Sony Pictures Animation

Sony Pictures Animation is the division of Sony Pictures Entertainment responsible for some of the most visually inventive animated films of the last two decades. Founded in 2002, the studio first made waves with Surf's Up (2007) and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) before redefining what mainstream animation could look like with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), pushed those boundaries even further. In 2025, the studio produced KPop Demon Hunters, directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans. The film became the most-watched Netflix original title ever with over 500 million views and swept all 10 of its Annie Award nominations at the 53rd ceremony. The film proved that K-pop's cultural reach could power a global animation franchise, blending Korean pop culture with supernatural action in a way that resonated across every demographic. Sony Pictures Animation's upcoming slate includes KPop Demon Hunters 2 (2029), Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, and GOAT (2026), a sports comedy that scored a $35.5 million opening weekend on Presidents Day. The studio has established itself as the risk-taker in mainstream animation, consistently pushing visual styles and storytelling formats that competitors eventually follow. Headquartered in Culver City, California, the studio operates under Sony Pictures Entertainment alongside Columbia Pictures and TriStar.