Marvel Studios Animation
Marvel Studios Animation (also known as Marvel Animation) is a division of American production company Marvel Studios centered on development of its animated projects based on Marvel Comics. The division was created by Marvel Studios and mainly produces projects set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and also oversees the development of non-MCU animated projects.
Company type
Entertainment
Animation
July 21, 2021
- Brad Winderbaum (head of streaming, television, and animation)
- Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt (VP of animation)
Animation
Production
Licensing
Since 2021, Marvel Studios Animation has released three projects – the series What If...? and X-Men '97, and the shorts I Am Groot – with three more in development. Additionally, they took over production of the Disney Junior series Spidey and His Amazing Friends starting with its second season. The division outsources animation to other studios for each project.
Process[edit]
Similar to other animation studios, Marvel Studios Animation outsources its animation to other studios;[34] Alonso said the medium of animation allowed Marvel Studios to work with new companies around the world.[5] Winderbaum stated that Marvel Studios was open to working with corporate siblings Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios on animated MCU content "under the right circumstances".[34] Spidey and His Amazing Friends is co-produced with Disney Junior in association with animation studio Atomic Cartoons.[35] According to Marvel Studios' head of visual development Ryan Meinerding, Marvel Studios Animation uses techniques similar to those used in comics, which allows the studio to adapt Marvel comics "in a way that's maybe more powerful than the films".[17] Winderbaum said the type of animation used in a series would depend on what the producers felt fit for each series.[36]
Winderbaum noted Marvel Studios had to alter its production process for its animated projects, noting "it requires so much more forethougth" than live-action production, where Marvel Studios usually makes most changes to its projects during post-production.[9] Unlike VFX artists for the live-action productions, artists at the animation studio are hired directly by Marvel and work in-house at Marvel Studios Animation. The studio works under a strict deadline structure, which was criticized by a senior animator as the studio "asking for things that can't be done".[21]