Ghost Robot
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2002
- Employees
- 11-50
- Offices
- 2
About Ghost Robot
Ghost Robot is an independent creative content studio and commercial production company founded in New York City in 2002. Its work spans advertising, live-action filmmaking, animation, visual effects and original entertainment. With roots in independent film and music videos, the studio has developed into a creative and production partner for brands, agencies and filmmakers.
The company combines creative development and brand strategy with production and post-production. Projects can extend from positioning, naming, concepts and scripts through directing, production management, editorial, color grading and sound design. Its animation and design capabilities include character animation, motion graphics and visual effects, alongside commercial photography, interactive installations and immersive media.
Campaigns and storytelling
Ghost Robot develops individual films as well as broader content systems designed for multiple channels. Its commercial portfolio includes KFC and Beyond Meat’s “Kentucky Fried Miracle,” Instagram’s “#Interests” / “Generation Z,” Method’s “Dream Foam” and Brooklyn Brewery’s “The Lager that Brooklyn Built.” Other work includes Airbnb’s documentary-style “Host Stories” and Google’s “Epic Career Quest” campaign promoting Google Career Certificates.
The studio works across consumer goods, retail, technology, telecommunications, food and beverage, travel and entertainment. Its output ranges from broadcast commercials and launch campaigns to social content, documentary profiles and experiential projects. This breadth allows creative development, production and delivery to sit within a connected project approach.
Original entertainment
Music videos and independent filmmaking remain part of the company’s identity. Its credits include Björk’s stereoscopic “Wanderlust,” Zero 7’s “In The Waiting Line,” Peter Callahan’s feature Against the Current and Benjamin Dickinson’s Creative Control. Original storytelling also extends to documentary features, graphic novels and transmedia intellectual property, including Checkpoint Zoo and The Gatecrashers.
Ghost Robot Original Media operates as the company’s internal entertainment and narrative development division. Across commercial commissions and original projects, the studio brings together directors, artists and storytellers working in both practical and digital forms.
More about Ghost Robot
Leadership and operating model
- Zachary Mortensen is Founder and Chief Executive Officer. Mark DePace is Partner and Chief Creative Officer; he joined as a partner in 2005.
- The studio combines a core team with a global network of represented commercial directors, animators and freelance production crews, scaling teams to individual projects.
- Its Off Course publication documents company-described approaches to operational structure and creative freedom.
Production methods and early history
- The company's name grew out of the themes of Zero 7’s “In The Waiting Line,” directed by Tommy Pallotta. The report identifies it as an early commercial machinima production animated inside the Quake game engine.
- For Björk’s “Wanderlust,” Ghost Robot collaborated with Encyclopedia Pictura on custom-built stereoscopic camera rigs and a nine-month production blending puppetry, live-action acrobatics and CGI.
- Method’s “Dream Foam” used an exquisite corpse approach, bringing together four animators with distinct styles.
Recognition
- Creative Control received Special Jury Recognition for Visual Excellence at SXSW in 2015; the recognition was awarded to the film.
- The report credits Checkpoint Zoo with six Audience Awards, including one at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.
- RJD2’s “Work It Out,” a single-take street dance video featuring Bill Shannon, was showcased in the Cannes Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors Showcase.
Notable credits
15 creditsOffices
Where Ghost Robot is based
- New York, United States
New York City offices
HeadquartersAbout this office
**Office** Status: active Headquarters Address: 20 Jay Street, Suite 1001, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Email: info@ghostrobot.com Phone: +1 (212) 343-0900 Primary headquarters in DUMBO, housing executive leadership, studio producers and central production facilities. --- **Office** Status: inactive / historical Address: 373 Broadway, Room B1, New York, NY 10013 Former premises in Tribeca/Chinatown, preceding the studio's Brooklyn locations. --- **Office** Status: inactive / historical Address: 315 Meserole St, Suite B2, Brooklyn, NY 11206 Former Williamsburg premises preceding the current DUMBO headquarters.
- Hudson, New York, United States
Hudson office
Satellite creative office led by Mark DePace, supporting creative direction, project management and regional commercial development.
Open roles
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