About Small Wonder Studio
Forward Thinking
In recent years, Mark has turned his creative focus toward the world of 3D animation—an area where imagination meets precision. From richly detailed environments to lifelike movement and mood, his digital work adds new dimension to the art of storytelling.
This evolving body of work isn’t just about pixels and programs—it’s about bringing ideas to life in a way that resonates. Whether it’s for the stage, the screen, or something entirely new, the goal remains the same: to move people.
Take a look for yourself. A curated selection of Mark’s animation projects can be found just below…
Our Story
Mark Pleasant founded Small Wonder Studio in 1973. Since then, he has produced, directed, and filmed original productions, music videos, TV commercials, and documentaries. Working across film, video, and now digital media, SWS has taken on assignments ranging from the mountains of eastern Turkey to the beaches of Cancún—and nearly everywhere in between.
Since 1989, Mark has worked extensively with 3D animation software. In 1996, he and Michael Halsey of Magnetic Dreams received a regional Emmy Award for their design and direction of a series of animated TV spots for Viacom Inc.
In the corporate world, Small Wonder Studio creates and delivers video content for high-end web streaming, including projects for educational and medical platforms. In 2009, Mark began using iClone 3D software to animate and pre-visualize projects across various media. His work was even featured by Dannon Yogurt in a special Olympic-themed promotion on their website.
In 2013, Mark launched Animated Projections, dedicated to creating animated backgrounds for theatrical stage plays. As of today, his projections have been used in over 30 countries worldwide.
Small Wonder Studio also rents vintage 16mm film and audio equipment, as well as classic DV/HDV high-definition video cameras—preserving and celebrating tools from every era of storytelling.
Mark Pleasant
For me, it’s always been about the story. Whether through the camera or through animation, I’m grateful for every chance to bring imagination to life—and to keep learning along the way.”
— Mark Pleasant