Anime
animation studio
Chicago.
Professional Anime Animation Studio for Games, Streaming & Original IP Magic Motion Studio is the dedicated anime animation studio Chicago gaming studios, streaming creators, VTubers, and IP owners use for authentic frame-by-frame production. Home of Anime Central, the largest dedicated anime convention in the Midwest. Toon Boom Harmony. Clip Studio Paint. Moho. See our pricing →
beautifully.
All animation. One studio.
beautifully.
All animation. One studio.
Watch our anime animation studio work.
Frame-by-frame anime animation, motion manga PVs, and character animation produced at Magic Motion Studio. Every project hand-drawn. No AI. No shortcuts.
Why Chicago is the anime animation studio capital of the Midwest.
Magic Motion Studio is the dedicated anime animation studio Chicago gaming studios, streaming creators, VTubers, and IP owners use for frame-by-frame production. We serve Chicago and all of Illinois with written quotes in 24 hours and no calls required. Check our anime pricing →
Chicago is the home of Anime Central (ACen), the largest dedicated anime convention in the entire Midwest. Held annually at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, ACen has reached a peak attendance of 33,084 and draws over 30,000 unique attendees each year. No other city in the Midwest hosts an anime-dedicated convention of this scale. For any anime animation studio, Chicago represents a market with a deeply organised, convention-attending anime audience that has been growing for over two decades.
NetherRealm Studios, the Warner Bros. Games subsidiary responsible for Mortal Kombat and Injustice, is headquartered in Chicago. Anime-influenced fight animation is at the core of their visual identity. NetherRealm represents the kind of gaming studio that needs specialist character animation, cinematic sequences, and promotional anime-style trailers that generalist motion graphics studios are not equipped to produce authentically. The Chicago gaming and animation industry is real and it is growing.
C2E2, the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo held at McCormick Place, drew 100,000 attendees in 2025, making it the largest pop-culture convention in the Midwest. Anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture are core content tracks at C2E2 alongside comics, gaming, and film. Fan Expo Chicago at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center added a further 75,000 attendees in 2024. Anime Midwest, also in Rosemont, has been a consistent fixture in the Chicago convention calendar since 2011. The volume of convention-going anime fans in Chicago is matched by very few US cities outside Los Angeles and New York.
Despite all of this, every animation studio currently ranking for Chicago searches is a generalist. Richter Studios in Highland Park, Hatch Studios, Ajax Creative, and Calabash Animation (founded in Chicago in 1985) all produce commercial and corporate animation across multiple styles. Anime is not in their portfolio. Magic Motion Studio fills the specialist gap entirely, producing only frame-by-frame anime using Toon Boom Harmony and Clip Studio Paint, with no AI generation, no rigged puppet systems, and full IP transfer on delivery to every Chicago client.
Every anime client type in Chicago, one studio.
From gaming studios in the West Loop to streaming creators, VTubers, manga artists, and brands targeting Chicago's organised anime audience. We are the dedicated anime animation studio Chicago creators and companies use for authentic frame-by-frame production.
Chicago Gaming Studios
NetherRealm Studios (Mortal Kombat, Injustice) and Jackbox Games both call Chicago home. Chicago gaming studios commission anime-style character animations, cinematic cutscenes, and promotional trailers that need to match the visual language their anime-raised audiences expect. Our anime animation studio Chicago gaming clients use for authentic production delivers what generalist studios cannot replicate.
Streaming and IP Creators
Independent IP owners and streaming content creators developing original anime commission opening sequences, episodic animation, and pilot episodes. Chicago's anime convention infrastructure, including Anime Central and Anime Midwest, signals a market that sustains original creative projects. We produce full pilots and trailers for streaming-ready delivery.
Manga and Webtoon Creators
Chicago manga artists and Webtoon creators use our anime animation studio to bring their projects from page to screen. We handle the complete pipeline from source material to a pitch-ready pilot or promotional video. See our guide on how to get your manga animated for a full breakdown of what the process involves.
VTuber Talent
VTuber talent and agencies in Chicago and across the Midwest commission debut animations, emote packs, and animated overlays. The AnimeChicago community of 3,400+ members includes a growing VTuber creator segment. Our VTuber animation cost guide covers full scope, production stages, and pricing with verified data.
Chicago Brands and Ad Agencies
With 54% of Gen Z globally identifying as anime fans, anime-style video consistently outperforms traditional formats for the 18 to 34 demographic. Chicago brands and the city's large advertising agency sector commission anime animation for product launches, social campaigns, and mascot development. ACen and C2E2 draw a combined 130,000+ attendees — that is the size of the audience brands are trying to reach.
Crowdfunding Campaigns
Chicago creators launching anime projects on Kickstarter and Indiegogo commission trailer and pilot animation to demonstrate production value to backers. A professionally produced anime trailer is the most important asset in any campaign. See our trailer vs motion manga PV guide to understand format options and what each costs.
Every anime format Chicago clients need to ship.
From gaming trailers to VTuber debuts and streaming pilots. All produced in Toon Boom Harmony with hand-drawn keyframes, full IP transfer on delivery, and written quotes within 24 hours.
Anime Opening Animation
Full OP sequences for streaming platforms, games, and original IP. Scene cut planning, character animation, and kinetic typography for broadcast-quality results. The format Chicago gaming studios and streaming producers use to launch a series. See our anime opening animation service for full scope.
Learn moreAnime Trailer Production
High-impact trailers for crowdfunding campaigns, game launches, and streaming announcements. Built from visual briefs with no calls required, delivered at 1080p or 4K. Ideal for Chicago creators with ACen, C2E2, or Anime Midwest convention deadlines. Our anime trailer production service covers the full scope.
Learn moreFrame-by-Frame Animation
Drawn on 2s and 3s in Clip Studio Paint and composited in Toon Boom Harmony. No AI generation, no puppet rigs. Every keyframe is hand-drawn. See our frame-by-frame anime animation service for a complete breakdown of the production process and what it delivers.
Learn moreVTuber Animation
Debut animations, emote packs, stream overlays, and intro and outro sequences. Chicago VTubers and Midwest-based VTuber agencies commission debut packages that match the quality standard audiences expect. Our VTuber animation cost guide covers full scope, production stages, and verified pricing data.
Learn moreAnime Music Video (AMV)
Fully original AMVs for musicians and content creators targeting the anime audience. Storyboarded and animated from your track and visual brief. No stock footage, no rotoscoped clips. Entirely original drawn animation synced to your music. Delivered at broadcast resolution for platforms, streaming, and live event use.
Learn moreAnime Pilot Production
Full pilot episodes from original manga, webtoon, or concept brief. We manage the entire pipeline: character adaptation, storyboarding, background art, frame-by-frame animation, and delivery for streaming platform submission. Chicago IP owners looking to pitch to international anime distributors receive a pitch-ready package built to broadcast standard.
Learn moreProfessional-grade anime tools. No shortcuts.
Dedicated Anime Studio, Not a Chicago Generalist
Every competitor ranking for Chicago animation searches is a generalist studio. Richter Studios in Highland Park, Hatch Studios, Ajax Creative, and Calabash Animation (founded 1985) all produce commercial and corporate animation across multiple styles. Anime appears in none of their portfolios. Magic Motion Studio produces only anime and anime-adjacent work. That focus is what separates a studio that understands the style from one that approximates its surface appearance.
No AI Generation. No Puppet Shortcuts.
No AI shortcuts, no motion design templates, no rigged puppet systems marketed as anime. Frame-by-frame means every keyframe is hand-drawn in Clip Studio Paint and composited in Toon Boom Harmony. Chicago gaming studios committing to an anime-style game or promotional trailer cannot afford animation that reads as a cheap imitation to the Anime Central and C2E2 audiences they are targeting.
Full IP Transfer on Delivery
Every Chicago client receives full intellectual property ownership on final payment. No licensing clauses, no royalty agreements, no usage restrictions. The animation is yours to use commercially, sublicense, or pitch to distributors. For IP owners building a franchise, this is not an optional clause. It is the standard delivery agreement on every project we produce.
Fully async. No calls. Ships on time.
From first contact to final delivery, everything runs in writing. CT timezone and all US time zones supported. Chicago clients with convention deadlines get dedicated rush slots.
Submit Your Brief
Send your project details through the contact form. Include character references, script or storyboard ideas, target platform, and any deadlines such as ACen, C2E2, or a crowdfunding launch date. No discovery calls required. Everything starts in writing so there are no misaligned expectations before production begins.
Written Quote Within 24 Hours
We review your brief and send a written quote covering scope, timeline, production stages, and deliverables. No phone calls. No automated calendar booking. A real quote based on your actual project, responded to in CT business hours. Chicago clients receive the same turnaround as all US clients regardless of time zone.
Style Frames and Character Adaptation
After agreement, the studio produces style frames and character turnaround sheets in Clip Studio Paint. Manga and webtoon clients receive adapted character designs matched to animation requirements. Style frames are delivered for written approval before full production begins. Revisions at this stage have no impact on the agreed timeline.
Animatic and Scene Planning
A full animatic is produced showing all scene cuts, timing, and motion before frame-by-frame animation begins. This is the stage to confirm pacing, scene order, and any structural changes. Anime opening sequences, trailers, and pilots all go through animatic review before production locks.
Frame-by-Frame Animation and Compositing
All animation is drawn on 2s and 3s in Clip Studio Paint and composited in Toon Boom Harmony. No AI generation, no rigged puppet systems, no motion graphics converted to anime style. Background art is painted to match the animation. Progress updates are sent at agreed milestones so you always know where the project stands.
Delivery, Export, and IP Transfer
Final delivery is at 1080p or 4K depending on project spec, exported for your platform. Source files are transferred on request. Full intellectual property ownership transfers to you on final payment with no licensing clauses, royalty agreements, or usage restrictions. Streaming-ready, broadcast-ready, and convention-screen-ready exports included.
Chicago anime questions answered.
Start your Chicago anime
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Dedicated anime animation studio serving Chicago, Illinois, and all US clients. Frame-by-frame production for gaming studios, streaming creators, VTubers, and IP owners. Written quote within 24 hours.