U.K.-based creative studio Covert has formed a strategic partnership with Istanbul-based mixed-media studio Aniverse. From traditional cel animation to motion design, Aniverse specializes in original content for brands across commercials, out-of-home advertising, digital and social media for such clients as Coca-Cola, Google, José Cuervo, Puma, Expedia, Zevia, and more. The partnership is structured so that the studios can collaborate on projects in tandem, tapping into their respective creative strengths and markets.
“We are excited about the mixed-media possibilities with Aniverse, particularly exploring ways to blend their signature 2D style with our 3D and VFX-driven work,” says Max Murphy, Covert’s Managing Director & Partner. “This partnership also broadens the creative zeitgeist of both studios, enabling us to help clients connect with their diverse consumer base by crafting brand stories with authenticity and cultural nuance.”
With a combined 20-plus years of experience working in the advertising, production and animation industry, brothers Ahmet and Selahattin Iltas launched Aniverse in 2017 with a mission to create a world-class animation studio built around international talent. As the studio grew in revenue and expanded its clientele, there came a demand to bring more talent in-house to streamline workflows collaborating with the client and staff artists.
“Keeping the majority of our talent in-house has been key to our creative culture and growth as we have honed our specialty in 2D animation and crafting stories and characters with depth,” says Ahmet Iltas, Executive Creative Director of Aniverse. “For us, the excitement lies in the subtle details that make our work stand out — playing with light, textures, illustration styles and transitions.”
Aniverse’s recent and noteworthy projects include “Experience The Magic,” a series of short animations for Coca-Cola Arena and Coca-Cola Etihad Stadium. Diving into Coca-Cola’s signature red palette, the films balance minimalism, character development and bold motion.
Another example of Aniverse’s standout work is a recent OOH campaign for José Cuervo’s special edition bottles celebrating Día de los Muertos. Using mixed-media techniques, the studio brought the bottle designs to life with motion graphics.
Lastly, a recent campaign for Puma via Publicis integrates motion design with live-action. The spot was created for Turkish football club Fenerbahçe’s 2024-2025 jersey launch; drawing from historical video and photo archives, it captures the club’s rich history and players from 1910 to today, with an array of distinct art styles reflecting the spirit of each era.
Beyond commercials, Aniverse is invested in doing more original and long-form content as a studio. They have three different short films in development ranging from anime to traditional 2D animation styles.
“Our passion projects have been key to honing our storytelling skills — a benefit to both our clients and our team’s independent creativity — especially as everyone gets to contribute story and character ideas during scripting,” said Selahattin Iltas, Aniverse Managing Partner and Animation Director. “With a greater creative stake, it’s an experience that allows them to discover new ways to excel in their craft as animators.”
