 and its SIC code is 7310.