The VFX and Animation World Atlas has released its latest findings.
With sponsorship provided by both the British Film Commission and UK Screen Alliance, the 2025 edition of the Atlas reveals the current state of play across the worldwide VFX and animation industry. Collated from data collected quarterly from 120,000 professionals associated with 2,450 studios, the results indicate recent changes as well as an overall annual picture of the sector’s performance.
According to the data, the global VFX and animation workforce saw growth of 9.3 per cent throughout the second half of 2024, but this was followed by a contraction of 7.6 per cent in the first six months of this year, producing an annual net industry growth figure of 1 per cent. In London, the workforce saw a reduction of 5.1 per cent, possibly reflecting the effects of the Technicolor collapse which saw the closure of The Mill, MPC and Jellyfish Pictures in its wake. Around 500 jobs were lost in the UK as a result.
Despite these losses, London retains its place as the largest city hub in Europe. The city provides employment for 10,564 people in the sector, more than twice the amount of its closest European rival, Paris. London takes third place on the global stage, behind Los Angeles on 12,354 and Mumbai with 10,866.
Recent tax incentives intended to support industry growth in the UK reportedly saw a number of productions delaying operations ahead of their announcements. The UK Screen Alliance has suggested the impact of the changes is yet to be fully felt, with improvements only just becoming apparent.
Neil Hatton, CEO of UK Screen Alliance said, “The VFX and Animation World Atlas is fast becoming an invaluable data source for our industry with its trend analysis and up-to-date information. But even though the data is recent, it reflects the industry as seen through the rear-view mirror. UK Screen Alliance has surveyed its member companies to gauge future sentiment, and found that 71 per cent have seen an increase in sales enquires since the introduction of the VFX uplift, with 43 per cent of those surveyed indicating a significant increase. As those enquiries translate into confirmed bookings VFX companies are showing increasing confidence in a return to sustained growth in excess of 5 per cent over the next 12 months.
“The UK’s VFX industry has an unrivalled reputation for success, with award-winning innovative crews. Now that we can couple that with a competitive tax incentive, we know that many productions are viewing the UK as a priority destination for VFX. “
The VFX and Animation World Atlas is available to download free at www.vfxatlas.com
