AR elves anywhere
Drop elves into any flat surface — your living room rug, the kitchen counter, the garden path. The app uses your device's camera to anchor them in real space, so they walk across your actual floor.
Elf Studio® · AR Christmas magic Elf Studio: AR elves in your room.
Elf Studio: AR elves in your room.
Record the magic.
Augmented reality elves dance through your living room. Hundreds of animations, build-your-own elves, no limits. Record the proof, share with the family — or keep it as your own little Christmas Eve secret.
Free on iOS and Android. 4.6★ from 1,100+ UK App Store ratings.
Augmented reality elves, in your house
200+ animations
Walking, idling, dancing, breakdancing, moonwalk, Gangnam Style, the Thriller dance — over 200 animations to choose from. Trigger them on the fly while recording, or pre-plan a whole routine.
Build-your-own elves
The Elf Workshop lets you customise outfits across 60+ colours, swap on glasses (sunnies, reading glasses, the lot), and make every elf feel like its own little character. Thousands of combinations.
More inside the app
No limits
Place 1 elf, 10, 100 — up to you. Record up to 10 minutes per take.
Photos & video
Snapshot anytime, or roll a full clip. Save to camera roll and share.
Candy cane paths
Drop candy canes — your elf follows them. Plot routes, stage scenes.
Lighting controls
Match light direction, colour and brightness so the elves blend in seamlessly.
Camera filters
Cinematic looks for finished clips, applied as you record.
Action triggers
Tap during recording to switch animations live — like puppeteering on the fly.
From empty room to elf chaos in under a minute
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Scan a flat surface
Open the app and point your camera at a floor, table, or counter. The app reads the space in a couple of seconds — no calibration, no markers.
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Drop your elves
Tap to place. One elf, ten, a hundred. Pick outfits, glasses, a quick dance routine. Or stage candy canes and let them follow a path.
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Press record
Hit the button. Trigger animations live as you go. Save the clip, share with the family — or pop it onto the Christmas Eve recap.
Want to catch an elf moving on camera? Follow the elf video maker guide for a simple, step-by-step recording.
Elves on the loose
Real screenshots — elves placed in real spaces, with the AR session working its magic.
Picked up by Apple
Apple's editorial team have featured Elf Studio on the App Store across iPad and iPhone — alongside Speak to Santa from the same studio. Quietly proud, frankly. Small studio, real Christmas magic.
4.6★ App Store rating
1,100+ App Store ratings
200+ Elf animations
Free To download
In their own words
Recent five-star reviews from the App Store.
★★★★★Amazing love this
I am a kid and as soon as I got this game on my iPad I fell in love with it it’s so funny and cute . We’ve just got ready for Christmas so it helps you get in a nice feeling ready for Christmas anyone who has seen this get this game.
★★★★★Love this game
I have 2 kids and they love this game it is good and my kids are so so so so happy bye this game it is real really really good it is free love
★★★★★Beware of the app stamp
Super cute and I was really excited for this because my son is on the fence about believing in the elf and Santa. Paid for the app to get all the features, recorded a video and didn’t realize there was a label in the corner before I sent it to my son who immediately noticed it…so there goes that idea. Deleted the app after that
★★★★★Revised Review! Great Elf Experience now!
Revising my review since the developer has addressed the inability to save your videos now! Totally worth the experience now. There’s tons of content (if you pay for premium, which I did). It looks and works great now! Thank you for updating that save issue!
★★★★★It’s so fun and cute 😽
My kids are having so much fun playing with the game 🤩 and I love how cute it is!!!! And I can’t stop playing with it😍 Kinda hard to learn how to play or learn how it works but it’s my fault for that I didn’t watch the video 😝
★★★★★Doesn’t work!
It is telling me to tap to add the elf to the picture but no matter where or how I tap it won’t add it!
Elf Studio questions
How the AR elf app works
Is Elf Studio free?
Yes — the app is free to download on iOS and Android. There are optional premium features available through the App Store and Google Play.
How does the AR work?
Elf Studio uses your phone or tablet camera to detect a flat surface — a floor, a table, a counter — and anchors the 3D elves into that real space. As you move the camera around, the elves stay locked in position, so you can walk around them, get close, or step back for a wider shot.
How many elves can I place?
There is no fixed scene limit. Place one elf or build a much larger group, choosing a number that suits your device and the shot you want to create.
How long can I record?
Up to ten minutes per take. Clips save to your camera roll for sharing.
Who makes Elf Studio?
Elf Studio is made by North Pole Command Centre Ltd, a one-person family-app studio that's been making festive apps since 2012. Same studio that makes Speak to Santa.
Need a hand?
Bug, suggestion, press enquiry, or just want to say hi about Elf Studio? The studio runs on one person — but every email gets read, and most get a reply within a day or two.
You can also visit the studio site for the wider app catalogue.
