Panic
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2014
- Employees
- 11-50
- Offices
- 2
About Panic
Panic is an independent design and animation studio founded in Riga, Latvia, in 2014. Working internationally under the Panic Studio brand, it combines character-driven storytelling, visual humour and mixed-media production for advertising, branded entertainment and educational content. Its work spans hand-drawn and cel animation, 3D and CGI, motion graphics and illustration.
The studio develops projects from creative concepts and scripts through storyboards, character design and animation, with audio design and sound direction also forming part of its offering. Its output includes animated commercials, product and service explainers, branded films, digital illustrations and interactive work. Art direction connects these disciplines across productions that range from expressive character campaigns to documentary sequences explaining complex subjects.
Selected work
Panic produced Inside Samsung, a three-part mixed-media documentary series exploring AI innovation, commissioned by Bloomberg Media and made in collaboration with Kingdom of Something and Beam Sea. Its Nike Football commercial Scary Good celebrates Ronaldo Nazário’s step-over, while its Netflix workplace safety series uses animation for employee education across the company’s global workforce.
Other projects include Indeed’s Smart & Small, featuring the digital puppet character Denise; the Luka Dončić Foundation’s Play for Young Ballers; and Healtheries’ Relive Life in the Green!, built around the character Riley. The studio has also created work for Extra Space Storage and Eli Lilly. Its original short Berthold Gone Wild uses an eccentric central character to explain the commercial animation production process.
International development
Panic’s commercial reach extends across Western Europe, the United States and Asia-Pacific. Alongside its Latvian production base, it maintains a London commercial branch supporting client relationships and commissions. In April 2026, it acquired Amsterdam animation studio Kingdom of Something following their earlier production collaboration. Kingdom of Something continues under its own creative brand, adding to Panic’s international production capacity and shared creative resources.
More about Panic
Leadership and origins
- Founder and Creative Director Gints Gūtmanis leads the studio’s artistic vision. He established the business after leaving a senior advertising agency role, initially bootstrapping it through 3D commercial animation.
- Partner and Executive Producer Rita Šteimane manages business development and operations.
Operating model
- The studio combines permanent staff with project freelancers to scale production.
- The research reports that more than 90% of commercial revenue comes from international markets.
- US and Canadian sales representation operates through agency agreements with BLAH! Blah?, Katie & Co. and Hesty Reps.
Recognition
- Panic’s Indeed campaign Smart & Small was shortlisted at The Motion Awards in 2021. Its handcrafted puppet-style digital animation features the character Denise.
- The studio’s original short Berthold Gone Wild received a Vimeo Staff Pick.
Notable credits
9 creditsOffices
Where Panic is based
- Stabu iela 30 - 6, Rīga, LV-1011, LatviaRiga, Latvia
Riga office
HeadquartersOverall headquarters and principal creative and animation studio, housing the founding leadership.
- London, England, United Kingdom
London office
About this office
Direct UK commercial and client-relationship branch led by Business Director Lou Bones, handling client partnerships, agency engagements and commissions.
Open roles
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