Top 3D Animation Studios: Which Are the Best 3D Animation Services?

Finding the perfect 3D animation studio to work with for your business’s next video is no easy feat. There are many options for providers out there, and each of them offers unique styles and services for different budgets. So, how can you know which video animation service is actually the best fit for your business?

Well, don’t worry, I’m here to help! In this article, I’ve compiled a list of the 10 best 3D animation companies you can partner with for your next project. I’ve included an example from each of them, so you can see their work for yourself. And, most importantly, I also discuss their pricing, so you know which ones adjust to your budget 😉.

But enough talking. Let’s jump right in!

Is 3D Animation the Right Choice for Your Project?

3D animation has transformed visual storytelling by bringing realistic depth, texture, and lifelike movement to screens. Known for its ability to create immersive environments, this style is often the go-to choice for projects that require dynamic camera angles, realistic lighting, and detailed character interactions.

From blockbuster films to video games, 3D animation can capture viewers’ attention with tangible and layered visuals. But as captivating as this style can be, it’s essential to weigh its benefits against other forms of animation before choosing your 3D animation studio. It’s particularly important to compare it to 2D, which offers a unique set of strengths that may align more closely with your project’s needs.

1. Budget Considerations

3D animation, with its complex rendering and modeling requirements, can often involve higher costs due to specialized tools and more extended production times. By contrast, 2D animation typically provides more straightforward workflows, making it a budget-friendly choice with lower explainer video costs without sacrificing quality. If your project needs a more efficient turnaround time with an effective visual impact, 2D might suit your needs perfectly.

2. Artistic Flexibility

While 3D animation offers a sense of depth and physicality, 2D animation allows for a wide range of stylistic freedom, from simple line drawings to intricate, hand-painted visuals. This flexibility can be advantageous if your project relies on a unique visual identity or has a specific look and feel you want to maintain.

3. Simplicity and Storytelling

For projects focused on storytelling, 2D animation can often communicate messages more directly and effectively. Its simpler, more iconic style is often well-suited to engaging audiences with clear, memorable visuals that prioritize story over spectacle. This may be especially helpful in areas like educational content or character-driven narratives.

In the end, whether you decide to go for a 3D animation studio or opt for a 2D one depends on the goals and scope of your project. But for many, 2D animation offers a balance of cost-effectiveness, creative freedom, and simplicity—qualities that make it a strong choice for projects looking to make an impact without overextending resources.

2.5 D Animation: The Best of Both Worlds

For projects that want to bridge the gap between 2D’s simplicity and 3D’s depth, 2.5D animation offers a compelling middle ground. This animation style combines flat, 2D visuals with subtle depth, lighting, or camera movements to create a three-dimensional feel without the complexity or cost of fully rendered 3D animation. This technique can bring dynamism and realism to a project while retaining the streamlined, accessible qualities of 2D animation.

1. Enhanced Depth with Less Complexity

By layering 2D elements and applying controlled camera movements, 2.5D animation can create a sense of depth that mimics 3D visuals without requiring complex modeling or rendering. This allows animators to achieve visually engaging, layered scenes—ideal for environments, landscapes, or detailed backgrounds that don’t require full 3D immersion.

2. Cost-Effective and Efficient

Unlike fully 3D animation, which demands significant time and budget due to intricate modeling and rendering processes, 2.5D can provide a high-impact, dimensional feel without these extra expenses. For projects on a limited budget, this style can be a smart way to capture viewers’ attention while maintaining an efficient workflow.

3. Flexible Aesthetic and Storytelling Potential

2.5D animation can be adapted to different artistic styles, blending the hand-crafted appeal of 2D with enhanced visual effects. It can work well in storytelling, allowing animators to guide focus within a scene, add nuance to character movements, or emphasize specific details, all while keeping a lighter, more illustrative look that’s inviting and engaging.

Ultimately, 2.5D animation offers an ideal balance between the cost-efficiency and style flexibility of 2D and the added dimensionality of 3D. For projects that want to stand out without requiring complex visuals, it provides a versatile and visually captivating alternative. If you’re interested in this style, our explainer video company can give you a hand!

Top 3D Animation Studios to Consider in 2024

Now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for! Let’s meet the best 3D animation services available for your project:

1. Mondlicht Studios
2. The Mill
3. The DVI Group
4. Demo Duck
5. Blue Carrot
6. Raconteur Animation
7. Art & Graft
8. Reel Big Media
9. Sparkhouse
10. VeracityColab

1. Mondlicht Studios – 3D Animation Services

Founded: 2019

Team Size: 10 – 49 employees.

Clients: Panerai, Lucid, Lexus, Halo.

Pricing: $25,000+

About Them: A powerhouse of creative talent leading the charge in the automation and advertising industries. This team of digital specialists has won several awards and proudly offers everything needed for production and animation, all under one roof. The goal of this 3D animation studio is to present their client’s products and key messages in the most captivating way possible.

2. The Mill – 3D Animation Company

Founded: 1990

Team Size: 1,000 – 9,999 employees.

Clients: Castorama, Confused.com, Energizer, Aeromexico.

Pricing: $10,000+

About Them: For more than two decades, The Mill has led the 3D visual effects industry, blending creative innovation with advanced technology to produce truly impactful work. They’re known for crafting visuals that resonate with audiences, spark conversation, and become part of the cultural landscape. With a global team of experienced artists in providing 3D animation services, they bring unmatched expertise and artistry to every project.

3. The DVI Group – 3D Animation Firm

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Founded: 2000

Team Size: 10 – 20 employees.

Clients: APTOS, Kaiser Permanente, Newell Brands, Payrix.

Pricing: $30,000+

About Them: This company places a strong focus on the added production value and professionalism that animation brings to a brand. Yet, the DVI Group is far more than a 3D animation studio. Alongside crafting everything video-related—from live-action footage to motion graphics—they also support clients in their marketing, communication, and corporate training video production, offering a comprehensive approach to visual content creation.

4. Demo Duck – 3D Animation Ageny

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Founded: 2011

Team Size: 10 – 49 employees.

Clients: Newsela, ODCC, Prisidio, Phonesoap.

Pricing: $30,000+

About Them: This 3D animation studio collaborates with a diverse range of industries but shines in creating videos for startups, SaaS companies, and healthcare organizations. With significant experience in non-profit video production, they bring a unique approach to each project. As they say themselves, “The Ducks are always down for a new challenge!” Their goal is to humanize brands, educate audiences, and bring clients’ values and mission to life through engaging motion.

5. Blue Carrot – 3D Animation Production

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Founded: 2014

Team Size: 10 – 20 employees.

Clients: Takeda, Autronica, DreamCo, Wavin.

Pricing: $1,000+

About Them: This 3D animation company from Ukraine started as a small, two-person video production team and has since grown impressively, completing over 300 projects. Known for their expertise in e-learning and marketing videos, the team at Blue Carrot encourages clients to be actively involved in every stage of the production process, fostering collaboration and creativity.

6. Raconteur Animation – 3D Animation Studio

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Founded: 2014

Team Size: 2 – 9 employees.

Clients: Deep Isolation, Tubular Network, ULC Robotics, Galactiv.

Pricing: $5,000+

About Them: This company focuses on supporting both startups and established businesses in industries such as robotics, energy, space tech, logistics, and automation. Their video productions have played a key role in helping clients secure deals at trade shows, presentations, funding pitches, and beyond. Alongside their 3D animation expertise, Raconteur also offers immersive VR experiences, providing a full range of innovative solutions to elevate their clients’ projects.

7. Art & Graft – 3D Animation Design Studio

Founded: 2010

Team Size: 10 –  40 employees.

Clients: Virgin Media, Soho House, Boing, The Flynn.

Pricing: –

About them: This innovative and award-winning 3D animation studio, headquartered in London, is widely acclaimed for its unique approach to animation and design. The team is made up of design specialists, animators, and producers who all specialize in producing captivating, character-driven content for brands, combining imaginative storytelling with strategic messaging.

8. Reel Big Media – Commercial Animation Studio

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Founded: 2007

Team Size: 2 – 9 employees.

Clients: PAN Communications, Perkins School for the Blind, Equinor, Doble Engineering.

Pricing: $20,000+

About Them: From educational videos to medical device explainer videos and CAD commercials, this 3D animation studio excels in a wide array of projects. With a focus on quality, professionalism, and trust, they deliver top-tier results every time. Their website boasts that their equipment is among the most advanced in the industry. Plus, here’s a fun tidbit: the entire team is made up of FAA-licensed aerial drone pilots, adding an extra layer of expertise to their work!

9. Sparkhouse – 3D Animation Agency

Founded: 2009

Team Size: 2 – 9 employees.

Clients: GMC, Nissan, JWC Environmental, Stellar.

Pricing: $10,000+

Who they are:  The creative team at this 3D animation company is celebrated for its commitment to producing engaging and dynamic content. With a strong focus on storytelling, they aim to educate, promote, and, most importantly, inspire and connect with viewers. Always striving to exceed their previous work, they’ve built a remarkable portfolio of marketing videos designed to meet client goals, while consistently delivering fresh, innovative ideas across various video formats.

10. VeracityColab – 3D Animation Studio

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Founded: 2008

Team Size: 2 – 9 employees.

Clients: Intuit, simplehuman, Life Happens, Medallia.

Pricing: $10,000+

About Them: This animation studio offers a wide range of styles, going beyond just 3D to deliver diverse, creative content. Their team specializes in creating customized, on-brand designs that not only captivate audiences but also drive conversions. As they put it, many of their clients return again and again, a testament to the personalized care they provide and their reliable, proven video production process.

A Bit More about Yum Yum Videos’ 2D Animation Services

While it’s true that here, at Yum Yum Videos, we don’t currently offer 3D animation services, we are experts in an excellent alternative: 2D animation. This option is often more affordable, convenient, and effective than 3D videos, for example, if you’re looking to train employees at your corporate company, advertise a tutorial on how to use your SaaS services, or simply for an effective way to bring customers to your business.

We make all kinds of animated content, so we can be the perfect match if you’re looking for explainer videos, training videos, product demos, or more!

Our team is comprised of the best specialists around, with years of proven experience and a deep appreciation for what we do. From animators to scriptwriters, videographers, project managers, and everything in between, every person in this 2D animation studio is highly qualified to get you the best results possible. Not to mention, we have a 5-star rating on Clutch and Google 😉.

We’re driven by passion and love for what we do. All our projects are characterized by tailored content and strict attention to detail, taking care of even the smallest elements that may go unnoticed by other companies. In short, we love what we do, and we take pride in putting our all into each and every one of the videos we produce–and our clients vouch for us!

So, if you want to invest in a 2D animated video instead of a 3D animation studio, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’re eager to start working together on your next project 😉.

3D Animation Services FAQ

Before we round off, let’s go over some common questions about this type of animation.

1. What Are the Benefits of 3D Animation?

3D animation offers numerous benefits, making it a powerful tool across industries. First of all, tt enables businesses to showcase products, concepts, or stories with exceptional clarity and detail, giving audiences a realistic and immersive experience that’s hard to achieve with other media.

Moreover, the flexibility of 3D animation allows for creating highly complex scenes, intricate characters, and dynamic environments, all of which can help capture viewers’ attention and enhance engagement. It’s also incredibly versatile; industries like healthcare, education, and architecture use 3D animation for simulations, training, and visualizations, making complex information easier to understand.

2. How Long Does 3D Animation Production Take?

The time it takes to make a 3D animated piece from start to finish will always depend on what you’re looking for and the length of your project. On average, a 60 to 90-second video usually takes around 6 weeks to make. If you need a video done faster, you could opt for another style and check out the top 2D animation studios.

3. What Should I Expect from a 3D Animation Company?

Ideally, you should get an initial consultation to discuss your expectations, style preferences, budget, and timeline. Then, the company will ask for any useful assets you may have, like photos or illustrations. They’ll start by planning the story and creating rough sketches or storyboards, giving you a preview of the animation’s direction. After you approve the concept, they’ll move into modeling and rigging characters or objects in 3D, adding texture and detail to make them look lifelike. This is followed by animating, where the team brings everything to life with movement, lighting, and special effects.

Once the animation is completed, they’ll render it, polish the visuals, and add any necessary sound or effects. Most companies allow rounds of feedback, where you can request revisions to get the look and feel just right. Finally, the finished animation will be delivered in your desired format for web, social media, or broadcast. Throughout, the company will keep you in the loop and ensure your vision comes to life as an engaging, high-quality piece.

4. What Services Do 3D Animation Studios Offer?

3D animation studios typically provide a range of services beyond just animation itself, including 3D modeling, rigging, and texturing, which form the foundation of creating lifelike animated characters and objects. Many studios also offer visual effects (VFX) for films and commercials, motion graphics, architectural visualization, and product rendering.

Additional services often include storyboarding, concept art, and post-production editing. Some studios specialize in immersive experiences, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), which leverage 3D animation for a more interactive viewer experience.

5. How Much Do 3D Animation Services Cost?

The cost of 3D animation services varies widely depending on the project’s complexity, length, and level of detail. For a short, simple animation, prices can range from $5,000 to $10,000, while more complex animations for film or marketing purposes can cost anywhere from $10,000 to well over $100,000!

Bear in mind that pricing is often influenced by factors such as the number of characters, the intricacy of the scenes, rendering time, and the studio’s reputation. Because of that, most 3D animation studios often provide custom quotes based on the unique requirements of each project.

6. Who Are the Best 3D Animators in Hollywood?

Hollywood is home to many talented 3D animation studios, renowned for their animators capable of producing blockbuster-quality content. Major players include companies like Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, and Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), known for their groundbreaking work in both animated films and special effects.

7. What Companies Use 3D Animation?

3D animation is utilized across a variety of industries. In entertainment, companies like Disney, Marvel, and Warner Bros. use 3D animation for feature films, series, and special effects. In advertising, brands like Nike and Apple incorporate 3D animation to showcase products in engaging, dynamic ways. The technology industry, especially companies like Microsoft and Samsung, uses this style to demonstrate product features and functions. Moreover, sectors like healthcare, automotive, architecture, and education rely on 3D animation for simulations, product visualization, and training modules.

Wrapping Up

Well, that’s it for this piece! I hope you enjoyed reading it.

I know looking for an agency to partner with can be quite stressful, so I made this list hoping it would make things easier for you. Finding a company that provides high-quality 3D animation services might not be that easy, but rest assured that the ones I picked are the best of the best! From animation studios in New York to boutique companies, you’re sure to find the perfect option for you among these providers.

Now that the research stage is done, it’s time to start sending some emails and find the creators of your next video 😄.