best-animation-studios-12

Best Interactive Video Production Companies 2025

Top Studios for Branching Narratives, Shoppable Experiences & Personalization

30-Second Summary

Top interactive video companies 2025: Hocus Pocus Studio creates seamless creative + technical builds (5–10 weeks), Stornaway serves 50K+ users with Story Map editor ($10–$75/month), WIREWAX/Vimeo delivers 5× engagement with 40K+ users, Casual Films offers AI-powered interactive for BMW/Adobe, and Groove Jones specializes in AR/VR immersive. Choose based on production vs platform needs and budget.

Quick Comparison Tool

Company Speciality Best For Type Key Feature
Hocus Pocus Studio Creative + Technical Brands, Agencies, Platforms Production House BAFTA Nominated
Stornaway Story Map Platform Learning, Marketing, Content Software Platform 50K+ Users
WIREWAX (Vimeo) Comprehensive Toolset Enterprise Video Marketing Software Platform 5× Engagement
Casual Films AI + 360° + Interactive Major Brands Production House BMW/Adobe Clients
Groove Jones AR/VR Immersive Emerging Tech Production House Award-Winning VR
Wyzowl Interactive Explainers Brand Storytelling Production House Founded 2011 UK

Detailed Company Profiles

1. Hocus Pocus Studio
Full-Service Interactive Production

BAFTA-nominated London animation studio specializing in interactive video production where viewers shape the story or see personalized content. Combines animation, live action, and programming for brands, agencies, and global platforms.

Unique Approach: Designs both the creative film AND the technical build for seamless interactive elements. Shell campaign example allows custom name on driver's visor and personalized messages on racetrack tarmac with instant rendering.

Timeline: 5–10 weeks depending on complexity. 1‑minute motion graphic with interactive layers takes 5 weeks plus interactive build time. Live‑action branching narratives take longer based on filming and story paths.

Pros

  • BAFTA-nominated creative quality
  • Full-service creative + technical build
  • Seamless integration of interactive elements
  • London-based working with global brands

Considerations

  • Production house vs self-service platform
  • Higher cost than DIY software solutions
  • 5–10 week timeline may not suit urgent projects
2. Stornaway
Story Map Interactive Platform

Bristol-based interactive video platform serving 50K+ users worldwide. Story Map flowchart editor enables branching narratives, personalized content, and 360° video without coding. Notable for projects surviving Eko Studio shutdown and platform independence.

Pricing: Free for 2 private projects (basic), Plus $10/month (3 projects), Pro $29/month, Premium $75/month, Enterprise on request. Differences include bandwidth (starting 100GB), project numbers, and viewer analytics.

Pros

  • 50K+ worldwide user community
  • No-code Story Map flowchart editor
  • 360° video capabilities included
  • Independent player model prevents project loss

Considerations

  • Self-service platform requires learning curve
  • Creative production separate from platform
  • Technical skills needed for complex builds
3. WIREWAX (Vimeo)
Enterprise Interactive Toolset

Acquired by Vimeo in late 2021, serves 40K+ users globally. Comprehensive interactive video platform with hotspots, branching, camera switching, 360° experiences, and slider views. Data shows 5× longer engagement, 68% increased brand recall, and 9× increased purchase intent.

Capabilities: Covers nearly every interactive video functionality in single platform. Highly configurable for branding with range of packages for different customer needs. Webinars and video tutorials for onboarding.

Pros

  • 40K+ users, backed by Vimeo infrastructure
  • 5× engagement, 68% brand recall proven
  • Comprehensive feature set in one platform
  • Professional enterprise-focused toolset

Considerations

  • Basic tier limiting, enterprise pricing opaque
  • Platform complexity requires expert users
  • Corporate focus may not suit all creators
4. Casual Films
AI-Powered Interactive Video

Creative production company offering AI-powered video, 360-degree videos, interactive videos, animation, brand videos, and explainers. Notable clients include BMW, Adobe, Rolls Royce, Marriott, and Vodafone demonstrating enterprise-level capabilities.

Pros

  • BMW, Adobe, Rolls Royce client roster
  • AI-powered video capabilities integrated
  • 360° video alongside interactive features
  • Full-service creative production

Considerations

  • Premium pricing for enterprise clients
  • Multiple services may complicate focus
  • May prioritize major brand clients
5. Groove Jones
AR/VR Immersive Specialists

Award-winning AR, VR, and 360° video experiences that transport audiences beyond traditional video into interactive digital worlds. Expertise in emerging technologies including AR, VR, XR, and AI. Clients include Amazon, Samsung, and McDonald's.

Capabilities: 360° experiences for marketing and training, AR/VR marketing content, interactive video with user-controlled narratives, immersive training simulations, virtual events and live streaming in 360°.

Pros

  • Award-winning immersive technology expertise
  • Amazon, Samsung, McDonald's clients
  • Cutting-edge AR/VR/XR/AI capabilities
  • Differentiates through emerging tech

Considerations

  • Requires appropriate budgets for tech
  • Emerging tech needs technical infrastructure
  • Traditional video needs better served elsewhere
6. Wyzowl
Interactive Explainer Videos

Leading explainer video producer founded 2011 in Southport, UK. Creates video content to increase sales, build brand awareness, and educate audiences. Full-service production of high-quality interactive explainer video content with proven engagement metrics.

Philosophy: Data shows interactive video yields 5× longer engagement, 68% increased brand recall, and 9× increased purchase intent. Focus on creating personalized, engaging experiences that viewers actively participate in rather than passively watch.

Pros

  • 14 years explainer video specialization
  • UK-based with proven methodology
  • Full-service production capabilities
  • Focus on engagement metrics and ROI

Considerations

  • Explainer focus may limit other interactive types
  • Production costs vs platform solutions
  • Less emphasis on cutting-edge tech

When to Choose Each Company

Choose Hocus Pocus Studio if:

You need full‑service interactive video production combining creative excellence with technical build. Perfect for brands, agencies, and global platforms wanting BAFTA‑level quality with seamless interactive elements like personalized content (Shell campaign style) and a single team handling creative + technical. 5–10 week timelines suit planned campaigns.

Choose Stornaway if:

You're a content creator, marketer, or learning professional wanting to create interactive videos yourself using a no‑code Story Map editor. Ideal for budgets of $10–$75/month needing branching narratives, 360° capabilities, and platform independence across a 50K+ community.

Choose WIREWAX (Vimeo) if:

You're an enterprise needing a comprehensive interactive video platform backed by Vimeo infrastructure, proven to drive 5× engagement and 68% brand recall. Best for corporate teams requiring hotspots, branching, camera switching, and 360° in a single platform.

Choose Groove Jones if:

You want award‑winning AR/VR/360° immersive experiences that go beyond traditional video—marketing activations, interactive training simulations, and virtual events for brands like Amazon and Samsung.

Pricing Scenarios

DIY Software Platforms (monthly/annual)

Stornaway: Free–$75/month (2 projects to unlimited)
WIREWAX/Vimeo: Enterprise tiers (on request)
HiHaHo: €97 per video plus white‑label extras

Full‑Service Production (project‑based)

Hocus Pocus Studio: Varies by complexity; limited branching is competitive; advanced personalization scales
Casual Films: Premium pricing (BMW/Adobe level)
Wyzowl: On request, full‑service interactive explainer production

Emerging Tech Interactive (AR/VR/360°)

Groove Jones: Premium budgets for AR/VR/XR/AI
Casual Films: AI‑powered + 360° integrated pricing
Typical Range: £20K–£100K+ depending on complexity and technology

Frequently Asked Questions

What is interactive video production?

Interactive video means building films where viewers make choices, click elements, or see personalized content. It includes branching narratives (choose‑your‑own‑adventure), shoppable experiences, data‑driven personalization, hotspots, quizzes, and polls. Studies show interactive video yields 5× longer engagement, 68% increased brand recall, and 9× increased purchase intent vs passive video.

How much do interactive videos cost in 2025?

DIY platforms like Stornaway cost $10–$75/month. Full‑service production varies with branching complexity, personalization and creative ambition. Typical timelines are 5–10 weeks, with ~1‑minute motion graphics taking ~5 weeks plus interactive build time. Live‑action branching can take longer.

Platforms vs production companies?

Platforms (Stornaway, WIREWAX) are self‑service software; production companies (Hocus Pocus, Casual Films) deliver the creative film and technical build end‑to‑end. Choose platforms for control and lower cost; production for quality and speed of execution with one accountable partner.

Where is interactive video used?

Marketing (branching product stories, shoppable video), e‑learning (higher retention), recruitment (culture tours), entertainment (Bandersnatch‑style narratives), and brand activations (personalized experiences). Connected TV and AI are accelerating adoption.

How long does production take?

Hocus Pocus typical: 5–10 weeks total. DIY builds can be days to weeks if assets exist. Complex AR/VR immersive projects may require 8–16 weeks.

Sources

Hocus Pocus Studio Interactive Video Production Stornaway Interactive Video Platform WIREWAX by Vimeo Casual Films Official Website Groove Jones AR/VR Studios Wyzowl Interactive Explainer Videos

About This Guide

This guide was compiled in September 2025 based on current industry analysis, interactive video engagement data, and company portfolios. Research shows interactive video achieves 5× longer engagement, 68% increased brand recall, and 9× increased purchase intent. Shoppable videos can drive 25% higher conversion rates, while training videos improve retention by ~30%. Rankings consider production quality, platform capabilities, user base, pricing transparency, and proven engagement metrics.

When NOT to choose Hocus Pocus Studio: If you need DIY self‑service for ongoing internal creation (choose Stornaway $10–$75/month), require sub‑£5K budget with no production needs (use free/low‑cost platforms), want purely cutting‑edge AR/VR/XR immersive experiences (choose Groove Jones), or prefer to handle creative and technical separately.