What Netflix Animation Studios does

Netflix Animation Studios (NAS) is the internal end-to-end animation production division of Netflix, Inc., founded in 2018 and headquartered in Burbank, California. NAS operates across three global locations — Burbank (USA), Vancouver (Canada), and Sydney (Australia) — with the latter two inherited from the 2022 acquisition of Animal Logic. The studio produces feature animated films exclusively for distribution through the Netflix streaming platform, partnering with external filmmakers, artists, and co-production studios including Sony Pictures Animation and Aardman Animations. Its filmography spans original IP (Nimona, Orion and the Dark, KPop Demon Hunters) and high-profile adaptations, with Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and KPop Demon Hunters (2025) becoming the most popular Netflix original film ever with its soundtrack crossing 1 billion streams in 25 days.

Name

Netflix Animation Studios

Legal name

Netflix Animation Studios

Website

https://netflixanimation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Netflix Animation Studios is the wholly-owned internal animation production division of Netflix, Inc., producing feature animated films across three global locations (Burbank, Vancouver, Sydney) for exclusive distribution on the Netflix streaming platform serving subscribers in 190+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animated Film Production

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Animated Feature Film Production (MPADACAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Animation Pipeline Tools & Technical Direction (Scripts, Plugins, Automation) (MPAHACAL)

Keywords

• Animated film production
• Animation studio pipeline
• Feature animation streaming
• Path-trace rendering technology
• USD production pipeline

Headquarters

HQ city

Burbank

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Netflix Streaming Content Production: Netflix Animation Studios operates as an internal production studio creating animated feature films exclusively for Netflix's streaming platform. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Netflix, the studio's output contributes to Netflix's subscription-based streaming service, which generates revenue from monthly/annual subscriber subscriptions. Revenue is not separately disclosed for NAS as an independent entity.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Netflix Animation Studios is an internal, end-to-end animation production studio that creates feature animated films exclusively for distribution on the Netflix streaming platform. The studio partners with world-class filmmakers, artists, and external studios (e.g., Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman Animations) to develop, produce, and deliver original and co-produced animated feature films, leveraging a proprietary animation pipeline spanning three global locations.

Product overview

Netflix Animation Studios is an internal end-to-end animation studio that is a subsidiary of Netflix, focused on delivering feature animated films for the Netflix streaming platform. The studio operates across three global locations (Burbank, California; Vancouver, Canada; and Sydney, Australia) and produces a broad portfolio of animated films including original titles (e.g., Nimona, Orion and the Dark, K-Pop Demon Hunters) and co-productions with partners such as Sony Pictures Animation (The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Wish Dragon, Vivo, K-Pop Demon Hunters), Aardman Animations (Robin Robin, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl), and handpicked auteur filmmakers (Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, Wendell & Wild). The studio's technology offering includes its proprietary Glimpse path-tracer renderer and stewardship of the ALab USD production scene, and it operates a full production pipeline supporting creative collaboration across all three locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Feature Animated Films Portfolio A diverse slate of feature animated films produced by Netflix Animation Studios for streaming distribution on the Netflix platform, ranging from original IP to adaptations and co-productions with partners such as Sony Pictures Animation and Aardman Animations. Films target global Netflix subscribers across all age groups.
• Klaus Animated feature film, Netflix's first original animated feature. Targeted at family and general audiences on the Netflix streaming platform.
• Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio Stop-motion animated feature film directed by Guillermo del Toro; NAS's first Academy Award winner for Best Animated Feature.
• Nimona Animated feature film brought to Netflix by Annapurna; earned Academy Award nomination and 9 Annie Award nominations.
• KPop Demon Hunters Animated feature film co-produced with Sony Pictures Animation; the most popular Netflix original film ever. Its soundtrack crossed 1 billion streams in 25 days and reached #1 on Billboard Global 200 and Hot 100.
• Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl Stop-motion animated feature film produced with Aardman Animations; won BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film and earned an Academy Award nomination.
• The Mitchells vs. the Machines Animated feature film, the first partnership between Netflix Animation Studios and Sony Pictures Animation; swept all 8 Annie Awards categories it was nominated for.

Quantifiable outcome

• KPop Demon Hunters became the most popular Netflix original film ever with soundtrack crossing 1 billion streams in 25 days
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and supporting.

• Animal LogiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Netflix Animation Studios created its own studio and acquired Animal Logic in 2022 to focus on animated films and build a dedicated end-to-end pipeline. This acquisition brought industry-leading technology and proven expertise in animation pipelines, combining Animal Logic's legacy with Netflix's infrastructure to push the boundaries of animated storytelling.
• Sony Pictures AnimationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple film partnerships including The Mitchells vs. the Machines (first of many partnerships), Wish Dragon, Vivo (with music by Lin-Manuel Miranda), and KPop Demon Hunters (most popular Netflix original film ever). The partnership has produced several critically acclaimed and commercially successful animated features.
• Aardman AnimationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership producing Robin Robin (Academy Award nominated), Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (BAFTA winner, Academy Award nominated). The partnership has resulted in multiple award-winning animated films.
• Academy Software FoundationstrategicTechnology or IntegrationNetflix Animation Studios works closely with the Academy Software Foundation as part of its commitment to open source software and industry advancement. The studio contributes to and maintains open source tools, including the ALab production scene.
• Commercial Software VendorssupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology teams work closely with commercial software vendors to develop and integrate tools and solutions tailored to animation production needs.
• Academic InstitutionssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with academic institutions for research, innovation, and development of new animation technologies and techniques.
• Open Source CommunitystrategicTechnology or IntegrationNetflix Animation Studios relies on and contributes to a wide variety of open source tools to bring stories to life, and is committed to giving back to the global creative and technical communities. The studio's dedication to partnerships reflects Netflix's values of curiosity, creativity, and selflessness in sharing knowledge.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM): ILM is a Lucasfilm-owned VFX and animation studio with proprietary rendering pipelines and immersive-content capabilities. Comparable to NAS as a parent-affiliated, tech-forward animation/VFX house with global production infrastructure.
• DNEG Animation: DNEG operates an animation division producing CG features (e.g., Nimona via partnership) alongside its VFX business. Comparable to NAS as a tech-pipeline-strong, multi-territory animation studio working with major distribution partners.

Emerging players

• Skydance Animation: Skydance Animation is a newer entrant building CG animated features with backing from Paramount and Apple TV+. It is an emerging competitor targeting the same streaming-first animated feature window as NAS.
• Laika: Laika is an Oregon-based stop-motion feature animation studio owned by Phil Knight. It is comparable to NAS in pursuing a craftsmanship-over-volume approach to feature animation and building proprietary production technology.

Direct peers

• Pixar Animation Studios: Pixar is the gold-standard CG feature animation studio, producing theatrical and streaming animated features for Disney+. Like NAS, it operates as a captive studio for a major streaming/distribution parent (Disney), making it the closest functional peer in business model and production approach.
• Walt Disney Animation Studios: Walt Disney Animation Studios produces tentpole CG animated features for Disney+ and theatrical release. Like NAS, it operates as a captive studio for Disney's streaming ecosystem with full-pipeline production capability.
• Aardman Animations: Aardman is a UK-based stop-motion feature animation studio and one of NAS's closest co-production partners (Robin Robin, Wallace & Gromit). Comparable as an award-winning craft-emphasizing animation studio producing prestige features for streaming partners.
• Illumination: Illumination (Universal) is a high-output CG feature animation studio behind franchises like Despicable Me and Sing. Its parent-company distribution model and global franchise-building approach mirror NAS's positioning inside Netflix.
• DreamWorks Animation: DreamWorks Animation produces CG animated features for Universal/Peacock and theatrical release. As a major-studio-affiliated feature animation house targeting both kids and family audiences, it competes for the same viewer attention and animation talent pool as NAS.
• Sony Pictures Animation: Sony Pictures Animation produces CG animated features for theatrical and streaming release and is both a direct competitor to NAS in the animated feature space and one of NAS's most active co-production partners (Mitchells vs the Machines, KPop Demon Hunters).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NetflixAnimation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/animal-logic
• Instagraminstagram.com/netflixanimation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Netflix Animation Studios