Top 40 Visual Effect Companies in Chicago
September 2023Looking for a top visual effect studio in Chicago?
If you've ever watched a Jurassic Park movie and wondered at how real the dinosaurs appeared or cringed as a dragon flew and breathed fire in Game of Thrones, then you've experience stellar visual effects (VFX). This computer-generated imagery (CGI) takes a scene in a video and adjusts the image to create an alternate reality. It's how actors can stand in front of a blank, green screen to record but the audience sees them in a spectacular location.
If your next video project requires VFX and you need more than out-of-the box animation and compositing software, find a visual effects studio on The Manifest.
To assist you in your search for a partner, we’ve compiled this list of the top visual effect companies in Chicago. Browse descriptions, feedback, and awards to find which can best suit your company’s needs.
List of the Best Chicago Visual Effect Studios
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1
- $25,000+
- 1,000 - 9,999 employees
- Chicago, IL
SGK is a global packaging and brand experience company based in London with offices in Amsterdam, Paris, Munich, and Chennai, India. The company, founded in 1953, has more than 5,800 employees and provides content marketing, branding, email marketing, event marketing & planning, packaging design, social media marketing, and video production services. SGK serves midmarket and other-sized companies in the consumer products & services, retail, financial services, and medical industries.
Clients
- Abbott
- Accor
- Amazon
- Air France
Industries
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SGK was hired by a biotechnology company to rebrand their existing product marketing assets. This involved rebranding the client's application notes, datasheets, guides, brochures, and other collateral.
"Their commitment to adjust and react immediately to our demands was impressive."
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2
- $25,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- Chicago, IL
Social Driver is a digital agency founded in 2011 with a team of over 10 members. Based in Washington, DC, they offer web design, social media marketing, and digital strategy solutions for clients ranging from small firms to large businesses in the fields of health care and nonprofit, among others.
Clients
- American Nurses Association
- The Education Trust
- Elizabeth Dole Foundation
- Goodwill Industries International
Industries
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An education nonprofit hired Social Driver to produce an explainer video about charter schools. From that explainer video, the team also created three shorter videos for the client to use on social media.
"We have been happy with the ultimate deliverables every time we've worked with them."
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3
- $10,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Umault is a B2B video ad agency based in Chicago. Founded in 2010, Umault exclusively specializes in video marketing services for mid-sized and larger businesses. Services include creative development, video production, and distribution.
Clients
- Dell Technologies
- MassMutual
- Fresenius Kabi
- James Hardie
Industries
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Umault produced a brand awareness video for a web analytics platform. The video, with a duration of approximately two minutes, served as a parody of the Oppenheimer trailer and promoted Google Analytics 4.
"Their creativity, passion, and professionalism were impressive."
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4
- $5,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Chicago, IL
Skalawag Productions is a small video production agency. Established in 2009, the firm is in Chicago, Illinois. Their team specializes in video production, advertising, and content marketing.
Clients
- Chomps
- Breville | Polyscience
- Vera Bradley
- Kraft
Industries
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Skalawag Productions produced a video for a healthcare foundation and their programs. Using previously captured footage, they created motion graphics with music to tell a story based on interviews.
"They were great partners who helped guide us to make great decisions for the brand."
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5
- $10,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- Chicago, IL
Demo Duck is an animated explainer video company based in Chicago. Founded in 2011, Demo Duck's team of 16 employees offer video production services for clients from the advertising, education, and media industries.
Clients
- GEICO
- Canon
- Crohn's and Colitis Foundation
- Netflix
Industries
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Demo Duck produced an informational video to describe a business's fraud prevention services. This involved writing a script, creating designs and a storyboard, and producing animation.
"I was impressed by their incredible efforts, creativity, and professionalism at every stage of the process."
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6
- $5,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- Chicago, IL
Indirap Productions is a small Chicago, Illinois-based video production agency. Founded in 2010, the team offers video production, branding, and graphic design.
Industries
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INDIRAP produced multiple videos highlighting the key projects of a construction company. They also provided digital marketing support, creating social media posts and newsletters to attract more clients.
"They were great to work with."
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7
- $50,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- Chicago, IL
Sarofsky is a design and creative firm based in Chicago with more than 10 experts. They have offered video production, broadcast video, and graphic design solutions since their founding in 2009. They work with clients in the fields of advertising, arts, and consumer products.
Clients
- Marvel Studios
- Warner Brothers
- Lionsgate
- High Dive
Industries
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Sarofsky provides graphic and editing services for an advertising firm. They help the client with projects by putting together graphics, color, and CG elements. They also research graphical treatment options.
“The quality of their work execution is always top-notch, and we trust them with our creative direction.”
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8
- $10,000+
- Freelancer employees
- Chicago, IL
Attack Studios is a video production company based in Chicago. Founded in 2013, the team of 2 specializes in video production, broadcast video and advertising.
Clients
- AAA
- FEMA
- Leo Burnett
- Allstate
Industries
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Attack Studios was hired by a gym company to design their logo, which must describe the business' brand. The team created two logos with multiple colors and designs before coming up with the final product.
"Everyone was easy to talk to and the job got done with time to spare."
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9
- $5,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- Chicago, IL
Yellow Box is a digital agency founded in 2010 with fewer than 50 employees. They offer digital strategy, email marketing, and web development solutions from their office in Chicago. They work primarily with small and medium-sized businesses.
Clients
- The University of Illinois System
- BCI Central
- Continental Motors
Industries
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Yellow Box handles digital marketing and strategy for a medical device company. In efforts to drive traffic, their team works on a variety of projects ranging from videography to PPC to email marketing.
“They’ve helped us grow our marketing from the ground up, and that’s invaluable.”
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10
- $5,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Chicago, IL
2 East 8th Productions, LLC is a full-service media production house based in Chicago. The production house, founded in 2016, has a team of less than ten that provides video production services to midmarket and small companies in various industries that include advertising & marketing, arts & entertainment, and automotive.
Clients
- Gino's East of Chicago
- The Second City Training Center
- The Comedy Bar
- SMS Assist
Industries
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2 East 8th Productions, LLC was hired by a film and media production company to produce a web series. The team was covered pre and post-production including casting, shooting, and sound and video editing.
"They are easy to contact when needed."
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11
- $5,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- Chicago, IL
120/80 is a PPC company based in Evanston, Ill. Founded in 2019, this company has two employees. Services offered by 120/80 include PPC, email marketing, and SEO for small to mid-sized companies, specifically focusing on sectors like healthcare, business services, manufacturing, and in-home services.
Clients
- Crescent Electric Supply Co.
- BBSI
- Acquirent llc
- Trustpilot
Industries
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Behind the Work (formerly 120/80) was hired to manage and create a website for an antimicrobial brand. The team was also tasked with developing a CRM and providing digital marketing and brand management services for the client.
"Behind the Work's (formerly 120/80's) ability to quickly understand our business and business needs were most impressive."
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12
- $1,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Chicago, IL
Thatch Films is a studio based in Chicago and founded in 2015. With no more than 10 employees, they specialize in video production and broadcast video solutions for small and mid-market firms in the fields of advertising, arts, and media.
Clients
- CASHE LLC
Industries
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Thatch Films produced a one-minute promotional video for a cashmere clothing company. From that video, they created a 30-second cut. The team was in charge of the filming, music, and editing.
"I would hire them a million times over and recommend them to everybody."
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13
- $10,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Western Springs, IL
Headquartered in Western Springs, Illinois, Caymanite Productions is a video production company. The firm focuses on video production, advertising, and broadcast video and is small.The firm was established in 2021.
Industries
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Caymanite Productions directed and produced a 30-second promotional video for a tech marketplace. They were tasked with setting up the studio, providing the equipment, and handling all post-production work.
“I’d say working with uncertainty was one of Caymanite Productions’ strongest suits.”
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14
- $10,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Chicago, IL
Jump Point is a video production agency established in 2016. Located in Chicago, Illinois, their small team offers video production and corporate photography.Visit SiteIndustries
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15
- $5,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Chicago, IL
Big Teeth Productions is a small video production company. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the firm was launched in 2005. Their services include video production, advertising, and content marketing.
Visit SiteClients
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- Planned Parenthood of Illinois
- Numerator
- Zywave Insurance Tech
Industries
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16
- $25,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- Chicago, IL
Launched in 2008, ODDMACHINE is a small video production agency. Their services include video production. The company is based in Chicago, Illinois; Chicago, Illinois and Burbank, California.Visit SiteIndustries
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17
- $1,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- Chicago, IL
AKA is a Chicago, Illinois-based public relations firm. The small company was launched in 1998. Their team provides public relations, video production, social media marketing, event marketing & planning, and more.Visit SiteIndustries
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18
- $10,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Chicago, IL
Alrojo Films is a small video production company. Founded in 2007, the company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Their team focuses on video production and broadcast video.Visit SiteIndustries
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19
- $5,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Chicago, IL
E3M Creative is a small video production company located in Chicago, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Delphi, Indiana and Lafayette, Indiana. Established in 2019, the team specializes in video production and advertising.Visit SiteIndustries
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20
- $10,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- Chicago, IL
Studio Sage is a video production agency and broadcast video company. The Chicago, Illinois-based firm was established in 2020. The small team focuses on video production and broadcast video.Visit SiteIndustries
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21
- $5,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Chicago, IL
Video production company ReelPaws is based in Chicago, Illinois. The agency offers video production, corporate photography, marketing strategy, content marketing, and more and is small.The agency was launched in 2012.
Visit SiteIndustries
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22
- $5,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- Chicago, IL
Established in 1984, Production Craft Digital Video is a video production agency. The firm provides video production, broadcast video, content marketing, and public relations and has a small team. The firm is in Chicago, Illinois.Visit SiteIndustries
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23
- $5,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Chicago, IL
Pond Ripple Media is a Chicago, Illinois-based video production agency. The small company was established in 2017. Their team specializes in video production.Visit Site -
24
- $10,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Chicago, IL
Digital strategy and video production company Taste Media Group was launched in 2010. Their small team is based in Chicago, Illinois and specializes in digital strategy and video production.Visit Site -
25
- $1,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Chicago, IL
Joey Lamp Video Creative is a video production agency. They focus on video production and were founded in 2013. Their small team is in Chicago, Illinois.Visit Site -
26
- $5,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Burr Ridge, IL
Barcelona Creative Group is a branding agency. They provide branding, digital strategy, social media marketing, marketing strategy, and more and were launched in 1990. Their small team is in Burr Ridge, Illinois.Visit SiteIndustries
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27
- $1,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Chicago, IL
Noonchorus Productions is a video production agency established in 2015. Their small team is located in Chicago, Illinois. The company offers video production.Visit SiteIndustries
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28
- Undisclosed
- 2 - 9 employees
- Des Plaines, IL
Marie Miller Photography & Videography is a Des Plaines, Illinois-based corporate photography company. They provide corporate photography and video production and were established in 2020.Visit Site -
29
- $5,000+
- 50 - 249 employees
- Chicago, IL
Headquartered in New York, New York; Chicago, Illinois and Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, JConnelly is a public relations firm. The midsize team offers public relations, video production, content marketing, marketing strategy, and more and was established in 2003.Visit SiteIndustries
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30
- $5,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- Chicago, IL
Sosani Influencer Agency, a social media marketing agency, was founded in 2017. Their small team is headquartered in Los Angeles, California; Chicago, Illinois and Atlanta, Georgia. Their services include social media marketing, video production, branding, advertising, and more.Visit SiteIndustries
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