We are the only worker-co-op animation studio in Canada, owned and managed by union workers. Together we bring over a century of experience, knowledge, and talent to every project, offering animation and motion design services from development to final cut.
The seeds for our co-op were planted back in the spring of 2023 when IATSE Canada & the Canadian Animation Guild (our union!) wanted to connect with animation workers to promote unions in their workplaces. Our founding members, Karla, Chayadol, and Dennis took on the project, and helped craft the short film that became “An Animation Union at Your Studio.”
Later in 2024 our trio was approached again, this time to produce six short films (three in both French and English) for the Canadian Labour Congress. This is when Luc joined as Producer/Director, helping lead the team and guide production. These shorts were created in the hopes of boosting the CLC’s Young Workers drive by teaching some of its history and mission. Check them out on our Work page.
Having collaborated so well as a team, we were keen to continue this and decided to form our own co-op. We invited Nuranee to join us as Supervising Director, and on March 30, 2025 we officially registered and incorporated our co-op! In April 2025 we joined Surrey, BC nonprofit Solid State Community Industries to assist in further developing The Animation Co-op. We’re very excited about the future!
Want to work with us? Send us your project brief and we’ll get in touch with a quote!
Why a co-op?
A great explanation for this comes from The International Cooperative Alliance:
“Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.”
What’s a worker-co-op?
The British Columbia Cooperative Association’s Cultivating Co-ops explains it this way:
“A worker-co-op combines worker ownership and democratic control. Members provide themselves with employment while making goods and/or services available to the community.”
Our Values
We recognize that none of our work can happen without the labour, talent, and knowledge of our workers.
We believe all workers should share fairly in the wealth created by their work.
We are committed to guaranteeing actual work-life balance for all our workers.
To achieve this we commit to paying our members, workers, and contractors a higher than average living wage (based on Living Wage BC standards).
Our Mission
To create work that inspires learning, provokes thought, and entertains without compromising our values, nor yours.
To take on projects which reflect our values.
To support one another, and continually strive to be better.
To exist as a vibrant alternative to corporate animation studio models.
To build healthy relationships with our clients and labour partners.
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