TRICK 3D
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2005
- Employees
- 11-50
- Offices
- 2
About TRICK 3D
TRICK 3D is an Atlanta-headquartered animation and immersive media studio founded in 2005 by director, writer and entrepreneur Chad Eikhoff. Its work spans original entertainment, commercial CGI, interactive experiences and enterprise visualization, combining character animation and storytelling with real-time production technology.
The studio was the animation production company behind The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf's Story, the 2011 holiday television special broadcast on CBS. Its original entertainment work also includes The Jolliest Elf, a 12-episode animated musical competition series co-produced with Discovery Kids Latin America. These productions sit alongside commercial projects involving product visualization, architectural environments and interactive brand experiences.
Animation and immersive production
TRICK 3D provides end-to-end animation production, including scriptwriting, voice direction and CGI character animation. Its technical capabilities encompass Unreal Engine and Unity workflows, motion capture, photorealistic asset creation and augmented, virtual and mixed reality. Virtual production services include in-camera visual effects, camera tracking and real-time set extensions.
The company applies these capabilities to practical visualization and training needs. For Delta Air Lines, it created photorealistic digital doubles of the airline's fleet for marketing, cabin training and interactive experiences. Its work for InterContinental Hotels Group included virtual architectural prototypes supporting the development and launch of avid Hotels. For Universal Parks & Resorts, the studio produced real-time digital twin fly-throughs of Epic Universe environments, including Dark Universe and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic.
TRICK 3D also develops immersive projects for healthcare and charitable organizations, extending its animation work into experiences designed for children and hospital audiences. Its markets include entertainment, attractions, aviation, hospitality, real estate and consumer brands.
In August 2025, the studio expanded internationally with a European hub in Dublin. The expansion supports research and deployment of artificial intelligence and real-time technologies across its animation pipelines.
More about TRICK 3D
Leadership and origins
- Chad Eikhoff serves as Founder, CEO and Chief Creative Officer; Stacy Shade is Head of Studio.
- Eikhoff began the company with a single laptop and an operating vision of connecting a global network of digital artists through the internet.
Production methods and support
- With support from an Epic MegaGrant, the studio completed The Jolliest Elf in under a year using real-time motion capture and game-engine rendering.
- Its collaborative XR stage setup combines Unreal Engine with ROE Visual Black Marble LED flooring and Absen LED walls.
Community collaborations
- The studio adapted The Jolliest Elf into custom VR experiences distributed to children's hospitals through the Ryan Seacrest Foundation's Seacrest Studios.
- Its collaboration with Make-A-Wish Georgia delivered the foundation's first granted virtual reality wish, allowing a child to experience an imaginary astronaut journey to Saturn.
Notable credits
11 creditsOffices
Where TRICK 3D is based
- Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Atlanta offices
HeadquartersAbout this office
**Office** Status: active Headquarters Address: 996 Huff Road Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30318, United States Phone: +1 404-862-4170 Global headquarters and main production studio in West Midtown, supporting CGI animation, real-time Unreal Engine workflows and commercial client services. --- **Office** Status: inactive / historical Address: 887 West Marietta Street NW, Suite T101, Atlanta, GA 30318 Former West Midtown studio premises. The report does not establish the relocation year.
- Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
European Innovation & AI Hub
Opened 2025
About this office
Same-brand European hub operating legally as Trick 3D Ltd, focused on AI and real-time animation workflows. The report establishes Dublin 4 as its jurisdiction but supplies no street address.
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