From the release:

Animation studio Panic has acquired Amsterdam-based creative studio Kingdom of Something, bringing together two like-minded animation teams to deliver larger, more complex work for global brands.

Founded by creative director Gints Gutmanis and run by studio head Rita Steimane, Panic has built a reputation for bold animation, character-driven storytelling, and mixed-media production for brands and agencies worldwide. Recent projects include animated campaigns for Nike, Indeed, and a long-term partnership with Netflix.

Kingdom of Something, founded by Maxwell Reed and Alex Grolleman, is known for imaginative storytelling and versatile animation, with standout projects for global brands including Adidas. Guardians of the Galaxy, Meraas. Design Quarter ft. Steven Harrington and Samsung. Green Team.

Rita Steimane, Partner & Head of Studio at Panic, says, “Building a studio at this level takes time, especially as an independent. Having stayed in touch with Alex and Maxwell over the years, it became clear we were building towards the same thing. The Samsung project confirmed it. Now we have the capabilities and track record of two studios — and the ambition to match.”

Even though Panic & KoS had supported each other before, their collaboration reached a new level when they worked on the ‘Inside Samsung’ campaign, a three-film documentary series commissioned by Bloomberg Media Studios. The project brought both teams together across multiple time zones to deliver a large-scale production.

“The Samsung project was the first time we really worked this heavily side by side,” says Maxwell Reed, co-founder of Kingdom of Something. “It felt natural straight away. We approach storytelling in a very similar way, and there was a shared instinct in how we developed ideas. It never felt like two studios; just one team.”

The successful cooperation sparked conversations about a more permanent format. Founded within a year of each other and sharing a similar approach to craft, problem-solving, and how they work with clients, joining forces felt like the natural next step.

Rita adds, “It’s rare when you find a creative fit where collaboration is so effortless. And it proved itself as an incredibly successful campaign for Samsung. More briefs like this are coming in, and now we have the capabilities and track record of TWO studios, we have huge confidence that we can not only take them on, but take our client’s stories to a whole new level.”

The move comes at a time when brands are demanding more from creative partners while navigating tighter budgets and rapid technological shifts. For Panic, the acquisition is a clear statement of confidence. The studio strongly believes in the future of human-led storytelling and the continued importance of imaginative, craft-driven animation.

“There’s a lot of noise around AI and where the industry is heading,” says Gints Gutmanis, Founder and Creative Director at Panic. “But great work still comes down to bold ideas, taste, and execution. That hasn’t changed. And now we have a bigger pool of inspiration to draw from.”

Operating across Riga, London, and Amsterdam, Panic works with agencies and brands across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, including Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.

With the addition of Kingdom of Something’s creative experience and portfolio, Panic aims to continue pushing the boundaries of animation and visual storytelling.