Here’s a preview of a new spread from the 2025 Visual Effects & Animation World Atlas featuring a selection of studio openings, closings, mergers, and acquisitions from the past 12 months. (Expand it to full screen if you want to see the details.) Several high-profile VFX and Animation studios collapsed during this time. But the industry outlook is less straightforward than some of the more attention-grabbing headlines and LinkedIn posts would have you believe. New studios launched during this same period -- quite a few of them led by teams from companies that closed months, weeks, or even just days, before. There’s also been plenty of M&A activity (with Dream/Machine FX and PFX among the most active groups). Well-known VFX brands were retired. Studios merged and secured new investment. While the Atlas looks mainly at countries, cities, and skillsets rather than individual studios, I felt it was important to chart both some of the studios we’ve lost and some of the studios we’ve gained since the 2024 edition. This is by no means an exhaustive list. If you spot a company that’s missing or a date that’s not quite right, please call it out and I’ll fix it before the new edition launches in a couple of weeks’ time. #VFX #animation #vfxatlas
John Kennedy
11mo
Great work Joseph. So interesting to have an overview of our industry as it recalibrates.
Andra Bard
10mo
A great overview, thanks for continuing to compile all this info!
Tammy Ellis
11mo
thank you for posting handy overview
Heather S.
11mo
Thanks for sharing, Joseph. It's always helpful to gain this kind of bird's-eye view of the industry over time: Essential insights here.
Data is power! Thank you so much for this incredible work.
Léa Latassa
11mo
Thanks for sharing Joseph, very insightful indeed 👏
Abhishek More
11mo
Love this, Joseph. Very insightful.
Bree Loverich
10mo
Helpful insight, Joseph
This is fantastic Joseph! One note: I’m not seeing the Crafty Apes activity? I think Eyeline Studios had some activity too.