List of animation studios owned by Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures has owned and operated many animation studios throughout years since company founding in 1912, by Carl Laemmle, Mark Dintenfass, Charles O Baumann, Adam Kessel, Pat Powers, William Swanson, David Horsley, Robert H Cochrane, and Jules Brulatour, as Universal Film Manufacturing Company Universal Animation Studios in Universal City, California is currently company flagship feature animation studio and claims heritage from this original studio. Adding to growth of company and it motion picture studio division Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, several other animation studios were added through acquisitions and through open of satellite studios outside US. These expanded company animation output into TV, direct to video, and digital releases, in addition to it Feature Animation Releases.

Currently, Universal Animation Studios, Illumination and DreamWorks Animation SKG are parts of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group. This article does not include other animation studios who films were released by Universal distribution unit and not acquired by company. For example, certain Laika films were distributed by Universal under Focus Features banner but never own by company. Universal also purchased US rights to foreign animated movies.

Universal Television Animation
On August 22, 2016, TV animation divisions of Universal and DreamWorks merged after completing the acquisition of DreamWorks Animation SKG, but Universal Television Animation remains as a separate entity.

Gingo Animation
Founded in 1988, Gingo Animation originated as a TV animation division of Multimedia Entertainment that focused on producing original programming for Gingo, including Toon Hour, Gabriel Garza, Mickey Wicked and Metro Cone. Following merger of Gingo parent, Multimedia with MCA Inc, Multimedia Entertainment was folded into Universal Television, while Gingo studio was integrated as a separate unit within Universal Television Animation, later known as Universal Television Animation. Animators at Gingo worked on projects based at Gingo studio, but also assisted in projects based in Universal Animation Studios.

Nighthouse Animation
Founded in 1999, Nighthouse Animation is adult production studio division of Gingo that produces adult oriented animated feature films and TV series and provides an original program to Gingo late night program Nighthouse, which is located in Burbank, California, along with main headquarters of Gingo animation studio.

DreamWorks Animation Television
DreamWorks Animation Television is TV division of DreamWorks Animation SKG.

Universal Digital Images
Universal Digital Images, formerly known as Multimedia Digital Images from 1990 to 1996, was an American computer animation production company that was bought by Universal Studios with purchase of Multimedia in 1996. It was a division of Universal Animation Studios. Studio was close in 2003 and later merged with Universal Feature Animation during production of it 1 3D CGI animated feature film Computer Opolis for a 2004 release.

DreamWorks Animation SKG
In 2016, Comcast confirmed that it NBCUniversal division would acquire DreamWorks Animation SKG for $3.8 billion. Deal close on August 22, 2016. Universal Pictures would take over distribution of DreamWorks Animation SKG films begin in 2019 with How To Train Your Dragon 3 Hidden World when DreamWorks Animation SKG deal with 20 Century Fox expires.

Illumination
Chris Meledandri left his post as President of 20 Century Fox Animation in 2007 and founded Illumination, an all audience film production company, co own by Universal Pictures, which fully finances and owns films. In 2010 Illumination released it 1 film, Despicable Me, which became very successful and was followed by Despicable Me 2 in 2013, and in 2011 Hop. Illumination released a film version of Lorax (2012), which continued successful collaboration between Meledandri and Theodore Dr Seuss Geisel widow, Audrey. Illumination also released franchise spin off featuring Minions, Minions (2015).

Illumination Mac Guff
Illumination Mac Guff is a French animated feature production company owned by Illumination. Based in Paris, France, company was created in 2011 as part of Universal purchase deal of animation arm of French animation and VFX company Mac Guff. It is responsible for Illumination feature length animated films and associated short films, most notably Despicable Me Series.

Distribution deals
In 2010, Universal formed a distribution deal with Supreme Entertainment in July, however, Universal abandoned it deal with Supreme.