# AI video studios working with startups in the USA

> A practical U.S.-focused guide to Hotpot Studios, Native Foreign, Secret Level, Elevado and Animal Style AI, comparing their founders, public portfolios, documented milestones and likely fit for startup video briefs. The central finding is that buyers should choose for the job at hand, not for the loudest AI claim: Hotpot speaks most directly to startup speed, Native Foreign to protectable story worlds, Secret Level to culture-scale campaigns, Elevado to hybrid craft, and Animal Style AI to senior VFX-led execution.

## Achievements

- Hotpot Studios says its portfolio has surpassed 10 million views and that a 30-second spot can be completed in as little as one week, depending on client control and scope.
- Native Foreign says Critterz secured U.S. copyright and is being developed as a feature with Vertigo Films and writers James Lamont and Jon Foster.
- Native Foreign created a Toys"R"Us brand film using OpenAI's Sora and has published work for Delta, Virgin Voyages and Carl's Jr.
- Secret Level has published work for Coca-Cola, Kalshi, Amazon Small Business, LG, eToro, Mercedes and others; its 2025 Coca-Cola film was built entirely with generative AI tools.
- Elevado states that its work received a 2025 Cannes Gold Lion for Industry Craft and publishes projects for Goodyear, NFL Sunday Ticket, Hilton, Vechain, The Sims and Snickers.
- Animal Style AI founder Douglas Yoshida brings more than 25 years of VFX experience, with credits including Stranger Things, Shrek, Black Panther and Spider-Man: Homecoming.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Studio sites were reviewed for current positioning, leadership, public work, contact details and documented claims.
- **2026-06** — Elevado marked its first year and continued positioning itself as a hybrid AI production studio in Los Angeles.
- **2025-06** — Secret Level's AI-produced Kalshi commercial appeared during the NBA Finals.
- **2025-02** — Promise acquired Curious Refuge, another sign that AI filmmaking education and studio production were converging.

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Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-22