Character Design, Brand Mascots + Animation Studio

We don’t just animate unforgettable characters.

We create invaluable IP
for the world’s best brands.

We create brand icons. Characters that brands can build empires around. Mascots. Spokes-characters. Campaign heroes. World-builders. Characters that sell product, inspire loyalty, build fandoms and carry whole marketing platforms. We turn characters into moneymaking monsters.

Brands today doggedly compete for attention—but the ones that last build relationships. From launch to legacy, we craft the kinds of characters that audiences remember, rally around and come back to. Characters that are long-living brand assets brands can grow with and dominate the market

We love to help our clients create measurable impact. And get promoted.

Most campaigns disappear the moment they’re done. Characters don’t.

A well-designed character isn’t just a visual asset — it’s a brand amplifier. It’s a story engine, a consistency tool, a personality shortcut and an emotional connection all in one.

We strategically build brand characters that become intellectual property: mascots, icons and spokes-creatures that audiences recognize instantly, trust instinctively and come to love over time.

Think of them as your most memorable ambassador — one that doesn’t age, doesn’t leave the company and never says the wrong thing.

We then animate distinctive brand worlds built to evolve — whether it’s for a launch, a series, a social rollout or your brand’s next phase.

The resulting impact on a brand can be truly collosal.

Our animation of Gritty, the NHL Philadelphia Flyers’ wildly popular mascot who’d never been animated before, was viewed by over a million eyeballs.

Zookeeper makes brands move.

What’s our story?

Zookeeper is your brand’s secret weapon. We’re a rapid-response creative strike team trusted by world-class brands to devise strategy, design signature characters, launch unmissable campaigns and move hyper-fast without sacrificing craft. From pitch to post, we bring strategy, clarity and creative firepower — especially when the stakes are high and the deadlines are pressing.

Our characters don’t just tell stories — they become the story. They grow into mascots, spokes-creatures, strategic IP and revenue-driving assets that brands use for years.

Characters that thrill, shock, surprise, captivate and elate. And always like to rock.

Our Approach

Blend in with the herd. End up as a steak.

That’s the warning label in marketing that never gets printed. Camouflage feels safe until the butcher shows up. Consumers carve up the marketplace looking for something memorable, not more of the same.

We create every character to pop off the page, intrigue customers and get them to share it with everyone they know.

Because a brand with a relentless point of view stands three stories taller. And lives forever.

Imagine what we can create for you.

Our Approach

Fresh

Zookeeper creates new brand character for pro hockey team.

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Zookeeper creates new brand character for pro hockey team.

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Hello world!

Building Excitement for Komatsu

Zookeeper helped to generate excitement for Komatsu Europe’s new excavator debuting at Bauma 2025. Our animations highlighted the machine’s innovative new features. Komatsu’s sales teams credited the animations for easily explaing the complex features and direclty increasing sales. And when Komatsu puts up our animations on thier social media, they get more likes and comments than anything else they do including live-action and photos.

Explore case study

There was huge customer interest in the PC220LCi – we had to put a barrier around the machine in the exhibition hall to control the crowds!

Once they got a closer look at it and sat in the new cab the feedback was off the scale! They clearly are all desperate to get their hands on the machine!

Onwards and upwards and thanks for all your help in creating the interest!

—Rob Macintyre, Komatsu

LIVE-ACTION PUPPET CASE STUDY

As seen on TV

Featured Work

Character Design

Characters Live Forever

We believe personality forges character.

Our passion is bringing characters to life—and can do so in any style. We start with strategy and think character-first. We’re chameleons who can craft unique personalities that perfectly fit your brand.

A character that becomes the pulsating hearts of a brand.

We help you own your universe through character-driven IP. Because your brand’s new character should be one of its greatest assets.

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Storytelling

Story Fuel

Characters bring emotion. Motion brings energy. Energy is storytelling fuel for a narrative that lives and breathes. Energy and movement create impact.

We take complex ideas, emotions and processes, and distill those ideas in relatable and unforgettable animation. And we love sneaking in Easter eggs.

We draw an audience in to make them yours forever.

Sports

CRAZY FOR MASCOTS

Sports are in our blood. We’ve worked at ESPN., we helped brand, write content and animate for Nike for years. We’ve created content for the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Yankees. We’ve created logos for pro hockey teams and leagues.

We’ve animated Gritty for the Philadelphia Flyers and Soutpaw for the Chicago White Sox. Mascots are a brilliant way to win the hearts of young fans and turn them into passionate supporters for life.

Characters and stories create memories for life. We come up with the gamebreaking ideas that thrill fans and keep them craving more.

Breakthrough Technology

THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL

We deliver rapid-response animation for the future of digital. We combine compelling storytelling with remarkable character design and breakthrough technologies like Rive and Spline.

We love devising innovative solutions to complicated, complex creative challengs. Our passion is help brands move, scale and emotionally connect across every screen and experience.

By leveraging these game-changing technologies, we animate much quicker and more efficiently than ever to meet the growing demands of content. Like when NBC has called and need a minute of aniamtion for a show open in less than a week. Or Gritty needs to be bigger than life.

We don’t just make things move — we make them matter.

Zookeeper was founded in 1999—that’s over 25 years ago if you’re bad at math like we are. We’ve evolved into an elite team of artists trusted by Fortune 100 companies, entertainment giants, big brands, advertising agencies, production houses and sports teams. We have a long history of producing award-winning, concept-driven content.

Today, we specialize in designing captivating characters, setting brands in motion and helping them connect emotionally with passionate fans.

But enough about us. We’d rather talk about you and how we can make you and your brand shine.

(more about us if we really must)

What our clients say

Love, love, love the look of it! You guys have been phenomenal to work with on this project! I think it turned out great. Thanks so much. Response has been terrific!
—Carole Angelo, NBC Universal

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