How Wienot Films Grew from Stick Figures to an Award-Winning Animation Studio

We’re excited to share that Wienot Films was recently featured in VoyageAustin, a digital magazine that spotlights Austin’s most inspiring entrepreneurs, creatives, and community-builders.

In the article, our founder Marc Strong shares how Wienot Films grew from a one-person side project—armed with a whiteboard, a small consumer camera, and a deep love for storytelling—into a boutique animation studio creating high-end character animation, motion graphics, and whiteboard explainer videos that are trusted by leading brands, nonprofits, and educators around the world.

The journey started with simple questions from family: a curious son who just wanted a backyard, and a mother who dared to ask, “Why not?” They sparked a journey fueled by passion, curiosity, and the courage to pursue a dream. It’s a reminder that big changes often begin with small, meaningful moments that inspire us to do more.

From Stick Figures to Storytelling That Sticks

In the interview, Marc opens up about those early days, when explainer videos were drawn by hand, edited late at night, and voiced in his closet.

Those first scrappy videos weren’t about polish, they were about clarity and connection. They helped people understand ideas that mattered, and that was the real win.

As the business grew, so did the team, and the potential. Today, Wienot Films creates award-winning animated explainer videos and educational content that helps organizations communicate clearly, creatively, and effectively. Whether it’s a university explaining a complex educational topic, a nonprofit supporting democracies, or a social impact organization supporting mothers in Africa, Wienot Films transforms ideas into stories that are easy to understand and hard to forget. 

Early Lessons That Still Guide Wienot

Marc also shares a few early business, and life, lessons that helped shape Wienot’s growth:

Start small and test the waters. 

Before fully diving in, Marc explored video creation on the side, learning what resonated most and building the business before full launch.

Don’t try to do everything alone. 

Building a talented, passionate team was essential, not just for quality, but for the energy behind the work.

Stay flexible. 

One advantage of being a boutique animation studio is the ability to move quickly, adapt to client needs, and deliver creative solutions.

Using Creativity and Animation for Good

At Wienot, success isn’t just measured in growth, it’s defined by impact. From the beginning, we've believed that visual storytelling is more than a communication tool; it can be a force for good. That belief shapes the work we take on and the way we approach it.

Whether it’s crafting custom animated videos for global brands or producing educational content for nonprofits, universities, and public health campaigns, our goal is the same: to help people better understand the world—and ultimately, help improve it.

There’s a lot more in the interview. It’s best heard in Marc’s own words. If you’ve ever wondered how a simple whiteboard explainer video could lead to a full-scale animation studio specializing in visual storytelling, you can read the full VoyageAustin story here.

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About Wienot Films

Wienot Films is a top-rated animation and explainer video production company that helps organizations simplify complex ideas through clear, compelling visual storytelling. Specializing in high-quality animated explainer videos, Wienot transforms information into engaging content that’s easy to understand and hard to forget. Based in Austin, Texas, with offices in New York and Australia, Wienot serves clients around the globe. From corporate explainers to nonprofit and educational campaigns, Wienot delivers award-winning animation production services that drive understanding and inspire action. Visit wienotfilms.com to learn more.