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Indie Hit "Digital Circus" Redefines Animation's Future

Animation

Business Honor
21 April, 2025

GLITCH's breakout series illustrates the strength of indie animation, creativity, and storytelling outside of big studios.

Independent animation is on the rise, and at its helm is The Amazing Digital Circus, a ridiculously popular web series by GLITCH Productions and directed by Gooseworx. The pilot dropped on YouTube in October 2023 and blew up overnight, with over 100 million views in the first month and more than 370 million views to date—ranking it as one of the highest-grossing indie animated pilots to drop online.

GLITCH Productions, an Australian independent animation company established in 2017, had already achieved modest success with productions such as Meta Runner and Murder Drones. But The Amazing Digital Circus catapulted them onto the international stage. The series is about Pomni, a woman stuck in a dreamlike digital circus with no recollection of her history. With its blend of hyperactive imagery, emotional depth, and existential ideas, the show explores identity, mental illness, and existentialism—all through the lens of cartoon storytelling.

This breakout success led to a historic deal with Netflix. Unlike traditional acquisitions, the show continues to debut on YouTube before it becomes available on Netflix, giving GLITCH full creative freedom and maintaining visibility for its fan base. This action is a sign of change in the animation world, demonstrating that small, independently financed teams can create quality, effective material without the support of large studios.

Riding the wave of success, GLITCH has also launched fresh productions such as The Gaslight District and Knights of Guinevere, nurturing emerging creators and experimenting with boundaries of innovative visual styles, such as 2D and stop-motion animation.

The Amazing Digital Circus has opened up a new debate regarding animation as a legitimate storytelling tool. It demonstrates that people are craving truly original, passionate material—and that low-budget animation, years in the shadow of corporate facilities, is finally emerging from obscurity.