About



Carnival Figures is a London based animation and production studio owned by Alex Dawson creating 2D and 3D animation, editing and video, motion graphics, visual effects for promos and short films, broadcast, commercials, social, feature films, creative art direction, visual development, storyboarding, previz and animatics, illustration and post-production services.

We specialise in creating work for leading creative agencies and global brands.

Our client list includes making 8 promo films for Puma, Disney, Pepsi, Uefa Champions League, Jaguar, Disney’s Duck Tales, Nike, Adidas, Lenovo, AC/DC, BBC, Microsoft, Orange, Graff, Lululemon, Glenlivet Whisky, Jaguar, BT, Burberry, Samsung, The Open, Lego, Paul, Aston Martin, Vauxhall, Unilever, The Crown Estate, Coca Cola, Orange, Ogilvy, Vitality, Gatorade, Lays, Virgin Media, Ipsos, Comic Relief, Carl Cox, Foster and Partners, M&S, Jack Daniels, Rexona, The Ideal Home Show, Grand Designs, Virgin, Santander, HSBC, Santander Bank, O2, Three, Nokia, EE, Thompson Reuters, Duracell, Investec Champions Cup, Qatar National Bank, Xacbank, Banorte & Ixe, Santander Bank, Saatchi & Saatchi, M&C Saatchi, SmartWater, Procter & Gamble, Investec Champions Cup, Qatar National Bank and more...

We nurture close relations with our clients - from concept development, scriptwriting and storyboarding (pre-production design), through to final delivery. This successful collaboration has led to long-term clients relationships and a shorthand across multiple projects.

Whether it’s frame-by-frame hand drawn 2D character animation, After Effects ‘puppet animation’, 3D animation, motion graphics, and video and compositing, we explore the best techniques to deliver maximum impact.

We also shoot video (also using green-screen) of actors and elements (product shots), provide location shooting, and colour grading and post production, so consider Carnival Figures a one-stop solution for your next project.


People

Alex Dawson, Director and Owner of Carnival Figures

Alex Dawson

Director and Owner / Creative Art Director / Animation Director (2D + 3D) / Editor / 2D Animator / Motion Designer / Story Artist / Concept Artist / Sound Designer / Screenwriter

Alex has 20 years of experience working with leading creative design companies and global brands, directing, designing and creating animations and short promotional films.

Recent highlights include working on a ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Disney-themed Meerkats advert at Passion Pictures, creating animations for Pepsi, Gatorade and Lay’s for the UEFA Champions League Final, creating multiple video promotions for Graff and Lululemon, and animating Donald Duck for a Duck Tales promotion.

Alex has created short films, animations and videos for Disney, Puma, Nike, Adidas, Pepsi, Passion Pictures, Jaguar, Lenovo, BBC, The Open, Saatchi & Saatchi, Time Based Arts, Graff, Microsoft, Orange, M&S, Rexona, BT, Burberry, Lululemon, Jack Daniels, HSBC, Santander Bank, Ogilvy, O2, Glenlivet, Aston Martin, Vauxhall, Firecracker Films, Liquid TV, Knock Knock, Three, Nokia, Coca-Cola, EE, Procter & Gamble, Carl Cox, Foster and Partners, The Ideal Home Show, Grand Designs, Virgin, Santander and Thomson Reuters.

In his early 20s, Alex was selected by Heather Wright of Aardman as one of the most talented UK-based animators in a New Talent Show at Aardman.

Alex created the visual effects and post-production for the feature film ‘Scott and Sid’, including animation, motion tracking, digital painting of photorealistic environments and compositing.

Alex is a screenwriter developing multiple projects and is currently pitching the 2D and 3D animated sci-fi adventure series ‘Laundry Monsters’ and other projects.

Alex started his career at Passion Pictures, working as a story artist on the music video ‘I’m Still Here’ for Disney’s ‘Treasure Planet’, directed by Tim Hope.

Alex specialised in animation during his MSc in Electronic Imaging at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee University. Previously, Alex studied Film & Media at Stirling University (2.1 BA Hons), where he also made short films, storyboards, sound design, radio plays and radio journalism pieces.

Additionally, Alex has over six years of experience teaching animation, video production, post-production, storyboarding and concept art using Photoshop. Alex previously created and taught a 2D animation course at Qantm College, SAE Institute (BA Hons equivalent), and taught editing and digital illustration at Academy Class and PMA London, as well as animation and design at Apache (APA) in Cairo, Egypt. In 2026, Alex taught at Escape Studios. Alex is also an academic external adviser for UK universities.