Top 50 Visual Effect Companies in San Francisco
March 2023Looking for a top visual effect studio in San Francisco?
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 San Francisco. Browse descriptions, feedback, and awards to find which can best suit your company’s needs.
List of the Best San Francisco Visual Effect Studios
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1
- $10,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- San Rafael, CA
Zero One Digital Media is an entertainment company based in San Rafael, California that was founded in 2012. Their team of around five employees works with mostly enterprise companies, as well as some mid-market businesses, in the advertising, media, and arts industries.
Clients
- Adobe
Industries
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Zero One Digital Media helped an art museum livestream an event they had. Then, they produced a 4–5-minute video with the footage for Instagram and YouTube. The scope included preproduction and postproduction.
“They’re experts in their field and have done a lot of projects, so they know what they’re doing.”
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2
- $10,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- San Francisco, CA
Pluck. is a video agency headquartered in Los Angeles, with an additional office in New York City. Their team of around 5 employees provides video production, advertising, and broadcast video services.
Clients
- CapitalOne
- MassMutual
- Mastercard
- Indiegogo
Industries
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PluckStudio works on managing, directing, shooting, and crafting a creative agency's customer success story. A team of people handling sound, color, and direction works directly with the client on this project.
"Their quality is top-notch."
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3
- $1,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- San Francisco, CA
Levitate Video is a media production company based in San Francisco with an office in Boca Raton, Fla. Founded in 2009, their team of 33 professionals provide video production, broadcast video, and translation assistance to clients ranging from small startups to large corporations. They produce videos such as explainers, corporate videos, interviews, and others.
Clients
- Vogue
- Proofpoint
- Yodlee
- Smith System
Industries
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Levitate Media has helped a propane supplier produce two animated videos from scratch. They’ve also worked on the scripts and storyboards and incorporated any edit requests along the way.
"They’ve helped us turn our ideas into a very easy-to-follow, visually appealing piece of content."
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4
- $10,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- San Francisco, CA
BayCreative is a full-service marketing agency that excels in various services including content marketing, branding, design, direct marketing, video production, PPC, and email marketing. Founded in 1997, their San Francisco-based team of 16 serves as a "virtual marketing department" for their clients in industries like IT, financial services, and healthcare.
Clients
- Cisco
- Salesforce
- ServiceNow
- Docker
Industries
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BayCreative serves as a creative partner for a range of branding and web design projects. The team has updated graphic designs and created print collateral.
"We wholeheartedly recommend working with BayCreative."
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5
- $25,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- San Francisco, CA
ALCHEMYcreative is a San Francisco-based video production company that started in 2010. Equipped with 9 employees, this firm provides video production and content marketing services to mainly mid-market and enterprise companies. They focus on commercial video, corporate video, and documentaries, with skills in 2D animation and motion graphics.
Clients
- Adobe
- Salesforce
- Advance Auto Parts
- Walmart
Industries
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ALCHEMYcreative has produced video testimonials for a healthcare automation platform. They’ve collaborated with the client on the concept and script and filmed and edited the videos.
“Their equipment is top-notch, and the videos are beautiful, powerful, and ultra high-quality."
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6
- $10,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- Sausalito, CA
Explainly is an animation company headquartered in Novato, Calif. and founded in 2018. The team of fewer than 10 employees provides video production services, with a specific focus on explainer videos. Their clientele is composed of enterprises, midmarket businesses, and small businesses in the advertising and marketing and arts, entertainment, and music industries.
Clients
- Visa
- NBCUniversal
- Ad Council
- AARP
Industries
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Explainly developed a 90-second explainer video for an IoT provider. They worked with the client to outline a storyboard and script based on the story the client wanted to tell.
"The video has been very well received."
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7
- Undisclosed
- 10 - 49 employees
- Lafayette, CA
10 Plus Brand, Inc., an advertising company, was established in 2011. Their small team is located in Lafayette, California. The company focuses on advertising, branding, logo, video production, and more.
Industries
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A boutique consulting organization hired 10 Plus Brand, Inc. for a complete rebranding, including name, logo, website content, and development. They’re also providing SEO services and social media management.
“The results speak for themselves.”
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8
- $10,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- San Francisco, CA
Cowan Agency is a San Francisco based creative agency. They were founded in 2013 and have a team of three employees who specialize in video production, advertising, and branding.
Clients
- Castlight
- Koniku
- Shadow
- Cloud Technology Solutions.
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Cowan Agency provided media production services for a non-profit membership organization. They recorded video and photographic content at a symposium and posted their work on the organization’s website.
"Fern and his team captured every moment of the event, and the summary video is one of the best we’ve ever had."
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9
- $5,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- San Francisco, CA
Founded in 2008, Capitola Media is a video production agency based in San Francisco, Calif. They work with midmarket and enterprise businesses primarily in the advertising and marketing industry.
Clients
- HP
- Walt Disney
- Microsoft
- Samsung
Industries
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Capitola Media created a video for a university’s ethics center. They handled pre-production, managing makeup, set, and music. Their team also edited the final product for social media and the website.
"Their team was very pleasant to work with and everything was on time."
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10
- $1,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- San Francisco, CA
Novaby is a 3D/AR creative technologies studio based in Seattle and founded in 2018. Their team of more than 10 specializes in video production and AR/VR development solutions for clients in the fields of arts, advertising, and gaming.
Clients
- TOTO USA
- AirTerra
- Swire Hotels
- NapTime Studio
Industries
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Novaby provides visualization support to a consumer goods company. The team is given 3D CAD models and then the vendor employs lighting, shading, and rendering activities to process the client's products.
"They have been so professional in their management."
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11
- $5,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Berkeley, CA
Wild Road Films is a studio based in Berkeley, Calif. with more than two members. Since 2011, they have provided video production and corporate photography solutions for clients in various industries, including arts, IT services, and hospitality.
Clients
- Nama Fiji
- True Botanicals
Industries
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Wild Road Films provided video production services for a video marketing agency. The team was tasked with supporting the client's on their production needs.
"We are extremely impressed with Wild Road Film's professionalism and flexibility."
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12
- $25,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Kentfield, CA
Artenergy is a Kentfield, California-based web design agency. The small firm was established in 2000. Their team focuses on web design, graphic design, branding, print design, and more.
Industries
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In need of a UI design for a touch screen POS project, a software company hired Artenergy. They were tasked with wireframes, architecture, and designs that featured a user-friendly, modern, and intuitive UI.
"We were pleasantly surprised by their level of expertise and ability to understand customer needs."
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13
- $5,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- San Francisco, CA
The Circle is an advertising company. Established in 2015, the team provides advertising, video production, and branding. Their small agency is located in New York, New York; Kyiv, Ukraine; London, United Kingdom and San Francisco, California.Visit SiteIndustries
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14
- Undisclosed
- 10 - 49 employees
- San Pablo, CA
Apptomate, a small video production company, is headquartered in San Pablo, California and New York, New York. Founded in 2014, the team offers video production.Visit Site -
15
- $10,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- San Francisco, CA
Launched in 1992, San Francisco Media Group is a video production company. They are headquartered in San Francisco, California and have a small team. Their services include video production and broadcast video.Visit Site -
16
- $5,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- San Francisco, CA
Evolve Media is a video production agency. They are located in San Francisco, California and New York, New York and have a small team. Their services include video production, broadcast video, and marketing strategy. The agency was founded in 2007.Visit SiteIndustries
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17
- $1,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- San Francisco, CA
Video production agency 35Video is in San Francisco, California. The small company was founded in 2018. Their team focuses on video production, broadcast video, corporate photography, content marketing, and more.Visit SiteIndustries
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18
- $10,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- San Francisco, CA
Video production agency Lukas Production Inc. Is located in San Francisco, California. The agency specializes in video production and broadcast video and is small.The agency was founded in 2018.Visit SiteIndustries
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19
- $1,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- San Francisco, CA
Realist Films is a video production company founded in 2005. The small team focuses on video production. The agency is headquartered in Santa Monica, California and San Francisco, California.
Visit SiteIndustries
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20
- $1,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- San Francisco, CA
Established in 2021, Creative Falcons Studio is a video production agency. The small team offers video production and packaging design. The firm is located in San Francisco, California.Visit Site -
21
- Undisclosed
- 2 - 9 employees
- Alameda, CA
BrightSource Productions is a video production agency. Established in 2011, the small agency is located in Alameda, California. Their team provides video production.Visit Site -
22
- $1,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- Kentfield, CA
GrowMojo is a PPC agency. They are located in Beograd, California and have a small team. The firm provides pay per click, digital strategy, social media marketing, video production, and more.Visit SiteIndustries
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23
- Undisclosed
- 2 - 9 employees
- Oakland, CA
Small video production company Steven Poe, is based in Oakland, California. The team offers video production and AR/VR development.Visit Site -
24
- $250,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- San Francisco, CA
Small UX agency Milkinside, is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 2018, the team provides ux/ui design, product design, Artificial Intelligence, graphic design, and more.Visit SiteIndustries
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25
- Undisclosed
- 2 - 9 employees
- Hayward, CA
Kauzmic Interactive is a video production agency established in 1989. Their small team is based in Hayward, California and provides video production.Visit Site -
26
- Undisclosed
- 2 - 9 employees
- Berkeley, CA
Jed Riffe Films + Electronic Media, a video production company, was founded in 2000. Their small team is in Berkeley, California. The firm offers video production.Visit Site -
27
- Undisclosed
- 2 - 9 employees
- Oakland, CA
Advertising and video production company High Dive Studio was established in 2017. Their small team is headquartered in Oakland, California and offers advertising and video production.Visit Site -
28
- Undisclosed
- 2 - 9 employees
- San Rafael, CA
Based in San Rafael, California, L.inc Design is a small video production agency. Their services include video production, broadcast video, graphic design, and logo.Visit Site -
29
- $1,000+
- 50 - 249 employees
- Palo Alto, CA
Prolific Studio is a marketing firm based in Palo Alto, Calif. with over 50 members. Founded in 2018, they specialize in social media marketing, email marketing, and SEO solutions for clients that work in various industries, including real estate, arts, and business services.
Clients
- Toyota
- Techcrunch
- Suzuki
- Sony
Industries
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Prolific Studio was hired to produce a corporate promotional video for an engineering firm. The video explained the company's services in a clear and concise manner.
"We were extremely happy with the overall process and final result."
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30
- $1,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Walnut Creek, CA
MG Media Creative is a social media marketing company. Launched in 2018, the team focuses on social media marketing, video production, digital strategy, content marketing, and more. Their small agency is based in Danville, California.
Clients
- Gregoire Restaurant
- The Clift Royal Sonesta
- Downtown Mountain View Business Association
- Blaine Bartlett
Industries
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MG Media Creative has provided social media marketing for a software company. The team manages a series of posts and campaigns, increasing leads and online presence.
"The responsiveness of the team to our ideas while being experts is impressive."
