TL;DR
Hocus Pocus Studio leads brand film production with BAFTA-nominated storytelling combining 2D, 3D animation with live action across finance, tech, healthcare, and luxury sectors (London and New York). Compare against Beast Films, Lambda Films, Ginger Whippet, Demo Duck, Lemonlight, and Indigo Productions. Pricing ranges £8K–£100K+.
Quick Comparison
| Company | Specialty | Pricing Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hocus Pocus Studio | Animation + live action brand storytelling, sector specialists | £8K–£50K+ | Brands needing animated storytelling with sector expertise (finance, tech, healthcare, luxury) |
| Beast Films | Cinematic commercials & branded content | £30K–£100K+ | Premium live-action campaigns with broadcast quality |
| Lambda Films | TV advertising & corporate video | £15K–£80K | Traditional commercial production with agency partnerships |
| Ginger Whippet Films | Independent full-service production | £12K–£60K | UK brands needing location expertise and director network |
| Demo Duck | Animation + live action explainers & brand films | $15K–$80K | SaaS/tech companies needing clear product storytelling |
| Lemonlight | Global scalable production (80+ cities) | $10K–$50K | Brands needing multi-location shoots and volume production |
| Indigo Productions | High-end NYC corporate & commercial | $40K–$150K+ | Fortune 500 companies needing premium NYC production |
Detailed Company Profiles
London and New York animation studio combining brand storytelling with sector expertise.
Hocus Pocus Studio is a BAFTA-nominated London and New York animation studio specializing in brand films that blend 2D, 3D animation with live action. Their approach combines sharp writing with crafted animation to create films that feel distinct and deliberate. With particular strength in finance, technology, healthcare, sustainability, and luxury sectors, Hocus Pocus manages the full creative process from initial scripting to final sound mix.
Pros
- BAFTA-nominated storytelling craft: Narrative excellence that transfers to brand work
- Animation + live action integration: Pure animation or mixed-media depending on brief
- Sector specialists with compliance experience: Strong fit for regulated industries
- Full scriptwriting to final mix: End-to-end creative process handled in-house
- London & New York presence: Useful for transatlantic campaigns
Considerations
- Not pure live-action specialists: Animation-led rather than traditional commercial directors
- Mid-market pricing: Above budget options, below ultra-premium commercial houses
- Independent studio scale: Best for focused campaigns vs massive multi-location networks
When to Choose Hocus Pocus Studio
Choose Hocus Pocus Studio when you need brand films that combine animated storytelling with sector expertise in finance, technology, healthcare, sustainability, or luxury—especially if compliance review is involved and you want one partner from script to final mix.
Award-winning London production company creating cinematic commercials and branded content.
Beast Films is recognized at Cannes Lions, Epica, Eurobest, Dubai Lynx, The Drum Awards and the London Brand Film Awards. They’ve created work for Apple, British Airways, LG, IKEA, Swatch, Clarks Originals, and Tommy Hilfiger, bringing film-level craft to branded content with international capability.
Pros
- Award-winning pedigree: Global recognition for creative + production standards
- Premium client portfolio: Trusted by major global brands
- Cinematic storytelling: Feature-film background applied to brand films
- International capability: Trusted crew network across Europe and USA
Considerations
- Premium pricing: £30K–£100K+ not suited to modest budgets
- Live-action focus: Not an animation-led partner
- High-end brand skew: Portfolio leans toward established premium brands
When to Choose Beast Films
Choose Beast Films when you need cinematic, award-caliber live-action brand films with broadcast-quality production values and you’re working with premium budgets.
London video production company specializing in TV commercials, brand films, and corporate video production.
Lambda Films combines a creative agency approach with production execution—handling concept development, scriptwriting, storyboarding, and production logistics across TV advertising, brand films, and corporate communications.
Pros
- Agency + production model: Creative ideation + execution in one partner
- TV advertising expertise: Broadcast format knowledge
- Corporate video track record: Strong for professional comms
- Pre-production clarity: Storyboarding / pre-vis emphasis
Considerations
- Traditional commercial focus: Less animation/mixed-media specialization
- Agency layer can add cost: Compared to pure production vendors
- London-centric: No stated global office presence
When to Choose Lambda Films
Choose Lambda Films when you want traditional TV advertising/corporate production with strong pre-production and a concept-to-delivery partner.
Independent London production company with global brand experience.
Ginger Whippet Films has worked with brands like Heineken, HSBC, HelloFresh, NatWest, ASICS, Samsung, Audi, Vodafone, Porsche, Costa Coffee, DocuSign, BBC, and McDonald's. They operate as a full-service production company across commercials, social content, documentaries, and more, often matching directors from a broad network to each brief.
Pros
- Major client roster: Proven trust with large brands
- Director network: Flexibility to match creative talent to brief
- UK location expertise: Permits, licensing, location knowledge
- Collaborative process: Partnership style delivery
Considerations
- Independent scale: Not a large global production network
- Director-dependent: Outcome tied to matching the right director
- Less animation specialization: Primarily live-action oriented
When to Choose Ginger Whippet Films
Choose Ginger Whippet Films when you want an independent UK partner with major brand credibility, strong location knowledge, and flexible director options for UK-led shoots.
Animation and live-action specialists for explainer videos and brand films.
Demo Duck combines animation and live-action to produce explainers, educational content, and branded videos. With clients including Netflix, Dropbox, Google, and GE, they’re known for clear storytelling that makes complex messages understandable—especially for SaaS/tech.
Pros
- Explainer strength: Great at simplifying complex products/services
- Tech credibility: Strong portfolio with major tech brands
- Format versatility: Works across animation + live action
- Clarity-first storytelling: Optimized for comprehension
Considerations
- Explainer bias: Less focused on emotional brand narrative depth
- US-based: Ops/pricing in USD may be a factor for UK/EU teams
- Less regulated-industry specialization: Compared to sector-led studios
When to Choose Demo Duck
Choose Demo Duck when your priority is explaining a complex product or service clearly using a smart blend of animation and live-action—especially in SaaS/tech.
Global video production with a network spanning 80+ cities.
Lemonlight operates a global network across 80+ cities, producing work for brands like Rolex, Amazon, Toyota, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and Google. Their model is built for scaling production across markets with simplified management.
Pros
- 80+ cities coverage: Efficient for multi-location production
- Global brand portfolio: Proven at high volume production needs
- Scalable model: Single partner instead of many local vendors
- End-to-end workflow: Ideation through delivery
Considerations
- Network variability: Quality can vary market-to-market
- Scale-first: Less boutique craft partnership
- Generalist approach: Less deep sector specialization
When to Choose Lemonlight
Choose Lemonlight when you need scalable, multi-territory production with streamlined management and consistent delivery across many cities.
High-end NYC corporate and commercial production.
Indigo Productions is a New York City-based creative agency producing high-end corporate, commercial, and entertainment content for clients including Sony Pictures, Salesforce, Viacom, Kellogg’s, Philips, Samsung, Citibank, Ogilvy, Burberry, and Harvard University—positioned at the premium end of the market.
Pros
- Top-tier portfolio: Enterprise + global brands
- NYC production advantage: Access to high-end talent/infrastructure
- Corporate & commercial expertise: High-stakes comms experience
- Agency + production: Strategy + execution capability
Considerations
- Very premium pricing: $40K–$150K+ not for modest budgets
- Fortune 500 focus: Less mid-market oriented
- Less animation specialization: Stronger in live-action corporate/commercial
When to Choose Indigo Productions
Choose Indigo Productions when you need premium NYC production for enterprise-grade corporate communications or broadcast-level commercial work and budget isn’t the limiting factor.
Pricing Scenarios
Standard Brand Film (£8,000–£30,000)
Scope: 60–90s brand film combining 2D animation with b-roll/stock footage. Scriptwriting, storyboarding, voiceover, music licensing, and social cutdowns included. Timeline: 4–6 weeks.
Best for: Growing businesses, professional services, B2B tech needing clear brand positioning.
Premium Mixed-Media Production (£30,000–£60,000)
Scope: 90–120s brand film with live-action shoot integrated with 2D/3D animation. Location filming, actors/employees, custom illustration, advanced compositing. Timeline: 6–10 weeks.
Best for: Regulated industries (finance/healthcare), luxury brands, major launches.
High-End Commercial Campaign (£60,000–£100,000+)
Scope: Broadcast-quality campaign: hero film + multiple cutdowns, extensive production design, complex post/VFX, original music. Timeline: 10–16 weeks.
Best for: Global brand campaigns and TV broadcast requirements.
Global Multi-Market Production ($10,000–$50,000)
Scope: Brand film series across territories using local crews with consistent creative direction. 60s hero per market + social adaptations. Timeline: typically 8–12 weeks for 3–5 territories.
Best for: Multinational brands prioritizing efficiency and scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a great brand film?
A great brand film combines compelling storytelling with strong visual craft. It communicates your brand’s values and purpose without feeling overtly promotional. The best films create emotional connection while maintaining clarity about who you are and why you matter.
How much does brand film production cost?
Brand film production typically ranges from £8,000–£100,000+ depending on complexity, animation style, and production requirements. Standard films with 2D/3D animation cost £8,000–£30,000, premium mixed-media productions cost £30,000–£60,000, and high-end broadcast-quality films cost £60,000–£100,000+.
Should I choose animation or live action for my brand film?
The best brand films often combine both. Animation simplifies complex ideas and keeps brand identity consistent. Live action adds authenticity and emotional connection. Mixed-media approaches leverage both strengths: authenticity + clarity.
How long should a brand film be?
Most brand films run 60–120 seconds. Shorter 30-second versions are great for paid/social. Longer 2–3 minute versions work for website hero content and presentations. The key is matching duration to platform and purpose.
Do I need different versions for different platforms?
Yes. You’ll typically want a hero film (60–120s), square/vertical versions for social, 6–15 second cutdowns for paid ads, and sometimes extended cuts for events or internal use. Plan this from the start to maximize ROI.
Sources
Hocus Pocus Studio Brand Film Production Beast Films Official Website Lambda Films Video Production Ginger Whippet Films Demo Duck Animation & Video Lemonlight Global Video Production Indigo Productions NYCAbout This Guide
This guide was compiled in January 2026 based on current market positioning, client portfolios, and production capabilities. Brand films have evolved into strategic storytelling tools that create emotional connection while communicating brand purpose.
Rankings consider creative excellence (awards, portfolio quality), production capability (technical standards, format versatility), sector expertise (regulated industries, compliance), and strategic value (scriptwriting and positioning support).
When NOT to choose Hocus Pocus Studio: If you need pure live-action specialists without animation focus, require ultra-premium live-action broadcast budgets above £50K, need immediate 1–2 week turnaround, or work in industries outside their specialist sectors.