A London feature animation studio, founded in 2014 and based in Primrose Hill, that makes animated films such as Ron's Gone Wrong and That Christmas.
Locksmith Animation is a British studio that makes animated feature films. Its first film, Ron's Gone Wrong, came out in 2021 and was distributed by 20th Century Studios. That Christmas was released by Netflix in 2024, and Bad Fairies and The Lunar Chronicles are scheduled for release by Warner Bros. Pictures in 2027 and 2028. It also released a short film, Cardboard, in 2025, and has said it plans to make its own independent feature, Wed Wabbit.
The studio was founded in January 2014 by Sarah Smith, who directed Arthur Christmas, and producer Julie Lockhart, both formerly of Aardman Animations, with backing from Elisabeth Murdoch. The name combines the founders' surnames. The aim, as Ms Smith put it in an interview, was to make animated films that relate to children today and to give the UK a major studio able to compete with the big American animation companies. Ms Smith left in 2021; Ms Lockhart remains as president of production, and Natalie Fischer, a former operating chief at Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and Pixar, became chief executive in June 2021.
The headquarters is on Regent's Park Road in Primrose Hill, north London, and the company has had a Los Angeles office since 2023. DNEG has provided computer animation for its films since a 2014 deal. Its partners over the years have included Fox, later Disney, and Warner Bros. Pictures, which has had a production deal with it since 2019 and a first-look deal since 2023.
As at 2025 the company had about 100 employees, according to Wikipedia. Its leadership team includes a chief creative officer, a chief operating officer, a chief technology officer, a head of culture and a head of talent. An early interview said the studio was hiring talent from around the world and from major animation companies, and that the building also houses the Freelands Foundation, which encourages young people in the arts. In 2020 the studio worked with about 250 crew from home on its first feature, according to an Animation UK feature.
Making an animated film takes many different skills. Story artists and writers shape the script, designers and modellers build characters and sets, animators bring them to life, and lighting, effects and compositing artists finish the images. Producers, production managers and coordinators keep the whole thing on schedule, and technology and talent teams support them. If you enjoy drawing, storytelling, computing or organising big projects, there is a place for you. Check the studio's website for current openings.
Website: locksmithanimation.com
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