The last decade saw a seismic shift. Popular entertainment is no longer defined by what is playing at the multiplex, but by what is streaming on the smart TV. Netflix, Amazon, and Apple have become "studios" in their own right, often outspending traditional Hollywood.
Founded by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, Studio Ghibli is the antithesis of the CGI blockbuster. Their hand-drawn productions are spiritual, quiet, and timeless. In the era of loud superhero movies, Ghibli’s popularity has skyrocketed among adults seeking "cozy" entertainment.
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Netflix changed the game by arguing that data is more valuable than dailies. Their production model is unique: greenlight everything, let the algorithm sort it out.
Having mastered narrative action with The Last of Us on PlayStation, Naughty Dog is now expanding into entertainment production directly. Their upcoming Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is being discussed as "cinema you control." Furthermore, their collaboration with HBO on the Last of Us adaptation set the blueprint for how game studios should co-produce film adaptations (i.e., keeping the original creator, Neil Druckmann, heavily involved).
While Pixar dominates the family space, other animation studios have carved out niches for adult and art-house entertainment.