WHY THE NAME Eeksaurus?

No deep philosophy. No branding consultants. No marathon naming workshops.
“Eeks” was an unusual, unforgettable, and completely unshakable nickname given to our founder and Creative Director, Suresh Eriyat, during his years at the National Institute of Design (NID). The story behind it is best told in person, preferably over coffee.
By the time Suresh founded Studio Eeksaurus in 2009, he had already spent over a decade building Famous House of Animation and had established himself as an animation filmmaker. When it came to naming the new studio, the nickname naturally resurfaced.
And someone said ‘big like a dinosaur’
(Yes, Eeks is a big, burly man but his work is bigger and unforgettable. It felt oddly appropriate )
Eeks + Dinosaur = Eeksaurus.
It made us smile. It still does.

ABOUT EEKSAURUS

Founder, Director

Suresh Eriyat

Suresh Eriyat is an artist, author, animator and filmmaker who has been a pioneering force in Indian animation for nearly three decades. A graduate of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, he co-founded the Famous House of Animation before starting Studio Eeksaurus with Nilima Eriyat in 2009. His acclaimed films – Tokri, Fisherwoman and Tuk Tuk, Croak Show, Kandittund! (Seen It!) and Desi Oon – are part of a legacy of over 600 films that have won 200+ accolades, including two at Annecy and a three-time-winner at the National Film Awards. He has served on juries such as The Clios, TAAF, KROK, ADFEST, LIA, AICP Awards, ONE Screen and D&AD Awards, and continues to mentor emerging filmmakers.

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ABOUT EEKSAURUS

Executive Producer

Nilima Eriyat

With over 26 years of experience in advertising and filmmaking, Nilima has played a pivotal role in shaping Studio Eeksaurus into one of India's most respected film production houses. Under her leadership, the studio has grown into a multidisciplinary practice, creating award-winning work across animation, live action, and hybrid formats.

As a producer, Nilima has overseen more than 300 advertising films and eleven short films. Fisherwoman and Tuk-Tuk, Tokri, and Kandittund received the National Film Award in 2015, 2017, and 2023 respectively, while Rotary Fateline (2015) and Desi Oon (2025) won the Annecy Cristal in the Commissioned Films category.

Nilima has also served on the jury for the D&AD Awards (2024 and 2025) and Ciclope (2026), reflecting her continued engagement with the global creative community.

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ABOUT US

Founded in 2009 by Suresh and Nilima Eriyat, Studio Eeksaurus was born after more than a decade of pioneering work in animation at Famous House of Animation (FHOA).

 

Long before animation became mainstream in Indian advertising, Suresh Eriyat was redefining what the medium could achieve. From introducing cutting-edge animation techniques and stop-motion, his work expanded the possibilities of storytelling in advertising while inspiring a new generation of filmmakers to consider animation as a serious creative pursuit.

That spirit of exploration continues to define Studio Eeksaurus. Since its inception, the studio has produced 11 original short films and is the most awarded animation studio in India, with a body of work that has earned recognition across the world’s leading festivals.

 

What distinguishes Eeksaurus is not a signature style, but the absence of one. Every film begins with the story, and every story demands its own visual language. Working across techniques, mediums, and formats, we remain intentionally medium-agnostic, approaching each project as an opportunity to invent rather than repeat.

As AI reshapes the creative landscape, Studio Eeksaurus continues to place its faith in imagination, craftsmanship, and originality. Technology may evolve, but our philosophy remains unchanged: meaningful storytelling emerges from a deep understanding of both narrative and craft, where innovation in never pursued for its own sake, but always in service of the story.

AWARDS

Studio Eeksaurus has earned a place among the world’s most celebrated animation studios, with recognition from leading international festivals and award bodies.

The studio is the only animation studio in India to have won the Annecy Cristal twice, and the only production house in India to receive the prestigious Andy Award (2026).

Honoured at

  • ADFEST
  • Anima Brussels
  • Anima Mundi
  • Annecy International Animation Film Festival
  • Cannes Lions
  • Ciclope
  • Clio Awards
  • D&AD
  • Epica Awards
  • HAFF
  • Hiroshima International Animation Festival
  • KROK International Animated Film Festival
  • Shots
  • Spikes Asia
  • Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film
  • The New York Festivals TV & Film Awards

Beyond awards, Studio Eeksaurus’ films have made a lasting cultural impact. Desi Oon is the only Indian animated film to be included in the archives of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York. Eeksaurus’ films are also used as teaching and reference material in design and animation education, through academic resources and workshops at leading institutions.

In 2024, Tokri, the studio’s acclaimed stop-motion film, was selected for the Mitaka no Mori Animation Festival in Japan—an event curated in association with the Studio Ghibli Museum. Screened for families and local audiences in Mitaka, the film’s inclusion celebrated its universal themes of empathy, family, and human connection.

For our clients, these milestones represent far more than accolades. They reflect a practice rooted in originality, meticulous craftsmanship, and a deep commitment to creating films that resonate across cultures, audiences, and generations.

Today, Studio Eeksaurus continues to push the boundaries of animation, creating distinctive films that blend artistic excellence with meaningful storytelling for audiences across the world.

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