When evaluating the quality of animation, the highest priority is the director and the production team. The director’s unique aesthetic sense is reflected first and foremost in the images, and if the production team is composed of highly qualified members, the quality naturally increases.
After considering the production team, you need to consider the studio. A well-known studio with talented producers capable of attracting top talent allows the director to fully showcase his abilities. On the contrary, if the studio lacks qualified personnel and fails to attract talent, even a great director will not be able to achieve the desired results.
Let’s take a look at the rankings of animation studios worldwide.
10. Nickelodeon animation studio
Headquarters: Burbank, California
Nickelodeon was founded in 1990, starting with popular original shows like “Rugrats,” “Doug” and “The Ren & Stimpy Show.” The studio has produced many beloved shows, including “Hey Arnold!,” “Invader Zim,” “The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,” both “Avatar” series and “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
9. Weta Digital
Headquarters: Wellington, New Zealand
Weta Digital is owned by legendary director Peter Jackson and has won five Academy Awards for its outstanding visual effects. The studio has worked on some of the biggest films of the past decade, including the “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies, “King Kong” (2005) and “Avatar.”
8. Blue sky studies
Headquarters: Greenwich, Connecticut
Blue Sky Studios was founded in 1987 and has been owned by 20th Century Fox since 1997. Between 2002 and 2014 it released some of the most successful animated films, including the “Ice Age” series, “Rio ” and “Rio 2,” “Horton Hears a Who!” and adaptations of “Dr. Seuss”’ works.
7. Cartoon Network Studios
Headquarters: Burbank, California
Since 1994, Cartoon Network Studios has become one of the most successful studios in the industry. Early hits such as “Dexter’s Laboratory”, “Johnny Bravo”, “The Powerpuff Girls”, “Ben 10” and “Samurai Jack” gained widespread popularity in the United States. Currently, the studio produces popular series such as
- “Adventure Time”
- “Regular show”
- “Clarence”
- “Uncle Grandpa”
- “Ben 10: Omniverse”
- “We naked bears”
- “Steven Universe”.
6. Frame shop
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Founded in 1986, Framestore has contributed to some of the most successful films of recent years, including “Guardians of the Galaxy”, the “Harry Potter” films, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and scenes from “Avatar”. The studio has won numerous Oscar and BAFTA awards for its work. Additionally, Framestore confirmed that they are part of the production team for the horror film “Beetlejuice.”
5. Studio Ghibli
Location: Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
While not the best in the world, Studio Ghibli is undoubtedly one of the best animation studios in Japan. Eight of the 15 highest-grossing animated films made in Japan are Ghibli works. They have won numerous awards, including the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year, the Animage Grand Prix, and several Oscar nominations in the United States, including Best Animated Feature Film. These are some of Ghibli’s famous works:
- “My Neighbor Totoro”
- “Tomb of the Fireflies”
- “Kiki’s Delivery Service”
- “Spirited Away”
- “Howl’s Moving Castle”
- “The cure”
- “Arrietty”
- “The boy and the heron”
4. Industrial Light and Magic (ILM)
Headquarters: San Francisco, California
ILM has worked on hundreds of projects, including major ones like all the “Star Wars” films, the original “Terminator,” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, “Avatar” and “Jurassic World.” They are pioneers in innovative computer technologies, including realistic skin, partial CGI characters, and hair and fur animation.
3. DreamWorks Animation
Headquarters: Glendale, California
DreamWorks Animation films are distributed worldwide and have won 41 Emmys, multiple Annie Awards, three Academy Awards, and multiple BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations. Their notable works include:
- “Shrek”
- “How to Train Your Dragon”
- “Madagascar”
- “Kung Fu Panda”
- “Troll”
- “The Baby Boss”
- “Puss in Boots”
2. Walt Disney Animation Studios
Headquarters: Burbank, California
The renowned Disney studio has been producing animated films since the successful release of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in 1937. Since then, it has become one of the highest-grossing animation companies, with hits like “The Lion King” and “ Aladdin.” Even though he’s slowed down over the past decade, he’s come back stronger than ever with hits like:
- “Frozen” series.
- “Wreck-It Ralph” series.
- “Great Hero 6”
- “Enchanted”
- “Bolt”
- “Moana”
- “Pirates of the Caribbean” series.
- “Zootropolis” series.
- “Charm”
1.Pixar
Headquarters: Emeryville, California
Pixar was co-founded by Apple pioneer Steve Jobs and was acquired by the Walt Disney Company in 2006 for more than $7 billion. After entering the film industry with “Toy Story,” the studio has produced some of the most financially successful films, including:
- “Toy Story” series.
- “WALL E”
- “Brave”
- “Ratatouille”
- “Inside and Out” series.
- “Cars” series.
- “Monsters, Inc.”
- “The Incredibles” series.
