Our studio was founded by two stop-motion specialists: Philip Eddolls and Evan DeRushie. Since 2009 we've been immersed in the world of handcrafted animation, with a singular focus on keeping the rich tradition of frame-by-frame puppet animation alive. We’ve had the privilege of collaborating with some of our favourite artists, including our first major short film production, The Shaman’s Apprentice, directed by Zacharias Kunuk, which garnered top film festival awards such as Best Canadian Short film at TIFF 2021, and Best Animated Short at the Canadian Screen Awards 2022. In 2025, we animated our first TV series called Bumpadoo! for TVOKids, produced by Turtlebox Productions - 10 episodes of claymation pre-school STEM-geared fun!
Producing everything in-house with a small team of puppet builders, miniature set experts, and animators in our North York workshop, SMD brings a world-class level of stop-motion knowledge to our work, combined with a modern technical approach that keeps the medium progressing forward.
Clients
Air Canada, Studio MDHR, HSBC, Centrum, PBS Kids, Taqqut, Nikon, RBC, Kellogs, CIBC, Walmart, Dare, PC Financial, Ford, Sesame Street, Cassels Brock.
Philip Eddolls
Loves short formats, quick communication and comedy. Born in the UK. Interned at stop-motion studios since age 15. After college worked at the NFB, then learned the ropes at Cuppa Coffee. Worked with Acme Film Works and The Electric Company as a director on several Sesame Street interstitials and many commercials and music videos. Directed first season of Anaana's Tent - an educational children's series on APTN that mixes animation, puppets, and live action.
Evan DeRushie
Evan is a Hamilton, Ontario born stop-motion specialist. Starting as an animator at Cuppa Coffee alongside Philip, he expanded as a director and cinematographer on two original short films that have played in festivals worldwide: The Fox and the Chickadee, and Birdlime. After Second Unit Supervising and Animating on the stop-motion scenes in "The Little Prince” (2015), Evan formed SMD studio with Philip. He currently directs the studio’s pre-school show Bumpadoo!