Framestore
Corporate brand
UnclaimedFramestore is a British visual-effects, computer-animation and immersive-experience studio serving film, television, advertising and location-based entertainment.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Framestore is a London-founded visual-effects and computer-animation studio whose work spans feature films, television, advertising, animation, theme-park attractions, rides and immersive experiences. Established in 1986 by William Sargent, Sharon Reed and three other founding colleagues, the company initially developed as a creative and technical production house at a time when digital post-production was still emerging. Tim Webber joined in 1988 and helped lead the business toward digital film and television, including the development of virtual-camera and motion-rig systems. A dedicated computer-generated imagery department was established in 1992 under Mike Milne, broadening Framestore’s capabilities beyond traditional post-production. A major turning point came in 1997, when Framestore acquired the Computer Film Company, an early British digital-effects specialist known for film scanning, compositing and digital output. The combination strengthened Framestore’s position in feature-film visual effects and gave it a deeper technology base. The company later contributed to landmark British and international productions, including the television series Walking with…, Chicken Run, the Harry Potter films, The Dark Knight, Avatar and numerous major franchise pictures. It completed what was described as Europe’s first digital intermediate for Chicken Run in 2000 and delivered its first feature-animation project, The Tale of Despereaux, with Universal. Framestore expanded internationally during the 2000s and 2010s. It opened a New York office in 2004, initially emphasizing advertising, and established operations in Montreal and Los Angeles in 2013. A Chicago location followed in 2017. The company also developed a production arm in 2014. Its work increasingly combined large-scale visual-effects supervision, digital environments, creature and character work, computer animation, virtual production techniques and design for immersive attractions. Framestore’s research and development culture also contributed to the creation of FilmLight, a separate technology company whose founders and team developed important tools for digital color grading and finishing. The studio’s awards profile includes Academy Awards, BAFTA awards, Primetime Emmy Awards and major advertising honors. Its first Academy Award for Best Visual Effects came for The Golden Compass in 2008. Framestore later received the Academy Award and BAFTA for Gravity, for which Tim Webber supervised effects work involving complex virtual cinematography and lighting methods. The studio also won both awards for Blade Runner 2049 after producing approximately 300 visual-effects shots. Its television work includes Black Mirror and His Dark Materials, for which it received a BAFTA Television Craft Award for special, visual and graphic effects. In November 2016, Shanghai-based Cultural Investment Holdings Co. acquired 75% of Framestore for a reported £112.5 million. The transaction provided the studio with a new majority owner while it continued operating under the Framestore name. In 2020, Framestore announced the acquisition of former Deluxe creative assets associated with Method Studios and Company 3, an expansion intended to broaden its visual-effects and post-production capabilities. Framestore remains an active international production house, with studios and creative operations reported across London, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Montreal, Melbourne and Mumbai. Its brand is positioned around the integration of artistic direction, advanced software and large-scale production delivery rather than around a consumer product line.
History
Framestore was founded in London in 1986 by William Sargent, Sharon Reed and three other colleagues. The early company operated during the transition from optical and practical post-production toward digitally assisted filmmaking. Tim Webber joined in 1988 and helped establish a stronger digital-film and television orientation, while Mike Milne created a CGI department in 1992. This combination of production knowledge and technical experimentation became central to Framestore’s identity. In 1997, Framestore acquired the Computer Film Company, a pioneering British digital-effects business founded in 1984. CFC had developed expertise in film scanning, compositing and digital output, and its early work included morphing effects for The Fruit Machine. The merger strengthened Framestore’s ability to deliver end-to-end digital visual effects. In 2000, the company completed the digital intermediate for Chicken Run, an important milestone in European digital post-production. It subsequently expanded into feature animation with The Tale of Despereaux and contributed effects to major films such as the Harry Potter series, The Dark Knight and Avatar. International expansion accelerated after the company opened a New York office in 2004. A satellite operation in Iceland was opened in 2008 but later closed and was subsequently associated with the local company RVX. Framestore established facilities in Montreal and Los Angeles in 2013, launched a production arm in 2014 and opened a Chicago office in 2017. These locations allowed the company to work closer to North American production centers while retaining London as its historical base. Later reported studio operations included Melbourne and Mumbai. Framestore’s reputation was built through a combination of blockbuster visual effects, television design and technical research. The company won its first Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for The Golden Compass in 2008 and received further recognition for The Dark Knight and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. Its work on Gravity required several years of development and used virtual-camera, lighting and motion-control approaches to create the film’s distinctive weightless environments. The project earned both the Academy Award and BAFTA for visual effects. Framestore later produced about 300 effects shots for Blade Runner 2049, winning the corresponding Academy Award and BAFTA in 2018. The business also developed a substantial advertising and experiential practice. It created branded characters, commercials and immersive installations, including a digitally reconstructed Audrey Hepburn for a Galaxy chocolate campaign. That work demonstrated the company’s technical capabilities while also generating debate about consent, identity and commercial use of a deceased performer’s image. Its television credits include Black Mirror and His Dark Materials, and it has worked across a wide range of franchise, fantasy, science-fiction and historical productions. Ownership changed in November 2016 when Cultural Investment Holdings Co., based in Shanghai, acquired 75% of Framestore. The company continued to operate as an independent creative brand under the new majority ownership. In 2020, Framestore announced a transaction involving former Deluxe creative assets associated with Method Studios and Company 3, broadening its reach into visual effects and post-production. Framestore’s current business model remains project-based and international, serving studios, broadcasters, streaming platforms, advertising agencies, brands and operators of immersive attractions.
- 2020
Creative assets associated with Method Studios and Company 3 are acquired
[1]The announced transaction expands Framestore’s visual-effects and post-production capabilities.
- 2018
Blade Runner 2049 wins major visual-effects awards
[1]Framestore’s work on approximately 300 shots contributes to Academy Award and BAFTA wins.
- 2016
Cultural Investment Holdings becomes majority owner
[1]The Shanghai-based company acquires 75% of Framestore.
- 2014
Production arm launches
[1]Framestore broadens its role beyond effects services through a dedicated production operation.
- 2013
Montreal and Los Angeles operations open
[1]The company expands its North American production footprint.
- 2008
First Academy Award
[1]Framestore wins Best Visual Effects for The Golden Compass.
- 2004
New York office opens
[1]The first international satellite office is established, initially focused on advertising.
- 2000
European digital-intermediate milestone
[1]Framestore completes the digital intermediate for Chicken Run.
- 1997
Computer Film Company is acquired
[1]The acquisition adds early digital-film scanning, compositing and output expertise.
- 1992
CGI department is established
[1]Mike Milne starts a dedicated computer-generated imagery department.
Products and positioning
A global, creatively led visual-effects and animation studio combining high-end artistic production with proprietary research, engineering and post-production expertise.
Film production services
Feature-film visual effects
Framestore creates visual effects for large-scale theatrical productions, including digital environments, creatures, characters, simulations, compositing, virtual cinematography and invisible effects. Its credits range from franchise films and fantasy adventures to historical dramas and animated features.
Television production services
Television visual effects
The studio supplies effects and graphic work for television and streaming productions. Projects such as Black Mirror, His Dark Materials and other serialized productions illustrate its work across science fiction, fantasy, drama and immersive screen worlds.
Advertising production
Advertising and branded content
Framestore works with agencies, brands and production companies on commercials, digital characters, product imagery and visual storytelling. Its advertising work has received recognition from Cannes Lions, the Clios, D&AD and British television advertising awards.
Immersive entertainment
Immersive experiences and rides
The company designs visual content and experiences for rides, attractions and other location-based formats. These projects extend its film-making expertise into interactive, spatial and experiential entertainment.
Marketing campaigns
- Galaxy Audrey Hepburn advertisement
United Kingdom
Framestore created a photorealistic digital representation of Audrey Hepburn for a Galaxy chocolate commercial, combining a body double, motion capture, facial-performance techniques and computer rendering.
Outcome. The campaign attracted substantial attention for its technical achievement and raised ethical questions about the commercial recreation of a deceased performer’s likeness.
Brand decisions
2020
Acquire former Deluxe creative assetsM&ABackground
Framestore aimed to extend its presence across visual effects and post-production.
Action taken
The company announced an acquisition involving former Deluxe creative assets associated with Method Studios and Company 3.
Aftermath
The transaction was intended to broaden the studio’s service and production footprint.
2016
Sell a majority stake to Cultural Investment HoldingsM&ABackground
Framestore pursued a change in ownership while continuing to operate as a specialist creative studio.
Action taken
Cultural Investment Holdings acquired 75% of the company in a reported £112.5 million transaction.
Aftermath
Framestore retained its brand and continued international expansion under majority Chinese ownership.
Reported transaction value. £112.5 million (November 2016)
2014
Launch a production armStrategyBackground
Framestore had expanded from post-production into broader creative and content services.
Action taken
The company launched a production operation to complement its visual-effects work.
Aftermath
The move supported a broader positioning across film, television, advertising and experiential production.
1997
Acquire the Computer Film CompanyM&ABackground
Framestore sought to deepen its capabilities in emerging digital film production.
Action taken
It acquired the London-based Computer Film Company, adding expertise in scanning, compositing and digital output.
Aftermath
The transaction strengthened the technical foundation of Framestore’s feature-film visual-effects business.
Recent events
Sources2 sources
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