Totem Creative
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2018
- Employees
- 1-10
- Offices
- 2
About Totem Creative
Totem Creative is an independent Indian animation studio specializing in handcrafted, frame-by-frame 2D animation and visual storytelling. Its work spans commercial advertising, educational films, independent animated shorts and music videos. With a production base in Pune and corporate roots in Mumbai, the studio combines commissioned projects with the development of original animated work.
The studio provides a complete production pipeline, from script and narrative development through storyboarding, animatics and visual development. Production capabilities include character and background design, layout, character animation, hand-drawn effects, color scripting and compositing, followed by final audio and render delivery. Its creative focus is traditional 2D animation, with drawing and stylized design central to the finished work.
Alongside complete productions, Totem Creative works as an animation partner for agencies and other studios. Teams with established scripts and storyboards can commission character animation, effects and motion graphics integration. Its collaboration services also include pitch development, previz and additional production capacity for commercial campaigns and social media projects.
Original films and commissioned work
The studio's independent projects include Crossing, a black-and-white animated horror-thriller released in 2019, and Paperplanes, a 2023 short exploring childhood nostalgia, individual curiosity and classroom conformity. Its music video MAYA accompanies the song “I Can't Wait” by Argentinian band Siamés. These projects reflect a production slate that extends beyond advertising into narrative shorts and music-led animation.
Educational commissions include animated lessons for TED-Ed about Pompeii, Mayan mythology and the ancient Greek underworld. The studio has also produced commercial and social-awareness animation for organizations and brands including Krafton, Meta, Oxfam India, Aegon Life, Boost, Kissan, Swiggy and Behrouz Biryani. Across these assignments, its work ranges from mythological storytelling and historical explanation to branded shorts, campaign films and motion comics.
More about Totem Creative
Founders and creative leadership
Arvind Singh Jeena is identified as co-founder and Creative Director, and Nikhita Prabhudesai Jeena as co-founder and Art Director. Both studied animation film design at the MIT Institute of Design in Pune.
Production model
The studio maintains a boutique core team and scales production with trusted freelance animators, contractors and interns according to project requirements. Totem Play is its internal original-content showcase imprint, rather than a separate operating company.
Festival recognition
- Paperplanes, directed by Arvind Singh Jeena, was an official selection at Annecy in 2023 and featured in Best of Annecy Kids 2023. The film was also selected at the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film.
- Crossing was a semi-finalist at the New York Animation Film Awards in 2020.
Notable credits
17 creditsOffices
Where Totem Creative is based
- B-104, Manisha Apartments, Church Road, Marol, Next to Yes Bank, Andheri East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400059, IndiaMumbai, Maharashtra, India
Mumbai Registered Office
Registered corporate office and founding base of Totem Creative LLP.
- Studio 502, Gera’s Imperium Rise, Wipro Circle, Hinjewadi Phase II, Hinjewadi, Pune, Maharashtra 411057, IndiaPune, Maharashtra, India
Pune Production Studio
Primary production facility for character animation, background layout, storyboarding and compositing.
Open roles
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