List of animation studios owned by the Walt Disney Company
An encyclopedic inventory of animation studios and animation units that have been owned, operated, or controlled by The Walt Disney Company.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
This subject is a reference list rather than a standalone commercial brand. It covers animation studios and animation units that have formed part of The Walt Disney Company, its studio divisions, or companies acquired by Disney. The list traces the development of Disney's animation organization from the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, founded by Walt and Roy Disney in 1923, to a broad group of feature, television, direct-to-video, computer-animation, visual-effects, and international production operations. Walt Disney Animation Studios is the flagship operation and presents itself as the continuation of Disney's original animation studio. Over time, Disney expanded beyond traditional hand-drawn theatrical features by establishing or acquiring satellite studios in Australia, Canada, France, Japan, and other locations. These facilities supported television programs, theatrical releases, home-video sequels, and other projects. The company also created specialized units, including Disneytoon Studios and Circle 7 Animation, to address direct-to-video production and prospective sequels to Pixar properties. The scope of the list includes studios acquired through major corporate transactions. Pixar became part of Disney through the 2006 acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios. Lucasfilm Animation entered the group with Disney's 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm. Disney's 2009 acquisition of Marvel Entertainment brought Marvel Animation into the wider corporate portfolio, while the 2019 acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox assets added 20th Century Animation and Blue Sky Studios. Disney's acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC in 1995 and its purchase of Fox Family Worldwide in 2001 also brought animation libraries, production units, channel-related operations, and minority or majority interests into the corporate structure. Not every studio whose films Disney distributed is included. International distribution agreements, including Disney's agreement to distribute selected Studio Ghibli films outside Japan, did not make those independent studios Disney-owned operations. The list also distinguishes studios that were later closed, sold, spun off, or made independent from current Disney animation companies. Because ownership and operating status have changed repeatedly, the subject is best understood as a historical corporate map rather than as a single operating entity.
History
Disney's animation history began before the formal creation of The Walt Disney Company. The Laugh-O-Gram Studio operated in the early 1920s, but it is generally treated as a predecessor rather than part of the company covered by this list. On October 16, 1923, Walt and Roy Disney established the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. That operation developed into the foundation of Walt Disney Animation Studios, which remains the principal Disney feature-animation studio in Burbank, California. As Disney's motion-picture business expanded, animation production became distributed across multiple facilities and corporate units. Walt Disney Feature Animation developed theatrical films, while television and home-entertainment divisions created series, shorts, and sequels. Disney Television Animation originated as a dedicated television-animation organization in the 1980s and later moved within the company's television structure. Disneytoon Studios, initially associated with Disney Movietoons and Disney Video Premieres, specialized in direct-to-video productions and occasional theatrical releases. Disney also established overseas production centers. Disney Animation Australia began operations in Sydney in 1988 and contributed to television work and later home-video features. Walt Disney Animation Canada opened in 1996 to use Canada's animation workforce and produce direct-to-video projects. A Paris-based operation, originally associated with Brizzi Films, operated under Disney feature-animation branding for a number of years. Disney also maintained animation operations in Japan and other international locations, particularly for television and home-entertainment production. Many of these overseas studios were subsequently closed as Disney reorganized its production model. Corporate acquisitions significantly broadened the portfolio. The 1995 acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC brought animation-related assets and relationships, including DIC Entertainment interests and other television operations. Disney's 2001 purchase of Fox Family Worldwide added Saban-related libraries, Fox Kids assets, and related animation businesses. Some acquired operations later became independent, dormant, or were reorganized into joint ventures, including arrangements connected with Jetix and SIP Animation. Pixar's relationship with Disney began as a distribution partnership and became one of the defining corporate developments in modern animation. Pixar's disagreement with Disney over film-counting, ownership, and sequel rights led Disney to establish Circle 7 Animation in 2004 as a potential producer of sequels to Pixar properties. After Bob Iger and Steve Jobs reached an agreement, Disney acquired Pixar in 2006 and closed Circle 7. Pixar thereafter operated as a Disney-owned studio while retaining a distinct creative identity. Disney added further animation capabilities through the acquisitions of Marvel Entertainment in 2009 and Lucasfilm in 2012. Marvel Animation entered the portfolio with Marvel, while Marvel Studios later created an in-house animation division. Lucasfilm Animation became part of Disney through Lucasfilm and continued to support animated productions connected with the Star Wars universe. The acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox assets in 2019 added 20th Century Animation and Blue Sky Studios, although the status and organizational placement of individual units have changed over time. The list also records operations that were not conventional feature-animation studios. The Secret Lab resulted from the 1999 merger of Dream Quest Images with Disney Feature Animation's computer-graphics division. It produced the computer-animated feature Dinosaur in 2000 and closed in 2002 after additional planned work was discontinued. The historical record therefore includes a mixture of active studios, acquired companies, satellite facilities, special-effects organizations, television units, and defunct or divested operations. It excludes independent studios merely distributed by Disney, such as Studio Ghibli, and distinguishes distribution relationships from ownership.
- 2019
20th Century Animation and Blue Sky become Disney assets
[1]Disney's acquisition of most 21st Century Fox assets added these animation operations to its studio portfolio.
- 2012
Lucasfilm Animation enters Disney's portfolio
[1]The acquisition of Lucasfilm brought Lucasfilm Animation into the Walt Disney Studios structure.
- 2009
Marvel Animation enters Disney's portfolio
[1]Disney's acquisition of Marvel Entertainment added Marvel's animation operations and libraries.
- 2006
Pixar joins Disney
[1]Disney completed its acquisition of Pixar and closed Circle 7 Animation.
- 2004
Circle 7 Animation established
[1]Disney created a computer-animation division intended to develop sequels to Pixar properties then controlled by Disney.
- 2001
Fox Family Worldwide acquisition
[1]Disney acquired Fox Family Worldwide and associated animation libraries, channels, and production interests.
- 1999
The Secret Lab is formed
[1]Dream Quest Images merged with Disney Feature Animation's computer-graphics division to form The Secret Lab.
- 1996
Disney Animation Canada opens
[1]Disney opened a Canadian subsidiary to draw on local animation talent and produce direct-to-video projects.
- 1995
Capital Cities/ABC acquisition
[1]Disney's acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC brought animation-related television assets and interests into the company.
- 1988
Disney Animation Australia opens
[1]Disney began operating an animation facility in Sydney that worked first on television programs and later on feature and home-video projects.
Products and positioning
A corporate portfolio and historical directory spanning Disney's flagship animation studio, acquired animation companies, television units, satellite facilities, and defunct or divested operations.
Theatrical feature animation · 1923
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Disney's flagship feature-animation studio and the successor to the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. It is based in Burbank, California and produces theatrical animated features, shorts, and related animation.
Computer-animated feature films · 1986
Pixar Animation Studios
A computer-animation studio that developed from Lucasfilm's Graphics Group, became an independent company in 1986, and was acquired by Disney in 2006. Pixar produces feature films, shorts, and related creative technology.
Direct-to-video and theatrical animation
Disneytoon Studios
A Disney animation operation associated with Disney Movietoons and Disney Video Premieres. It produced sequels and spin-offs connected with Disney animated properties for home entertainment and, occasionally, theatrical release.
Television and streaming animation · 2021
Marvel Studios Animation
An in-house Marvel Studios animation division established in 2021 to develop animated projects connected with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and independent animated stories.
Television and feature animation
Lucasfilm Animation
The animation unit of Lucasfilm, added to Disney through the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm. It is associated particularly with animated productions based on Star Wars and related Lucasfilm properties.
Theatrical and television animation
20th Century Animation
The animation division associated with 20th Century Studios and added to Disney through the acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox's assets.
Computer-animated feature films
Blue Sky Studios
A computer-animation studio acquired by Disney through the 21st Century Fox transaction. The studio was later closed, making it a significant defunct component of Disney's animation history.
Computer graphics and visual effects · 1999
The Secret Lab
A visual-effects and computer-animation operation formed by combining Dream Quest Images with Disney Feature Animation's computer-graphics division. It produced Dinosaur before closing in 2002.
International animation production · 1988
Walt Disney Animation Australia
Disney's Sydney-based animation studio, established in 1988. It worked on television animation and later contributed to Disney direct-to-video and feature projects before closing in 2006.
International animation production · 1996
Walt Disney Animation Canada
A Canadian Disney subsidiary opened in 1996 to use local animation talent and produce home-video projects. It closed in 2000 after a short operating period.
Brand decisions
2019
Disney adds Fox animation assetsM&ABackground
Disney acquired most of the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox.
Action taken
The transaction brought 20th Century Animation and Blue Sky Studios into Disney's portfolio.
Aftermath
The acquired animation operations became part of Disney's enlarged studio structure, although individual units later changed status.
2006
Disney acquires PixarM&ABackground
The companies' previous distribution agreement had generated disputes over film counts, sequel rights, and the future relationship between Disney and Pixar.
Action taken
Disney purchased Pixar Animation Studios and incorporated it into the Disney studio portfolio.
Aftermath
Pixar continued as a distinct creative studio within Disney, while Circle 7 Animation was discontinued.
2004
Disney establishes Circle 7 AnimationStrategyBackground
Disney and Pixar had become divided over the terms of their distribution relationship and future film rights.
Action taken
Disney created a computer-animation unit intended to make sequels to Pixar properties that Disney controlled at the time.
Aftermath
The plan became unnecessary after Disney agreed to acquire Pixar, and Circle 7 was closed in 2006.
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