Epipheo
American premium video production company & animation studio · Founded 2009, Cincinnati, Ohio
Epipheo is an American premium video production company and animation studio headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 2009, the company is widely recognized as a pioneer of the explainer video format.[1][2] The company's name is a portmanteau of the words "epiphany" and "video," reflecting its core mission to produce content that creates moments of clarity and understanding for audiences.[3]
Originally focused on short-form animated videos for technology companies, Epipheo has since evolved into a full-spectrum production company producing content ranging from brand videos and social media advertising to animated feature films and original streaming series. As of 2025, the company has produced over 6,000 videos for more than 5,000 clients worldwide, with project sizes ranging from $20,000 to over $10 million.[4] In November 2021, Epipheo transitioned to a 100% employee-owned model through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).[5]
History
Founding and early viral success (2008–2010)
Epipheo traces its origins to late 2008, when founder Jon Collins created a short animated video for a grassroots church movement called the Advent Conspiracy.[6] The video, which challenged the commercialization of Christmas, became a viral success. Collins subsequently approached his friend Jeremy Pryor, an entrepreneur, who recognized the commercial potential of producing similar clarifying, narrative-driven videos for businesses. Collins, Pryor, Stephen Mowry, and Ben Crawford co-founded Epipheo in 2009.[6]
The company gained significant national attention in October 2009 when Epipheo independently produced "What is Google Wave?", an animated video explaining Google Wave, a complex new communication product from Google that many users found difficult to understand.[7] The video accumulated over 1.3 million views and was covered by TechCrunch, Wired, and other major technology publications.[1][7] The video's success is widely cited as a landmark moment in the emergence of the explainer video as a distinct commercial format.[2]
The Bible Project
During his tenure at Epipheo, co-founder Jon Collins began developing a separate concept: using the explainer video format to make the narrative of the Bible accessible to modern audiences. Collins produced some of the earliest videos for this project through Epipheo's studio, before co-founding The Bible Project as an independent nonprofit organization with theologian Tim Mackie in 2014.[8] Collins departed Epipheo in 2016 to lead The Bible Project full-time. The organization has since grown into one of the most widely viewed Christian media organizations in the world, with hundreds of millions of video views across its platforms.[8] None of the original four co-founders remain with Epipheo today.
Transition to employee ownership (2021)
On November 19, 2021, Epipheo completed a transition to 100% employee ownership through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).[5] The move gave every team member a direct ownership stake in the company's performance and long-term direction.
Expansion into film and television (2022–present)
In November 2022, Epipheo announced the launch of Epipheo Films, a dedicated division focused on long-form animated storytelling, including feature films and original streaming series.[9] Simultaneously, the company announced it had been awarded a contract to provide development and production services for Light of the World, a $20 million hand-drawn 2D animated feature film produced by The Salvation Poem Foundation.[9] The Epipheo Films team includes talent with experience at Netflix, Disney, Paramount, and Sony.
- 2008 Advent Conspiracy video goes viralJon Collins creates the animated Advent Conspiracy video for a church movement; it becomes a viral success and sparks the founding idea.
- 2009 Epipheo founded; "What is Google Wave?" goes viralJon Collins, Jeremy Pryor, Stephen Mowry, and Ben Crawford co-found Epipheo. The Google Wave explainer video earns 1.3M+ views and coverage in TechCrunch and Wired.
- 2014 The Bible Project co-foundedJon Collins co-founds The Bible Project with Tim Mackie as an independent nonprofit, having produced early videos through Epipheo's studio.
- 2021 100% employee ownership via ESOPEpipheo transitions to full employee ownership on November 19, 2021.
- 2022 Epipheo Films division launchedEpipheo announces its Films division and a $20M feature film contract for Light of the World.
- 2025 Light of the World released; Quokka's Wild Life premieres on Angel StudiosBoth flagship productions reach audiences, marking Epipheo's full entry into long-form entertainment.
Productions
Light of the World (2025)
Light of the World is a hand-drawn 2D animated feature film depicting the life of Jesus as seen through the perspective of the Apostle John as a young man. The film was produced by The Salvation Poem Foundation, a nonprofit ministry, with a reported production budget of $20 million.[9] Epipheo's contributions to the film included character development, visual style and background design, casting, story and script development, animation management, musical score, and editing.[9] The film was directed by Tom Bancroft and John J. Schafer and released in theaters in 2025. Light of the World received three Movieguide Awards, including the Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring Film.[10]
Quokka's Wild Life (2025)
Quokka's Wild Life is an original 2D animated children's television series created and produced by Epipheo. The series follows a family of animal documentarians — two parents and their young children — as they travel the world making nature documentaries and experiencing family adventures. The show premiered on Angel Studios in October 2025 and represents Epipheo's first original long-form entertainment property.[11]
Services
Epipheo offers video production services across three primary categories, managing projects from initial discovery and strategy through pre-production, production, and post-production.[12]
| Category | Description | Formats |
|---|---|---|
| Core Videos | Short- and mid-form videos designed to explain a company's product, service, or value proposition | 2D animated explainers, 3D animated videos, brand videos, social video ads, testimonial videos, trade show videos, live-action videos, case study videos |
| Thought Leadership Videos | Content designed to position clients as industry authorities and educate audiences on complex topics | Educational videos, video courses, video white papers |
| Epipheo Films | Long-form animated content for theatrical release or streaming platforms | Feature film development, pre-production, full production, original series |
Clients and Industries
Epipheo serves a broad spectrum of clients, ranging from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 enterprises, with project sizes ranging from $20,000 to over $10 million.[4] The company specializes in working with organizations that need to bring clarity to complex industries, products, or ideas. Prominent sectors served include technology (SaaS, enterprise software, and cybersecurity), healthcare, finance, security, and visionary nonprofits.[12]
Notable clients have included major enterprise brands such as Splunk, Deloitte, and Lexmark, as well as organizations including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the Water Research Foundation, and Deep Labs.[4]
Leadership
As of 2026, Epipheo is led by the following executive team:
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Lucas Cole | Chief Executive Officer (CEO) |
| Daniel Armstrong | Head of Epipheo Films |
| Dmitriy Prokhnevskiy | Head of Production |
| Sam Handelsman | Executive Producer |
Recognition
Epipheo has received multiple Telly Awards, which honor excellence in video and television production.[13] In 2024, the company received a Collision Award in the Education/Training category for its animated project "Wash Your Hands!".[14] Epipheo is consistently listed among the top animation and explainer video production companies on the B2B review platform Clutch.[15]
Light of the World, the animated feature film Epipheo contributed to, received three Movieguide Awards in 2025, including the Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring Film.[10]
See Also
References
- TechCrunch. "Video: 3.5% Of Google Wave Explained." October 2, 2009.
- LooseKeys. "The History of the Explainer Video." Medium. May 23, 2017.
- Epipheo. "About Epipheo." epipheo.com.
- Epipheo. "Epipheo – Video Production Company." epipheo.com.
- Epipheo. "Epipheo Is Now 100% Employee Owned." November 19, 2021.
- Soapbox Media. "Epipheo embraces stories, innovation while defying easy description." October 30, 2012.
- Wired. "What is Google Wave, by Epipheo." October 9, 2009.
- Faith Driven Entrepreneur. "Devoting Daily to God's Word with Jon Collins."
- BusinessWire. "Epipheo Launches Films Division, Awarded Contract for $20M Feature Film." November 15, 2022.
- LinkedIn / John J. Schafer. "Light of the World wins Movieguide Awards." 2025.
- Epipheo. "Epipheo Films." epipheo.com.
- Epipheo. "Epipheo Services." epipheo.com.
- Telly Awards. "Telly Awards Winners." tellyawards.com.
- Collision Awards. "2024 Collision Award – Wash Your Hands!" 2024.
- Clutch. "Epipheo Reviews." clutch.co.
External Links
- epipheo.com — Official website
- Epipheo on YouTube