Chiodo Bros Productions

What Chiodo Bros Productions does

Chiodo Bros. Productions, Inc. is an independent, family-owned production company founded in the late 1970s and operated by three brothers — Charles Chiodo (Production Designer), Edward Chiodo (Co-Chairman and Head of Production), and Stephen Chiodo (Creative Director and Director of Animation) — out of Hollywood, USA. The company's core offering is specialized stop-motion animation, live-action puppetry, practical special effects, make-up effects, and production design services for feature films, television specials, and pilots. Charles handles creature design, puppet fabrication, set pieces, and miniatures; Stephen supervises the animation department end-to-end from storyboard through character fabrication, set building, and animation performance; Edward executive-produces all projects and manages new business development and client relationships.

The studio generates revenue through three streams: (1) project-based production services for major studios and networks including Netflix, CBS, Disney Channel, CNN, ShowTime, Logo Network, Wildbrain/DHX, and Cinereach; (2) licensing and ownership of original IP, anchored by the 1988 cult classic 'Killer Klowns from Outer Space' and developing new properties, characters, and illustrated books; and (3) direct-to-consumer merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies, accessories) sold through chiodobros.com and a Square.site storefront, though the storefront currently lists zero active SKUs. The company has earned two Primetime Emmy Awards (2000-2001, for 'Dune' and 'The Simpsons'), a Grammy Award for 'Thriller'/'The Making of Thriller', and Stephen Chiodo won Best Young Director at Cannes for his short 'Cricket'.

The business is privately held with no institutional investors, no public funding history, and no disclosed revenue or headcount. Its go-to-market is relationship-driven: the brothers pitch original content directly to streaming platforms, networks, and indie studios, while the consumer channel relies on organic social (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and brand affinity for legacy properties. Recent notable engagements include Netflix's 'Alien Xmas' (November 2020) with executive producer Jon Favreau and an unannounced stop-motion feature for Cinereach.

Name

Chiodo Bros Productions

Legal name

Chiodo Bros. Productions, Inc.

Website

https://chiodobros.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chiodo Bros. Productions is an independent, family-owned Hollywood studio specializing in stop-motion animation, live-action puppetry, and practical special effects for major film and television clients. The three Chiodo brothers serve major studios and networks (Netflix, CBS, Disney, CNN, ShowTime) with original IP and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Film and Television Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Stop-Motion Animation Production (MPADACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG), Animated Feature Film Production (MPADACAH)

Keywords

• Stop-motion animation
• Special effects production
• Live action puppetry
• Independent film production
• Creature design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Burbank

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Production Services: Chiodo Bros. operates as an independent production company producing films, television specials, and animated content for major studios and networks. Edward serves as Executive Producer on all Chiodo Bros. projects and handles new business development.
2. Merchandise Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales through their e-commerce store offering t-shirts, hoodies, and accessories branded with Chiodo Bros. properties.
3. Licensing & IP: The company develops and owns original properties including 'Killer Klowns from Outer Space' and is developing new Chiodo Bros. properties, characters, and illustrated books for shows, features, and merchandising.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Chiodo Bros. Productions is an independent film and television production company that produces stop-motion animation, live-action puppetry, special effects, and make-up effects for major studios and networks. The studio develops original properties, co-creates television pilots, and produces feature films and holiday specials for clients such as Netflix, CBS, Disney, CNN, and ShowTime, while also operating a small e-commerce store selling branded merchandise.

Product overview

Chiodo Bros. Productions is an independent production company offering a comprehensive suite of visual effects and animation services. The core offering centers on stop-motion animation production (including character fabrication, set building, and animation performance) combined with practical special effects, make-up effects, live-action puppetry, and production design services. The company also operates a merchandise store selling branded apparel and accessories. The three brothers—Charles (Production Designer), Stephen (Creative Director & Director of Animation), and Edward (Co-chairman & Head of Production)—lead productions across feature films, television specials, and pilots for major networks and streaming platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stop-Motion Animation Production Professional stop-motion animation production services including character fabrication, set building, storyboard translation, and animation performance for feature films, television specials, and pilots for major networks and streaming platforms.
• Live Action Puppetry Live action puppetry and creature effects for television and feature film productions, combining three decades of expertise in puppet construction and performance.
• Special Effects and Make-up Effects Practical special effects, make-up effects, and production management services for film and television productions, including creature creation and effects supervision.
• Character Fabrication and Design Character design and fabrication for stop-motion animation and live-action productions, including puppet construction, props, and character development for feature films and television.
• Production Design and Set Fabrication Production design services including illustration, fabrication, set pieces, miniatures, and creature design for film and television productions under the direction of Charles Chiodo.
• Branded Merchandise Direct-to-consumer branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, and accessories sold through the Chiodo Bros. official website store and Square.site storefront.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2000-2001 Primetime Emmy Award for effects director of photography on Frank Herbert's 'Dune'
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NetflixcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020Produced 'Alien Xmas', a stop-motion animation holiday special for Netflix with executive producer Jon Favreau. The feature premiered on Netflix in November 2020.
• Jon FavreaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJon Favreau served as executive producer on 'Alien Xmas'. Also collaborated on stop-motion opening title sequence for 'Elf' where Charles Chiodo designed the sequence and set pieces.
• CinereachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdward Chiodo is serving as animation producer for a yet unannounced stop-motion animation feature for Cinereach, a New York-based indie studio.
• Tim BurtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn the early eighties, Stephen Chiodo collaborated with Tim Burton and Rick Heinricks as Technical Director and Animator for the acclaimed animated short 'Vincent'. Charles also worked with Tim Burton designing props, puppets, set pieces and miniatures.
• Sid and Marty KrofftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdward co-produced Krofft's 'Land of the Lost'. Charles designed and art directed FX including Stink, the monkey boy, Sleestacks, dinosaurs for the revived series.
• Howie MandelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdward Chiodo served as executive producer and co-creator for CBS's live-action television series 'The Amazing Live Sea-Monkeys' in collaboration with Howie Mandel.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM): Large-scale VFX and animation house that has absorbed stop-motion-adjacent effects work. While much larger, ILM is a competitor for premium effects-driven project budgets and an alternate source for directors seeking specialty craft.

Emerging players

• Bent Image Lab: Mixed-media animation studio combining stop-motion, puppetry, and CG. Comparable as a boutique animation studio with overlapping stop-motion and puppetry capabilities serving commercials and series content.
• Trick 3D: Stop-motion and animation studio producing commercial and short-form content. Comparable as a smaller indie stop-motion shop targeting premium branded and short-form commissions.
• Screen Novelties: Stop-motion studio known for collaborations with Chiodo Bros. on Robot Chicken and other Adult Swim programming. Closely overlapping niche in boutique stop-motion for adult-oriented and parody content.

Direct peers

• Stoopid Buddy Stoodios: Production company behind Robot Chicken and other stop-motion/puppet-driven content. Directly comparable as a boutique animation studio specializing in puppet-based and stop-motion programming.
• ShadowMachine: Animation and stop-motion production studio behind Anomalisa and BoJack Horseman. Directly comparable as an indie stop-motion/services studio serving premium adult and family content for major platforms.
• Mackinnon and Saunders: UK puppet fabrication and stop-motion studio supplying puppets to Corpse Bride, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Isle of Dogs. Comparable in the puppet-fabrication/character-creation specialty that is core to Chiodo's craft.
• Aardman Animations: Iconic stop-motion studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run. Direct peer in stop-motion feature/specials production with established Netflix and major-network distribution relationships parallel to Chiodo's.
• Laika: Premier stop-motion animation studio producing feature films (Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings, Missing Link). Most direct comparable to Chiodo Bros. in stop-motion specialization, though at significantly larger scale and with parent-company backing.

Regional players

• Cosgrove Hall Films: Historic British stop-motion animation studio (Danger Mouse, The Wind in the Willows). Comparable in stop-motion heritage and TV-specials pedigree, though primarily UK-based and now operating under different ownership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chiodobros
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChiodoBros
• Instagraminstagram.com/chiodobros/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chiodo-bros-productions-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Chiodo Bros Productions