Top 60 Visual Effect Companies in San Francisco
September 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+
- 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
- Uber
- JPMorgan
- Amazon
Industries
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Explainly rebranded an existing video for a medical care provider. The client needed to update a video's design with their new branding, and Explainly created new color scheme, fonts, imagery, and icons.
"They delivered items on time and sometimes ahead of time, and they were quick to respond to my needs."
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2
- $10,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- San Francisco, 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 provides video production services for a self-driving vehicle manufacturer. They're responsible for storyboarding, scriptwriting, location scouting, and on-set production management.
"The team is highly adaptable to our requirements and shifting weather and variables in our production time."
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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 produced a five-minute onboarding video for an electronic component distributor. The video featured interviews with the client's executive leadership and B-roll shots with audio from interviews.
"They knew what we required from our introduction call and delivered exactly what we wanted and more."
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4
- $25,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Pacifica, 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 produced three different customer story videos for a B2B SaaS company. The team handled the filming and editing process.
"They were all very responsive, provided creative support and solutions, and were great to work with."
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5
- $10,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- San Francisco, CA
MPMTeam is a video production company. They offer video production and were launched in 2015. Their small team is Kiełczów, Poland-based.
Industries
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MPMTeam provides video production and editing support for a digital agency. They're tasked with creating 2D and 3D animated videos, editing static images, and providing UI/UX design support.
“We’re most impressed with MPMTeam’s ability to go above and beyond the scope of the project.”
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6
- $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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7
- $50,000+
- 250 - 999 employees
- San Francisco, CA
Founded in 2012, GameChangerSF is an advertising agency that offers mobile and app marketing services to their small business, mid-market, and enterprise clients in the gaming, arts and entertainment, and gambling industries. Their 50 employees are based out of Palo Alto, Calif.
Clients
- Supercell
- Sony Television
- Samsung
- Atari
Industries
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GameChangerSF provided app marketing services for a game developer. Following a style guide, their team handled user acquisition campaigns as well as created adverts highlighting video footage from the game.
“GameChangerSF’s art team is a real asset to their company.”
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8
- $10,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- San Francisco, CA
Video production agency Olivine Films is based in San Francisco, California. The firm offers video production and is small.The firm was founded in 2016.
Industries
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Olivine Films performed digital marketing for a logistics company. The team focused on producing multiple stories in order to showcase the importance, benefits, and offers of a platform to customers.
"I really loved their communication."
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9
- $1,000+
- 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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10 Plus Brand, Inc. offers various digital strategies for an accounting consulting services company. They have created a website and logo, provided SEO services, and helped with social media marketing.
"I am extremely pleased with all the deliverables."
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10
- $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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11
- $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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12
- $5,000+
- 2 - 9 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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13
- $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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14
- $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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15
- $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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16
- $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 produced an air conditioner video for a home appliance company. After discussing the concepts, ideas, and costs, the team managed the script and shooting.
"Patrick was very professional and very easy to work with."
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17
- $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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18
- $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 -
19
- $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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20
- $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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21
- $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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22
- $1,000+
- 10 - 49 employees
- San Francisco, CA
Video production company Airtraffic was founded in 2021. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, their small team focuses on video production, social media marketing, and graphic design.Visit SiteIndustries
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23
- Undisclosed
- 10 - 49 employees
- Oakland, CA
Caspian Studios is a video production company. Founded in 2021, the team specializes in video production, audio production, and digital strategy. Their small firm is Oakland, California-based.Visit SiteIndustries
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24
- $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 -
25
- $10,000+
- 2 - 9 employees
- Berkeley, CA
Sky Dojo Media, a video production company, was launched in 2009. The firm specializes in video production, corporate photography, marketing strategy, and branding and has a small team. The firm is located in Berkeley, California.
Visit Site -
26
- 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 -
27
- $1,000+
- 250 - 999 employees
- Sunnyvale, CA
Video production agency Banano was founded in 2015. Their small team is in Sunnyvale, California. Their services include video production.
Clients
- Codesignal
- Mixbook
- Real
Industries
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Banano has produced a video for an education platform. They have conducted a discovery session and provided various motion graphics versions.
"We used their advice and, according to our survey, their solution really works."
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28
- 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 -
29
- $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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30
- 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
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