Narwhal Studios

A Journey of Cinematic Craftsmanship

At Narwhal Studios, we're honored to have contributed to the fusion of game and film workflows since 2015. Originally established by seasoned talent in Visualization, VFX, and Game Development, we aided in pioneering Virtual Art Department workflows. Our journey has led us to collaborate on 6 ICVFX projects with Lucas Films and assisted in Debut Projects with Netflix, Warner Bros, and Amazon. Centered around storytelling, we're humbled by the industry accolades that attest to the effectiveness of our bespoke solutions.

With a focus on Film, TV, and Animation, our collective experience guides us in delivering projects with meticulous care and precision. As we continue to broaden our scope, our commitment to design excellence and innovation remains our guiding light. This commitment is enriched by our strategic collaborations with esteemed industry peers, allowing us to bring a distinctive touch to visionary projects.

Technical Excellence in Ottawa
Our Ottawa-based team provides specialized services designed to bridge the gap between concept and live-ops success:
• Full-Cycle Engineering: Specialized in C++ and C# for robust game architecture.
• Live-Ops & Monetization: Optimizing player retention and economy design for long-term growth.
• Cross-Platform Porting: Seamlessly migrating titles across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Mobile.
• AAA Support: Collaborative workflows that integrate directly into your internal production pipelines.

While our Austin team focuses on core engineering and RPG development, we work in tandem with our global network to provide a full spectrum of game development services. From initial concepting to live-ops, we ensure your IP is supported at every stage of the lifecycle.

As a part of a larger creative ecosystem, A7 Austin leverages Arctic7’s unique transmedia strategy and storytelling capabilities. We don't just build games; we help expand your universe into film, TV, and immersive media platforms.
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Our European hubs are purpose-built to support complex production needs:
1. Co-Development & Engineering: Specializing in C++, Unreal Engine 5, and Unity for seamless pipeline integration.
2. Environment & Character Art: High-fidelity asset creation designed for next-gen performance.
3. Full-Cycle Production: Moving from concept to gold-master with a focus on European market compliance and quality standards.

These collaborations are a testament to Narwhal Studios' broader mission: not just about production, but empowering stories and their creators. We are committed to nurturing talent and shaping the transmedia landscape. By offering comprehensive solutions that integrate the best of all creative worlds, we aim to be a catalyst in the ever-evolving narrative of storytelling.

OUR EXPERIENCE

Star Fort's technical expertise is just one part of the Arctic7 ecosystem. To see how our Ottawa team integrates with our global narrative and cinematic capabilities, explore our full suite of transmedia game development services.

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No Status

The Book of Boba Fett: A Case Study

This case study explores efficiencies we found during our transition from "The Mandalorian" to "The Book of Boba Fett," while reshaping our virtual art department process.

First Look at Our Work on Lollipop Racing

Take a look at the first glimpse of our work on David Ayers' Lollipop Racing.

Ant man and the wasp quantum mania cover image

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania: A Case Study in Global Virtual Production

See All A7 Projects

Our work can be seen in acclaimed projects with:

"The team always presented amazing work for me to review, but the working process was also incredibly respectful of my approach to lighting the environments,” says Idoine. “That close collaboration meant they could give me as the director of photography whatever lighting scenario I asked for. That relationship and their strong knowledge of Unreal Engine and other complex tools enabled me to be a better DP."

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Baz Idoine | ASC - DP, The Mandalorian

"My experience with Narwhal was everything I wanted and more,” says production designer Todd Cherniawsky, ADG (Obi-Wan Kenobi). “I had an incredible team where nothing had to go through a traditional art department/VAD filter. Instead, it was pure and seamless. They're also great at creating a transparent remote collaboration workflow with excellent quality control.”

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Todd Cherniawsky | ADG - PD, Obi-wan Kenobi

"To successfully shoot on an LED volume, you need to take a portion of the post-production decision-making and budget and move it up front,” observes Klein. “Narwhal Studios took the concepts from storyboards through mocap and techvis. It’s a wonderful tool to have as part of our process, and we often got incredibly close to the final look of a shot. They always do a hell of a job."

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David Klein | ASC - DP, The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett

"The Narwhal Studios team was incredible and nimble," says Stephen Bowman, producer of the Paramount+ original series Why Women Kill. "They created a wonderful environment for us and worked with our visual effects companies to create life-like set extensions. It was a wonderful experience and saved us so much money."

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Stephen Bowman | CBS Studios - Producer, Why Women Kill

"As a producer bringing a team of filmmakers through their first experience of working with virtual production, having Narwhal Studios on the project was a godsend. They have unique experience in building virtual worlds, years ahead of anyone else in the business right now, and have a best-in-breed toolset for working and collaboration that doesn't get in the way of the creative. Their confidence and past experience led directly to the success of our virtual shoots and I couldn't imagine doing this work without the team at Narwhal Studios."

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Ben Baker | VP Producer, Fathead

"The Narwhal Studios team is a rare find. Their ability to empower the lead creatives is a pleasure to watch. They are experts at introducing new technologies while putting the art first. Narwhal is a collection of unicorns who are perfectly positioned to help us all move forward."

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James Blevins | VP Consultant, Fathead

VIRTUAL PRODUCTION

News

First Look at Our Work on Lollipop Racing

Mar 25, 2025

Take a look at the first glimpse of our work on David Ayers' Lollipop Racing.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania: A Case Study in Global Virtual Production

Dec 12, 2024

Sami Borhanpour

More A7 Projects & News!

Our leaders in Ottawa are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in project management and technical design. Stay updated with our latest game development news and insights to see how we’re shaping the future of the industry.

Leadership

Andrew MacLusky

Narwhal Studio Head

Safari Sosebee

Narwhal VAD Art Director

Felix Jorge

Chief Communications Officer + Narwhal Executive Stakeholder

Meet The A7 Team

Let's bring your world to life.

Whether you’re building a new franchise or evolving an existing one, Arctic7 helps you craft connected experiences across games, film, and digital. Let’s talk about your vision – and how to bring it to life.