Beakus

Beakus is an independent British animation studio founded in 2010 by animation director and producer Steve Smith. Originally established in London and now based in Lewes, near Brighton, the studio develops original children’s television and creates commissioned animation for broadcasters, cultural institutions, educational organisations, charities and commercial clients.

Its work spans preschool storytelling, character animation, motion design and mixed media. Across these formats, Beakus combines original development with production services, supporting projects through concept development, scripting, visual design, storyboarding and animatics into animation and final delivery. Its production offering also includes voice casting and recording, music and sound design.

Children’s television

Original series development and co-production form a central part of the studio’s work. Its productions include Olobob Top, co-created with author and illustrator Leigh Hodgkinson; Yakka Dee!; and Big Lizard, co-created by Amaël Isnard and Steve Smith. Commissioned by the BBC, France Télévisions and RTBF, Big Lizard comprises 52 seven-minute episodes. Olobob Top comprises 78 five-minute episodes for CBeebies.

Alongside its original productions, Beakus has contributed animation production to the first season of The Numtums and pre-production services to Brave Bunnies. Its portfolio also includes independent short films and animated documentary sequences, reflecting a practice that extends beyond preschool series.

Cultural and commissioned animation

The studio produces bespoke short films, educational explainers and animations for museum and gallery settings. Its cultural commissions include the British Library’s Magna Carta films, Art Materials for the National Gallery and Stephen Hawking for the Science Museum.

Other work includes Plastics and Make Fashion Circular for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, alongside campaigns for Médecins Sans Frontières and the Wellcome Trust. Beakus also produces animated commercials, promotional films and broadcast idents. Its commissioned work serves scientific, educational and public-interest subjects as well as entertainment, using animation to communicate ideas through designed characters, movement and visual storytelling.