Laughing Dragon Studios

Laughing Dragon Studios was a Montreal-based animation company specializing in 2D cut-out animation and digital puppetry. It provided full-service production for television, streaming, feature films, video games and advertising, combining animation services with the development of original properties. The studio permanently ceased operations on April 11, 2025.

Its origins lay in the animation department of Blind Ferret Entertainment, whose initial operations date to 2005. As that department expanded beyond its original agency setting, it began operating under the standalone Laughing Dragon Studios name in late 2018. The business subsequently incorporated as an independent federal corporation in May 2020. These milestones distinguish its production roots from the later launch of its public brand and legal entity.

Production capabilities

The studio worked across the animation process, from concept development and art direction through finished picture and sound. Its pre-production capabilities included character exploration, visual development, storyboarding and rough animatics. Production work encompassed rigging, layout and animation using Toon Boom Harmony, while finishing services included editing, audio synchronization, voice casting and sound effects.

Its output ranged from episodic animation and feature-film sequences to game cinematics, cutscenes, trailers, commercials and short promotional assets. This service model supported projects for entertainment producers, game developers and brands seeking animated marketing material.

Selected work and original development

Laughing Dragon contributed 2D animation services to Disney’s Disenchanted and Apple TV+’s Central Park. Its game-related work included the animated cinematic for Riot Games’ Tellstones: King's Gambit, animation for Dead by Daylight: Hooked On You, and promotional work for Moving Out 2 and Overdrive City.

Alongside commissioned production, the studio developed original series concepts. These included Skatebirds, a collaboration with skateboarder Tony Hawk, and Kabu, developed with Build-A-Bear Entertainment and Foundation Media Partners. Both projects were described as being in development before the studio’s closure.