We enhance storytelling, emotion and player immersion with killer visuals. Direction shapes the emotional arc of your game, while animation brings movement characters, worlds and key moments. Our team delivers crafted stories that fit seamlessly within your project’s world.
Cinematics & Animation Bringing motion
to art with filmic
storytelling
Why work with Atomhawk for Cinematics & Animation?
Clear storytelling and strong filmic language sit at the heart of Atomhawk’s cinematic work, whether delivering in game sequences, high impact trailers, visitor attractions or interactive experiences. Our in-house team of animators are passionate about games, cinema and storytelling, who lend their combined experience and skills to faithfully fulfil our clients’ creative vision.
The Cinematics & Animation team is driven by problem solving and collaboration. The focus is on delivering memorable, visually striking work that meets production needs and exceeds expectations, on time and on budget.
Cinematic craft across the full Production Pipeline
The Cinematics & Animation team supports projects at every stage of production, from narrative development and previs to in engine exploration, trailers, cinematics and motion design.
Working in close collaboration with Atomhawk’s environment, character, design and 3D art teams, we create previs, in-engine direction, trailers and fully realised cinematics for our clients with clarity, intent and attention to detail. Browse a snapshot of our Cinematics & Animation portfolio.
Cinematics
In-game cinematics are where story, emotion and visual direction come together. The team delivers everything from story development to polished sequences tailored to the IP, tone and production requirements of each project.
Expertise includes:
• Scriptwriting, story development and creative direction
• Cinematic direction support (style, pacing, shot language)
• 2.5D, 3D and hybrid animation
• Collaboration on VFX and finishing
• Seamless integration with Atomhawk concept and art disciplines
Previs & In-Engine
Teams need to test ideas early, align quickly and iterate with confidence. We can do this through previs and in-engine efficiencies. Concepts are shaped in motion to support clear decision making throughout development.
Expertise includes:
• Storyboards, animatics and editorial pacing
• Proof of concept sequences (ripomatics, vertical slice story tests)
• In-engine camera, layout and sequencing exploration
• Production ready previs handoff
3D Animation
We work in the software and engines that power the world’s top film and games. Pipeline efficiencies in Unreal, Blender and Maya inform our animation production process innovations. Whether using clients’ provided in-game assets, or work across Atomhawk’s in-house disciplines, we build and rig bespoke 3D animation for your project’s needs.
Expertise includes:
• Animation direction
• 3D animatics, camera fly-throughs, and camera block-outs
• Object and character animation
• Particle simulation
Trailers
A good trailer captures attention, an exceptional trailer remains true to the tone and identity of the game. Our trailers are narrative-led and built around the right approach for each budget and brief, from game capture to hybrid cinematic techniques.
Expertise includes:
• Concept to cut editorial planning
• Capture based trailers and cinematic camerawork
• Animated or CG moments where needed
• Finishing support including graphics, timing and sound collaboration
Motion Graphics
Enhance both marketing and the player experience with motion graphics. Trailer toolkits, UI animation and in game graphics are all crafted with attention to detail, ensuring they feel native to the IP.
Expertise includes:
• Trailer graphics toolkits and campaign assets
• UI/UX motion principles and animation systems
• In game graphics, banners and live ops assets
• Built from existing assets or developed in collaboration with Atomhawk design teams
Working with
“Atomhawk was the perfect partner to help us redefine the storytelling toolkit for XCOM: Chimera Squad. On top of delivering absolutely beautiful work, collaborating with them on this project was a blast. I greatly appreciate the enthusiasm and craftsmanship that they brought to this project.”
Hector Antunez, Art Director, Firaxis Games
We use creative innovation to solve problems on cinematics, trailers and animation projects. Use the contact form to find out how we can help you too.
What types of Cinematics & Animation services does Atomhawk provide?
Atomhawk offers end-to-end animation services for games, TV, films, visitor attractions, theme parks and interactive experiences. Our team specialises in 2.5D and 3D animation, motion graphics, character animation, cinematic sequences, trailers, and in-game animations using a broad range of industry tools and software. We provide support across all stages of development, including:
- Idea generation, script writing, concept development, pitch support
- Storyboarding and animatics
- Animation Direction across 2D, 2.5D and 3D pipelines
- Visual effects (VFX), compositing and postproduction
What industries does Atomhawk’s Cinematics & Animation teams work with?
We work across games, film & TV, technology, entertainment, visitor attractions, theme parks, marketing, and product-driven industries. While we’re best known for our work in games and interactive entertainment, our animation team regularly collaborates with brands and studios outside the games space.
Whatever your project needs are, we’d love to chat about it. Send us an enquiry through our contact form.
How experienced is Atomhawk's Cinematics & Animation team?
Our Animation team are highly experienced problem-solvers who can work in a range of animation styles, depending on client needs and artistic direction.
The team is comprised of experienced animators with strong backgrounds in video game development, film, television and interactive experiences. Each team member has their own creative approach and specialisms, with industry experience ranging from 5 to 30 years working on global AAA games, feature films, TV shows, commercials and online content.
Can Atomhawk deliver complex Cinematics & Animation projects with tight deadlines?
Our goal is to always exceed our clients’ expectations without compromising agreed budgets and timelines. Through accurate project scoping and careful project planning, our production team support the Atomhawk animation team and liaise with our clients to ensure projects are broken down into key milestones, allowing for feedback and refinement.
This means that Atomhawk is able to deliver complex, long-running creative projects to tight schedules without compromising quality.
Our collaborative, structured approach ensures we stay on time and on budget, while still maintaining creative flexibility throughout. This allows a greater range of creative input and feedback, something our clients value.
Can Atomhawk handle full Cinematics & Animation projects or just specific stages?
Both. We can deliver full animation pipelines or slot seamlessly into your existing team to support specific stages—such as previz, keyframe animation, polish passes, or final cinematics.
Does Atomhawk’s Cinematics & Animation team work with existing IPs and style guides?
Absolutely. We’re highly experienced in working with established IPs, brand guidelines, and technical constraints, ensuring everything we create feels authentic, consistent, and integrates seamlessly with an existing brand.
Can the Cinematics & Animation team collaborate with other in-house Atomhawk teams?
Yes, we regularly work as an extension of in-house teams, like our Concept Art, Illustration and 3D Art teams. We have experience collaborating closely with creative directors, producers, developers, and technical teams to ensure smooth integration and communication.
What software and tools does Atomhawk’s Cinematics & Animation team use?
Our team works with industry-standard tools, adapt to client proprietary software, and even create bespoke tools and plugins with assistance from Atomhawk’s Technical Art team. We’re set up to adapt to your pipeline where needed.
- Adobe After Effects
- Blender
- Unreal Engine 5
- Autodesk Maya
- Adobe Photoshop
What is Atomhawk’s typical turnaround time for Cinematics & Animation projects?
Timelines vary depending on scope, style, and complexity. We are experienced in helping our clients break down their animation needs, and we offer creative solutions that can work within their timeframe and budget. Some animation tasks can be completed in a few days or weeks, while larger cinematic or in-game projects may run over several months. With dedicated production support throughout, all projects have clear, planned schedules with agreed milestones and deadlines before production begins.
Does Atomhawk offer production support for Cinematics & Animation projects?
Yes. Every client gets a dedicated Producer assigned to their project, responsible for managing complex schedules, supporting our internal animation team, reporting back to the client and keeping everything on track.
Our production team follows a ‘no crunch’ philosophy, using detailed project scoping and planning to set realistic milestones and manage delivery expectations. We use Forecast App for resource management and apply Agile or Waterfall methodologies depending on project needs.
Our structured approach ensures we stay on time and on budget, while maintaining creative flexibility and safeguarding team wellbeing.
How much does an Cinematics & Animation at Atomhawk cost?
Pricing depends on factors such as animation style, duration, level of detail, and production timeline. After an initial discussion, we’ll provide a transparent, tailored quote aligned with your goals and budget.
Ready to have a chat about how we can work together? Send us an enquiry on our contact page.
How can I get a Cinematics & Animation project started with Atomhawk?
Get in touch via our contact form with a brief outline of your animation needs. We’ll set up an initial conversation to understand your goals, scope, and timeline, then recommend the best approach.
