Creating your own visual effects is a highly skilled and time-consuming process that most filmmakers, and other creatives, don’t have the resources to cover.

You can hire a VFX studio to produce custom effects for your project, but this approach to creating special effects is usually expensive.

The alternative for most video, gaming, or other visual projects, is to opt for stock VFX libraries, to purchase visual effects individually or in bundles, which come with a license for your use of them.

In this article, we’ll walk you through:

• The types of VFX companies you can use for your media projects.
• A list of the 10 best VFX studios in the world that you should know about.
• The 5 best stock footage VFX companies to add visual effects to your projects, starting with our own, ActionVFX.

Types of VFX Companies

There are a variety of visual effects companies that specialize in creating a wide range of visual effects for film, television, games, and other media. We’ve listed some of the most common below.

VFX Stock Footage Companies

VFX stock footage companies have libraries of visual effects that customers can either purchase individually, as a bundle, or get full access via a subscription. This is the most affordable way of accessing professionally produced visual effects for VFX projects.

Here at ActionVFX, we are included in this category. We offer a wide range of pre-made visual effects that you can access through one of our subscription plans. Our assets are considered the best in the industry by leading VFX artists.

VFX Studios

VFX studios specialize in building visual effects on a contract basis for specific projects. Customers provide a brief of what they are looking for and the studio provides a bespoke service to build the effects for each project.

VFX studios can also be broken down into the following sub-categories:

• Film VFX studios: These include many of the studios associated with Hollywood blockbuster movies, but there are also lots of smaller studios around the world providing visual effects for a variety of purposes. These companies specialize in creating VFX for film projects, including feature films, short films, and commercials. They may work on everything from creating complex CG characters and environments to compositing elements into live-action footage.
• Television VFX studios: Television VFX companies specialize in creating visual effects for television projects, including TV shows, documentaries, and music videos. They may work on a wide range of VFX tasks, including compositing, animation, and 3D modeling.
• Advertising VFX studios: These companies create VFX for commercials and other types of short-form video content. They may work on a wide range of projects, from simple product demonstrations to more complex, effects-driven commercials.
• Gaming VFX studios: Video game developers are huge users of visual effects and there are specific studios to help create them. These companies specialize in creating VFX for video games, including console games, mobile games, and PC games. They may work on a variety of VFX tasks, including character animation, particle effects, and environmental design.
• Virtual Reality VFX studios: These companies create VFX for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences. They may work on a variety of projects, including games, educational content, and more.
• Post-production VFX companies: These companies offer VFX services as part of a larger post-production process. They may work on films, television shows, commercials, and other types of content.

Top VFX Studios in the World that You Should Know

This list covers 10 of the most well-regarded VFX studios worldwide that you should know about, even if your budget won’t stretch to hiring them.

1. Weta Digital Founded in 1993 by Peter Jackson, Weta Digital became a household name with The Lord of the Rings trilogy, setting new benchmarks in VFX. Their work on Avatar and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes further solidified their reputation as industry leaders.

2. Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) Established by George Lucas in 1975, ILM pioneered modern VFX with Star Wars. Their groundbreaking work on Jurassic Park and Avengers: Endgame, to name a few, continues to influence the industry.

3. Framestore Framestore, founded in 1986, first gained major recognition for their work on Superman (1978). They became a major player with Harry Potter and their Oscar-winning VFX for Gravity. They have won multiple Academy Awards for their work on films such as Guardians of the Galaxy and The Martian.

4. DNEG Founded in 1998, DNEG, formerly known as Double Negative, quickly rose to prominence with Inception and Interstellar. Their technical expertise and creativity have made them a go-to studio for complex visual effects.

5. Scanline VFX Founded in 1989, Scanline VFX is renowned for their fluid simulation technology, which they showcased in 2012 and Game of Thrones. Their innovative work in films like The Last Airbender and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever continues to push the limits of VFX.

**6. MPC (Moving Picture Company) ** MPC, established in 1970, is known for its photorealistic CG work, particularly in The Lion King (2019) and the Oscar-winning Life of Pi. They have a strong legacy in creature creation.

7. Method Studios Method Studios, founded in 1998, gained recognition for their work on Iron Man 2 and later solidified their reputation with Thor: Ragnarok and Doctor Strange.

8. Rodeo FX Founded in 2006, Rodeo FX quickly became a top player in VFX, earning acclaim for their work on Game of Thrones and Fantastic Beasts. Recent projects they have worked on include Dune 2, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, and Loki. Their blend of practical and digital effects sets them apart.

9. Pixar Animation Studios Pixar, founded in 1986, revolutionized animation with Toy Story and continues to be a leader in the industry with films like Finding Nemo and Lightyear, blending storytelling with innovative VFX.

10. Pixomondo Founded in 2001, Pixomondo made a name for itself with its work on Game of Thrones and Star Trek: Into Darkness. They specialize in creating large-scale visual environments and epic sequences.

Best Stock Visual Effects Companies

Many stock visual effects platforms offer a range of pre-made elements that you can use in your film, video, or other projects.

Here are 5 of the best, starting with our own:

1. ActionVFX: Best VFX company for raw stock footage

ActionVFX was founded in 2016 and has quickly become the number one choice of many leading VFX artists for production-quality VFX stock footage. Our assets have been used in many of the productions mentioned above, including Avengers: Endgame, Stranger Things, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and were recently used in Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One.

At ActionVFX, our in-house team of VFX artists produce high-quality stock visual effects (VFX) for use in film, television, and other media. We also sell approved assets from third party creators in the industry. Our comprehensive VFX library includes high-quality VFX elements, available in high resolution, that are highly realistic and super easy to use.

Our customer support is also world-class and our customers are consistently satisfied with the support they receive, as our average net promoter score (NPS) of over 80 clearly demonstrates.

Raw visual effects footage to add your own touches

Unlike other stock effects on the market, our stock VFX elements are provided to you as raw footage. This means you can see, and edit, the underlying layers, and elements that make up every one of our final VFX shots. You get to understand how we built the shot and can change or adjust it, as necessary.

Our raw footage can be used as it comes, or as a starting point for creating your own custom VFX shots. For example, you can use the raw footage as a base layer and add your own elements or effects on top of it, so the final effect is uniquely yours.

You can download all our VFX elements in formats that are easy to use and integrate into a variety of software, including Adobe After Effects and Nuke. We also provide detailed how-to articles and tutorial videos to help our users get the most out of the VFX elements they want to use.

Access ActionVFX Stock Footage by Becoming a Subscriber

Our assets are available to artists through a flexible subscription that can be scaled according to your project workload.

When you become a subscriber, you receive credits each month (or year, depending on your subscription choice) that can be spent on assets of your choice. These credits roll over month-over-month so you can save and spend them on the 2D or 3D assets you need on a per-project basis.

If you're interested in learning more about ActionVFX, visit our testimonials page or explore our library.

2. Video Copilot: Best for VFX to use in Adobe After Effects

Video Copilot is a software company that produces a range of video production tools for creating VFX assets, including special effects, 3D models, and motion graphics. It is not specifically a VFX stock footage company, but does provide some VFX elements as a starting point to create more complex effects in video editing and compositing software.

Pros and cons of Video Copilot

All Video Copilot’s VFX assets are specifically built for use in Adobe After Effects, if you use other video editing or compositing software its effects may not be compatible. Its plugins allow users to easily create a huge range of professional quality effects, including explosions, fire, smoke, and more.

Because it is software that helps create VFX from scratch, as well as providing some stock effects, the cost of Video Copilot’s products can be expensive, particularly if you need multiple plugins or assets. If you have a tight budget, this is something to consider.

3. Footage Crate: Best for stock video footage

Footage Crate (by Production Crate) is a VFX company that produces and sells video footage and visual effects elements for use in a variety of media. Its stock video footage includes shots of landscapes, cityscapes, nature, and more, and can be used to add visual interest and realism to video projects, without having to shoot them on location.

In addition to stock footage, Footage Crate also offers a selection of VFX elements, including compositing elements, particle effects, and others.

Pros and cons of Footage Crate

Footage Crate’s pricing is competitive and it offers effects in a wide range of categories. However, VFX elements downloaded usually need to be cleaned up and adapted to make them work in projects, rather than being ready to use, exactly as they come.

While Footage Crate’s products are generally high quality, it is important to carefully preview any footage or VFX elements before using them in your projects to ensure they meet your needs.

4. FX Elements

FX Elements offers a wide range of special effects elements, including explosions, fire, debris, and more. Additionally, it offers a selection of compositing elements, such as green screen backgrounds and matte paintings, used to combine different visual elements and create seamless compositions.

Pros and cons of FX Elements

FX Elements have a large library of VFX elements, although there is a lack of variety in the type of elements offered. It offers no large-scale pyrotechnic effects or explosions in its library, for example. Additionally, users have found that some elements break the edge of the frame, which requires a clean-up for wider shots.

5. Visual FX Pro

Visual FX Pro is a recent player in the VFX market. It was established in 2020 by a former VFX freelancer and is focused on providing quality visual effects at affordable prices.

Pros and cons of Visual FX Pro

The Visual FX Pro website, while providing high-quality effects, includes a relatively small range of stock video footage and visual effects.

How to Use Stock VFX Companies

Using a stock visual effects company is a convenient way to access a wide range of pre-made VFX elements for use in your film, television, or other media projects. It’s straightforward to start using most of them. Here’s how it’s typically done:

• Search for the VFX element you want on the VFX company’s website, or use the search function to find what you need.
• Preview the element to make sure it’s what you need.
• Purchase the element individually or sign up for a subscription.
• Download the element to your computer and import it into your video editing or compositing software.
• Use the imported VFX element in your project. You should be able to scale, rotate, or adjust it to fit your needs.
• Credit the VFX company in your credits or on your website. Check each company’s guidelines on how to credit their work.

How to Choose Your Perfect Stock VFX Company

When choosing a visual effects company to use in your project, there are several factors to take into consideration, as it can be time-consuming and budget-busting to create your own from scratch. To choose the perfect stock VFX company for you, there are a few questions you should ask yourself as you make a decision.

• Does the VFX library include everything I need now, and will need in the future?
• How often is the library of effects updated?
• Can I make my own changes to the effects I download?
• Where have the company’s visual effects been previously successfully used?
• What will it cost me to get access to the entire range of visual effects I will need?

Are you a VFX artist in search of a wide variety of premium assets? At ActionVFX, we are honored to be considered the best option for stock visual effects on the market. With our monthly releases of new assets, you can be sure that we have the assets you need.

Explore our library or join a plan

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