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Why the UK Is a VFX Powerhouse

The UK VFX industry delivers astonishing creative and economic returns. In 2024 the sector was valued at approximately USD 2.78 billion, and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 12.9% to reach about USD 9.35 billion by 2034. Despite challenges like Brexit and COVID, demand across film, episodic TV and advertising continues to intensify.

UK studios benefit from competitive government incentives. Film tax relief generates ~£8.30 of economic value per £1, and high-end TV relief returns ~£6.44 per £1 invested. A 2024 uplift raised VFX qualifying tax credit by 5% to 29.25%, exempting it from broader caps.

Leading VFX Companies

DNEG

The British‑Indian studio DNEG leads global VFX excellence. Founded in London (1998) and now with 9 locations worldwide, it employs around 9,000 staff. It has earned 8 Academy Awards, 8 BAFTAs, 26 Visual Effects Society Awards, and 4 Primetime Emmys for films like Inception, Blade Runner 2049, Dune, Interstellar, Ex Machina and Tenet.

In 2024 DNEG raised $200 million from Abu Dhabi’s United Al Saqer Group, valuing the company at over $2 billion, and is developing AI‑driven VFX tools under its Brahma division while co‑producing films via Prime Focus Studios.

Choose DNEG when:

If you need scale, global delivery, and award-winning craftsmanship for major studio features or international episodic series, DNEG is unmatched.

Framestore

Framestore, based in London with seven international offices, employs ~3,000 staff across the UK, US, Canada, India, Australia and more. It holds multiple Academy Awards (e.g., Gravity, Blade Runner 2049), BAFTAs, and 14 Primetime Emmys, as well as Cannes Lions and Clios in advertising and immersive experiences.

Framestore offers deep creative R&D through its spin-off Filmlight and thrives in both feature VFX and high-end advertising campaigns.

Milk VFX, MPC & The Mill

Milk VFX is a London-founded studio with four locations including Bordeaux, Dublin and Barcelona. It won an Oscar for Ex Machina (Sara Bennett), three BAFTA Television Craft Awards and a Creative Arts Emmy for Sherlock: The Abominable Bride. Milk acquired Lola Post Production in October 2022 and was itself acquired by Phantom Digital Effects in mid‑2025.

MPC and The Mill remain leaders in large-scale advertising, brand campaigns and virtual production, often collaborating with feature studios while specializing in commercials and immersive brand visuals.

One Of Us, Axis Studios & Outpost VFX

Boutique studios like One Of Us and Axis Studios excel in design-led VFX, animation, branding and immersive content for premium advertising and TV titles.
Outpost VFX is known for episodic series work on franchises like The Rings of Power and House of the Dragon.

Choose these smaller studios when you want highly creative, tailored attention and distinctive visual storytelling.

Navigating the UK VFX Market

Selecting the right studio hinges on project type, creative style, budget, and delivery needs. Use DNEG or Framestore for large-scale features or global co-productions. Boutique studios add value on high‑concept advertising, design-driven brand work, or creative episodic TV. Milk offers a hybrid model combining episodic scale with boutique attention, particularly post‑acquisition of Lola Post.

Industry Headwinds & Opportunities

The UK VFX sector continues to recover from pandemic disruptions and rising labour and infrastructure costs. Brexit and talent mobility remain concerns, though demand remains elevated. On the upside, tax relief increases and inward investment are boosting resilience and innovation—especially in AI and virtual production tools.

Why Vitrina

At Vitrina, we curate these leading UK VFX companies including:

• DNEG
• Framestore
• Milk VFX
• MPC
  
• The Mill

We help you match your project needs—creative complexity, scale, or boutique aesthetic—with the right UK VFX partner, backed by verified industry insights and a curated shortlist.