Head Gear Animation
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 1997
- Employees
- 1-10
- Offices
- 1
About Head Gear Animation
Head Gear Animation is an independent Canadian animation and mixed-media production studio based in Toronto. Founded in 1997 by creative partners Steve Angel and Julian Grey, it produces commercial campaigns, television interstitials, broadcast design and short films. Its work combines character-driven storytelling and humour with practical animation craft and digital production.
The studio works across stop-motion puppet and clay animation, traditional and digital 2D animation, 3D CGI and live-action integration. This range supports productions that combine handmade characters and miniature environments with digital design, compositing and finishing. Its creative approach spans comedic character work, educational shorts and satirical political animation, alongside advertising for consumer brands and public-interest organizations.
Commercial and broadcast production
Head Gear Animation provides concept development, character design and storyboarding through production and post-production. Stop-motion work includes puppet fabrication and stage animation, while its broadcast offering includes network packages, title design and animated interstitials. The studio also produces explainers and public service announcements.
Its commercial work spans food and beverage, automotive, financial services and consumer products. Supported campaigns include animation for IKEA, Toyota, Post Cereals, Kraft Foods and PepsiCo/Lay’s, as well as workplace safety work for WSIB Ontario and community-focused production for The Stop Community Food Centre. These projects sit alongside work for children's and educational entertainment, television networks and streaming audiences.
Television storytelling
A prominent strand of the studio’s broadcast work is its animated political musical segments for The Good Fight. Written by Jonathan Coulton, these shorts include “Banned in China,” “Roy Cohn” and “The Executive Branch.” Their presentation draws on the musical educational format associated with Schoolhouse Rock! while addressing the legal drama’s political themes.
Other supported television and online work includes animated sequences for Evil, shorts and interstitials for Sesame Street, network elements for TVOKids and the comedic series Starbucks 1st & Main. Together, these productions reflect a practice spanning advertising, broadcast identity and short-form narrative animation.
More about Head Gear Animation
People and production model
The report identifies partners Steve Angel and Julian Grey as studio leaders, alongside longtime director Isaac King and producer Susan Armstrong. Its small core team expands with freelance animators, model makers and fabricators during larger commercial and series productions.
The studio's 7,000-square-foot facility brings stop-motion shooting stages, digital design facilities and fabrication spaces together. Collaboration with Stop Motion Department supports intricate miniature puppet builds and practical camera movements on complex assignments.
History and recognition
Before establishing the company, Angel and Grey worked as principal directors and animators at Cuppa Coffee Studios in the mid-1990s.
In 2009, the studio produced what the report identifies as Canada's first stereoscopic 3D theatrical advertising campaign, “Milk Dots,” for Dairy Farmers of Canada.
The report records multiple Annie Award nominations and recognition through Annecy, the Ottawa International Animation Festival, The One Show, AICP Awards, London International Awards, Bessie Awards, Mobius Awards and the Advertising & Design Club of Canada.
Notable credits
17 creditsOffices
Where Head Gear Animation is based
- 25 Brant Street, Suite 301, Toronto, Ontario M5V 2L9, CanadaToronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto Headquarters & Studio
HeadquartersPrimary studio with stop-motion stages, digital 2D/3D workstations and production suites.
Open roles
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