What Are The Best Animation Studios?

Why Does The Video Industry Need The Best Animation Studios?

Video gaming is all about experiences— it is a way of escaping into fantastical worlds, inhabited with memorable characters and getting the adrenaline rush from epic quests. But what makes these worlds realistic and immersive? Surely, animations play a key role. Awesome animation in video games makes for smooth character movement, vibrant environments, and action sequences that can leave us, players, in awe. However achieving such success in animation requires a mix of creativity, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of what makes a game really engaging. That task can be handled only by the best animation studios. The BandurArt team decided to tell more about such studios – what they do and how you can become part of the process.

The best animation studios do a hell of a lot more than just stunning visuals and awe-inspiring graphics – they’re environmental storytellers. They breathe life into 2D/3D models, let them be more than just pixels or shapes on your monitor. A well-animated character is not about emotions and movements – they can tell their stories with powerful animation. From the very subtle shifting in the hero’s stance to the dramatic flair during a boss battle – good animations can drastically change the level of immersion.

The best animation studios never stop testing the technical limitations of modern hardware of in-game engines, and 2D/3D animation software, trying new techniques, learning new technology, and inventing new methods to make the gaming world with more realistic and true-to-life animations. The more they try, the better games we have.

What Are the Best Animation Studios for Video Games?

The greatest animation studios in the video game industry do so much more than just light up a screen. They help to build the whole world. Frequently, the best animation studios are made by humble architects forging some of the most immersive experiences players keep on thinking about many years after finishing the game. 

More than anything else, successful animation studios are great storytellers. When a hero strikes a triumphant victory pose or that very small eye movement of a character in a dramatic situation – these small nuances really do feel right to evoke emotion and develop a bond that draws players deeper into the story.

Another hallmark of the best animation studios is technical relevance. Video game animation is a complex mix of art and science. The game animator has to master physics, motion, and timing to achieve the greatest animation. The best animation studios don’t just animate characters – they make every move in the game feel natural and fluid. Video game animation needs to respond in real time, adapting to the player’s input while maintaining a smooth and believable flow.

The other major factor is innovation. The gaming industry is in a constant state of change, and the best animation studios are leading this path to innovation. They keep pushing the boundaries with new techniques and technologies – from traditional motion capture to AI-driven animation. They want to make their animations more realistic and dynamic to continue delivering ever more jaw-dropping in-game experiences.

Collaboration is also important. The best animation studios work in close coordination with game designers, writers, and programmers to ensure that the animation goes perfectly in line with the common vision for the game.

What Are The Best Animation Studios in the Video Game Industry?

To inspire and get inspired you need to learn from the best animation studios. There are dozens of top-notch studios that create 3D animation and 2D animation for video games, animated series, and commercials. Being part of the best 2D animation studios or 3D animation studios is a prestigious career path for any interesting newbie. 

1. Blur Studio

Blur Studio stands as an animation giant, acclaimed for its works in cinematic trailers, cutscenes, and video games’ visual effects. Since its debut in 1995, Blur has grown to become one of the best companies responsible for some of the most iconic games – from Halo Wars 2 to Star Wars: The Old Republic and Dark Souls II.

2. Digic Pictures

Digic Pictures from Hungary is yet another animation powerhouse known for mind-blowing works in the videogame industry. Digic specializes in doing cinematic trailers and cutscenes for franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Call of Duty, and The Witcher. Their animations are incredibly detailed in character models and lifelike environments, with epic storytelling.

3. Axis Studios

Axis Studios is based in the UK and has paved its path to glory through creative storytelling and stunning animation works on video games. The studio has worked with many high-profile titles such as Destiny 2, League of Legends, and Warframe.

4. Plastic Wax

This Australian-based animation studio Plastic Wax has managed to create some of the best cinematics for video games. Known for their work on games like Gears of War, XCOM 2, and Homefront: The Revolution, Plastic Wax really shines when creating complex and detailed cutscenes with outstanding visuals.

5. The Sequence Group

Based in Canada, this studio packs a big punch with its hyper-distinct animation style and storytelling prowess. They have worked on games like Warframe, Resident Evil Village, and Cyberpunk 2077. The Sequence Group is known for fusing traditional animation techniques with cutting-edge digital effects to create a signature style, often leveraging tools like video cutter to refine and perfect their dynamic visual storytelling.

6. Goodbye Kansas Studios

With the studios in Sweden and the UK, the Goodbye Kansas had worked on the animations for Cyberpunk 2077, The Walking Dead series, and Hitman. They are known for is photorealistic character animation and stunning visual effects. This studio has a very special knack for understanding how to provide emotionally engaging and visibly stunning scenes.

7. KWM (formerly Spov)

KWM is a London-based studio that specializes in cinematic sequences, UI design, and motion graphics for video games. Their animation portfolio includes outstanding examples of gaming titles such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, The Division, and Cyberpunk 2077. The animation work of KWM is sleek, stylistically sharp, and detailed.

Also, there are such outstanding examples of the best animation studios as Platige Image, RealtimeUK, and Unit Image. Go to visit their websites to appreciate their stunning portfolios. 

The best animation studios build the backbone of some of the most striking and narratively gripping video games. Each studio has a certain art style, animation approach, and experience to make video games such an immersive and engaging experience in visual storytelling.

What Gaming Studios Have The Best Animation Examples?

A few well-known gaming studios can boast some of the greatest tech-savvy and experienced animator teams. Their best animation studios in India and Singapore and in-house teams create stunning visuals and breathtaking animations. The gamedev studios that inspire the BandurArt team and our partners, readers, and gamers all around the world are: 

• Epic Games. Epic Games is the company behind the most powerful game engine – Unreal Engine. For a long time, Epic Games’ animation team has been pushing the boundaries of what seems to be possible in video games. One such example is Fortnite, with its colorful and always-advancing world that has attracted users for many years;
• Larian Studios. After releasing Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios managed to set new standards for role-playing games. A huge part of what drives this game to its greatness is the animation work. Every fight, dialogue, every cutscene, and exploration feels dynamic and immersive;
• Naughty Dog. After years of hard work at the franchises Uncharted and The Last of Us, the house of Naughty Dog has really set the gold standard regarding character animation in video games. Their animations don’t stop at movement – they are about emotion. The Last of Us Part II is one such example — very subtle character expressions, and body language that deliver deep and often heartbreaking emotions to draw players into the heartbreaking story;
• Remedy Entertainment. The animation team behind the studio’s projects Control and Alan Wake has surely made a name for themselves. One of Remedy’s hallmarks is the fact their games usually combine reality with something surreal, and their animations help create that atmosphere;
• Insomniac Games. From the Ratchet & Clank series to the more recent Spider-Man titles, Insomniac’s animation work is strikingly visual and mechanically satisfying. Insomniac’s commitment to that kind of experience, full of detailed textures and responsive gameplay, made a difference in the industry;

Surely, there are many best animation studios in the world. Check Reddit’s passionate discussion of the best animation examples in the industry. 

What Are the Best Software for Video Game Animations?

It is impossible to create an animation masterpiece without solid knowledge and experience in certain animation programs and software. The following programs are must-haves to learn if you want to become a video game animator in the best animation studios someday.

1. Autodesk Maya

Maya is a well-known, commonly used 3D animation software in the video gaming industry. Equipped with good modeling, texturing, and rigging tools, it is suitable for detailed character animations and scenes with complicated sequences. Its functional potential and flexibility make Maya one of the favorite choices among animators who work on high-end game designs.

2. Blender

Blender is a free, open-source 3D creation suite that’s extremely popular among indie developers and the best small animation studios. The detailed tools for modeling, sculpting, rigging, and animation are at your disposal. Its real-time viewport and GPU-based rendering support make Blender one of the beginner-friendly programs for aspiring video game animators.

3. Unreal Engine

Besides being the best game engine used in dozens of AAA titles, Unreal Engine by Epic Games is actually an excellent platform for creating real-time animations. Its Sequencer tool helps to create cinematic-style animation work. Its real-time rendering capabilities make this game engine really apt for creating dynamic, interactive animations responding to the gameplay.

4. 3DS Max

3DS Max is another product by Autodesk picked thanks to the detailed 3D modeling alongside the simplified development of 3D assets. It turns out to be effective for creating game environments and architectural visualizations that presume the robust rigging and keyframe animation tools.

5. Houdini

Houdini by SideFX has remained one of the most renowned tools for procedural animation. Moreover, it is often used to make complicated visual effects and simulations. A node-based approach makes it perfect for building detailed and fully scalable animations. It is perfect for creating particle effects, fluid simulation, and destruction animation.

6. Spine

Spine is professional animation software for 2D skeletal animation. It is mostly used in mobile and indie games due to the lightweight and fluency of dynamic animations you can build with it. A great choice if your team has a limited budget and human resources. So, Spine is mainly used by the teams in the best 2D animation studios.

7. MotionBuilder

Another real-time 3D character animation software is MotionBuilder, also produced and supported by Autodesk. It dominates the use of motion capture animation and offers powerful tools for animation editing and mocap. It can become a perfect solution for the animator who works on projects that have realistic character movements.

To understand the differences between all these platforms, services, software, and tools, check the following table of the programs used by all the best animation studios. 

Software	Type	Key Features	Ideal For	Price	Pros	Cons
Autodesk Maya	3D Animation	Advanced modeling, texturing, rigging, powerful animation tools	High-end 3D game animations	Subscription-based	Industry-standard, extensive features, flexibility	The steep learning curve, expensive
Blender	3D Animation	Open-source, modeling, sculpting, rigging, real-time viewport	Indie developers, small studios	Free	Free, versatile, strong community support	Complicated interface, not many features
Unreal Engine	Game Engine	Real-time animation, Sequencer tool, GPU-based rendering	Real-time, interactive animations	Free (Royalties apply)	Real-time rendering, cinematic quality, powerful engine	Complex for beginners requires powerful hardware
3DS Max	3D Animation	Powerful modeling tools, keyframe animation, rigging	Game environments, 3D assets	Subscription-based	User-friendly for modeling, good for environments	Less focused on animation than Maya
Houdini	Procedural Animation	Node-based, procedural effects, complex simulations	Large-scale VFX, complex animations	Subscription-based	Great for complex effects, scalable animations	The steep learning curve, expensive
Spine	2D Animation	Skeletal animation, lightweight, efficient workflow	2D game animations, mobile games	License-based	Optimized for 2D games, easy to use, lightweight	Only for 2D animation studios
MotionBuilder	Motion Capture	Real-time 3D animation, mocap editing, character animation	Mocap-heavy projects	Subscription-based	Excellent for mocap data, real-time feedback	Narrow specifics, expensive

How to Become a Game Animator in the Best Animation Studios?

If you want to pursue a career as a video game animator, then you have to learn from the best animation studios. You may try to get the position of an intern or junior 2D/3D animator. Keep in mind that in any scenario you have to prove your technical skills in practice, show the creative approach in your portfolio, and do not stop learning basically throughout your whole career.

Here is a checklist of things to do to join the best animation studios: 

• Learn the basics by heart both in theory and practice;
• Choose the best animation software and become a professional in using it. The more tech skills you master, the better;
• Build a diverse and solid portfolio for your resume;
• To make believable animation, you need to get a deep understanding of human anatomy and movements.  Research how the human body moves and how muscles work, and especially how feelings are expressed through body language;
• Game animation also requires the creation of loops (for example, walking cycles) and transitions which have to work seamlessly in different game contexts;
• Even modest experience will boost your chances to get a good job at a leading animation studio. You can get real-world experience through internships, freelancing, or other small projects;
• Networking is very crucial when you want to be hired by the best animation studios. Attend meetups and events, join animator-specific websites, and take part in forums where animators and game developers collaborate;
• Apply to the best animation studios when you have developed your skills and put together a great portfolio. Customize your resume and cover letter for each studio, explaining why you could be the right person for their team;

The BandurArt team encourages you to overcome your fears and be humble enough to start small. It is worth checking this video of an experienced video game animator who tells about the career path and the best animation studios to work for. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can animators build a lifetime career in the video game industry?

Yes, they absolutely can. Good animators can make the movements of characters, environments, and action sequences more realistic and improve the overall quality of the whole project.

2. Which software would be the best for beginners of game animation?

On Reddit, Blender is considered the most beginner-friendly animation software. Most of their tools are free, and strongly supported by the community in addition to powerful premium features.

3. What program should I use for motion capture animation?

MotionBuilder is an industry-standard tool for motion capture animation. It specializes in editing and refining mocap data in real time, making it the industry standard for projects that include very realistic character movements.

Conclusion

Animation studios in the video game industry are the creative engines that turn ideas into immersive and visually stunning experiences. The BandurArt team hopes that this guide will inspire you to join the best small animation studios or large corporations with 2D/3D animator teams. You can also become our partner to create awesome animation projects together for indie and AAA games. We have an experienced team of animators, artists, and game developers who can share insights.