Special Effects

• Chavant - Produces oil and wax based sculpting plastelines, styling clays and modeling tools that are helpful in creating make up effects.
• Chimera Studios - Works extensively with special make-up effects. The site contains details of their projects, current and past.
• The Especial Effects Company - Produces special effects for film and television. Fire, wind, rain, snow, explosions, mechanical effects. UK.
• FX Elcarimat Special Creature Effects - Design, development and complete construction of animatronic characters, puppets, characterizations and special make-up effects. Argentina
• Gentle Giant Studios - offers 3D scanning services, stereolithography, maquette sculpture, and custom digital models.
• HVFX = High Voltage Special Effects - HVFX is europe's foremost provider of safe, reliable and above all absolutely spectacular effects of lightning for stage and screen. We create genuine multi-megavolt lightning effects, for amazing artistic energy and audience impact.
• kVA Effects - High voltage special effects, stunts and theatrical lightning generation. We create electrical arcs from six to sixty feet for the entertainment and public attractions industries.
• MAGICMOVE and MAGICON - Visual effects for film and video, specially motion control, miniatures, makeup effects and model construction.
• Mediamation - Multiaxis animatronic and interactive equipment, motion simulators and show control applications.
• Mo42 Special Effects - Special effects services for motion pictures, television, and live shows. Pyrotechnics, props, make-up effects, special devices.
• Nimba Creations Special Effects - UK based company supplying animatronics, props, models, prosthetics, and creatures for film, television, and exhibitions. Offers an on-line store.
• Otter Effects - Focuses on special effects, models, prop manufacturing, light engineering, for films, stills, TV commercials and video. Credits include Tomb Raider, Enigma, Titanic, Gladiator and several James Bond films.
• PeopleVisionFX - Effects for theme parks, trade shows and special events. The site describes their expertise in dimensional projection, aquatic effects and cel animation, as well as projects undertaken and indicative pricing.
• Rapido 3D - Offers Laser scanning, 3D objects and rapid prototyping services for film and television productions.
• RLH Enterprises - Provides concept development, design, engineering, production and installation of special effects for themed environments.
• Smeaton, Martin - Figurative sculptor specializing in film, themed architecture, and development of sculptural maquettes for commercial projects.
• Special Effects - Special effects for stage, film, photograph, advertise and TV industry. [Spanish and English]
• Spivey Designs - Custom made motion control equipment for the entertainment industry.
• Sylak Special Effects - Custom masks, sculptures, props for short film, video and theatre work undertaken.
• VFXlab - Concept, design, fabrication and installation of creatures, make-up effects, models, animatronics, mechanical and projection effects.
• Walco Materials - Distributor for casting and molding accessories used in physical special effects.

Post Production Effects

• All Artistries - Makeup special effects artists.
• Altered Illusions - A company offering digital effects and motion graphics for film, television, student projects, and internet movies.
• Animation and Effects - Business offering services in creating animation for all kinds for film, TV and interactive screens. Site contains examples of their past work.
• Claridge, Peter - Television and film visual effects in Germany, with over thirty years in the media business.
• Click 3x - Provides details of the studios that form the wings of this organization, along with Quicktime and Real samples of their effects, animation and compositing work for film and commercials.
• Composite Image Systems - Specializing in computer generated effects and animation, this company details online some of their work on feature films such as the "Titanic" and the remake of "The Parent Trap".
• Curv Studios - Provides an environment focused on developing advanced effects and animation for projects ranging from entertainment to business communication.
• Digital Empire - 3-D modeling and digital animation, 2-D computer visualization, video production, multimedia creation and presentation, special effects, and web sites.
• Hornet Inc. - Located in Los Angeles and New York. Offers computer animation, visual effects, motion graphics, and live-action film.
• Hybride Technologies - Provides visual effects services for film and video, and develops plug-ins for Discreet's effects and editing products.
• Independence - Post production, effects and 3D animation for film and television commercials. The site offers information about their work and equipment in Korean, Japanese and English.
• Jauchem & Meeh Inc. - Includes: fog, fire, smoke, wind, rain, lightning, explosions, candles, butane torches, firearms, custom blank loads, high-power strobes, and breakaway glass.
• Kleiser Walczak Construction Co. - Special effects.
• Laser Magic Productions - Special effects for themed environments: 3D holographic projections, antigravity waterfalls, plasma sculptures, fiber optics, large format laser video projectors and laser effects, robots. Los Angeles area.
• Lookfx - Provides complete digital effects including 2D/3D visual effects for film, TV and commercials.
• Matte World Digital - Provides a full spectrum of services in graphics, compositing, effects and realistic environment creation.
• Max Ink Cafe, LLC - High-end visual effects, digital compositing, and computer animation.
• Merritt Productions - A full service facility which creates miniatures, props and special effects for film, advertising and display.
• Method Studios - Produce compelling effects for commercials and music videos. Their software division develops plug-ins for Discreet's effects and editing software, as well.
• Mo42 Special Effects - Special effects services for motion pictures, television, and live shows. Pyrotechnics, props, make-up effects, special devices.
• Mr. X Inc. - Defining and creating digital content for feature films, with an emphasis on visual effects, through script level breakdown and design, on-set visual effects supervision, and 3D animation, digital matte painting and compositing.
• NOVA - Reference site providing articles about people who work in the motion picture SFX industry and how the special effects are made.
• Pacific Title Mirage Studio - Providing a range of optical and digital services.
• Pixar Animation Studios - The makers of "Toy Story", "A Bugs Life" and the Renderman photorealistic rendering software.
• Radium - High end visual effects studio providing digital composting, cgi, practical effects, pre-vis, shoot supervision. Based in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
• SmithGroup Communications - Producer of high-resolution computer generated animation for film and video.
• Sony Pictures Imageworks - Digital character animation and visual effects for feature films.
• Space Virus - Offers services for 2D and 3D special effects, editing, direction, photography, and interactive presentations.
• Special Effects Unlimited, Inc. - Special effects for the motion picture industry. Mechanical, weather, pyrotechnics and high explosives, prop and miniature construction, equipment and shop rentals and expendables sales.
• Swiss Effects - Traditional animation, video-to-film transfers, 2K printing and film scanning as well as digital special effects.
• Thomas Special Effects Ltd. - Mechanical effects service business for the film and television industry of Canada. Complete SPFX shop and services, state of the art studios and film production.
• Velocity Visuals - Supervisory and creative effects services for motion pictures, television, commercials and music videos.
• VFX Pro - Daily news, interviews, and editorials about digital tools and emerging platforms for visual and special effects.
• Voxfilm - Description and samples of the services offered by this company, credits, and contact information.
• Warped CGI - Dublin based computer animation and web development company established by creative professionals with an aim to provide high-end computer generated effects, digital actors and virtual environments to all areas of the film, advertising, and broadcast industries.
• Weta Visual Effects - New Zealand's premier visual effects company currently working on "The Lord of the Rings".
• Whitestone Productions - Multimedia house specialising in CGI, animation and special visual effects. View site in English or Norwegian.
• XYZ RGB Imaging Services - Content creation company focused on the laser capture and delivery of images of 3D objects for archival and visual applications. Discussion of technology, and example images. Based in Ottawa, Canada.

Visual Effects

• Avid Technology - Provides information on all-digital solutions for capturing, creating, editing and distributing digital media. Avid products are used to produce films, television programs, special effects, broadcast news, and audio recordings.
• Hammerhead Productions Software - Creators of ras_trak 3D camera tracking software and roto motion-blurred rotoscoping software.
• IZware - Technology tools for the creation of 3D content for game development including Mirai, Nendo and N-World.
• Motion Capture by Metamotion - Easy to use and cost effective motion capture hardware and software.
• Nothing Real - Lightning fast 2-D compositing software called Shake.
• Pixar - Renderman - Information on the toolkit, software packages, pricing and compatible products.
• Project: messiah - Advanced character animation plugin for Lightwave 3D
• Soluciones Gráficas por Ordenador (SGO) - Developers of software for digital production and post production including Jaleo, Natural Tools, Maya, and Toon Boom. View site in English or Spanish.
• Special Film Effects using Spatio-Temporal Volumes - This site contains papers and information relating to the development and use of spatio-temporal volume processing software to generate novel special effects for use in film and other visual media.
• StageTools - MovingPicture is a tool for performing smooth pans and zooms on hi-res stills. It is available as a standalone app or plug-in for most popular nonlinear editing systems on Mac and Windows.
• TimeBrush Studios - Makers of BlackMagic photo colorization software for Windows. Also provides motion picture and video colorization services.
• Visual Appliance - Makers of Hype, Hype for Shake and Hype Batch, the fully automatic lens distortion measurement and compensation system.

3D Animation

• Art of Illusion - Free, open source 3D modeling and rendering studio, written entirely in Java. Product specifications, screenshots, FAQs, and downloads.
• Crystal 3D Impact Pro - Program to enhance web pages, presentations and videos with 3D titles, logos, objects and buttons. Also offers PowerPlugs templates, 3D titles, transitions, headings, charts, and PhotoActive FX.
• 3D Canvas - A freeware real-time 3D modeling and animation tool that incorporates a drag-and-drop approach to 3D modeling. Features: Imports many popular 3D-file formats, animation with spline-based Interpolation, and inverse Kinematics. [Win 95/98/2000]
• eyeon Software Inc. - Digital Fusion is a fully integrated, nonlinear composting and special effects postproduction system for the manipulation, processing, and special effects creation used in modern 35mm cinema film, broadcast video and multimedia projects. Tips and tricks on techniques for DF V2 and Post.
• Meresoft Co. - Visualization ActiveX control for real-time viewing and manipulating static or dynamic polygonal 3D scenes through different types of stereo glasses.
• NOCTUA Graphics Website - Developers of The Metal Disc for Cinema 4D (all versions). Containing 180 materials in a resolution of 512 x 512 and in 1024 x1024 pixels (high resolution) for print. All metallic surfaces are listed in a clearly laid out PDF catalogue for a detailed and fast preview of the different materials. Several free textures, 3D models, tutorials, and C4D materials.
• Patrick's IRIS Explorer - Tool for developing customized visualization applications. Renders visualizations using OpenGL. Information about version 5.0 of IRIS Explorer, documentation and downloads.
• Pharus 3D Builder - Int3D System - Tool for creating excellent quality virtual interactive 3D scenes to publish on the Web. 3D models' catalogue of real furniture and examples of created virtual 3D interiors.
• Pulse Entertainment - Pulse technology is the standard platform for creating and experiencing streaming, interactive 3D media on the web.

Visual Effects

• The Art and Science of Movie Special Effects - Daniel Sudhakar discusses special effects including blue screen, computer animation, compositing and relevant scientific principles.
• Blood and Media - Personal commentary discussing the realism of blood shown in movies.
• Cinefex - The ultimate in visual effects journalism. Cinefex takes its readers on a dynamic behind-the-scenes journey through the filmmaking process, with details of upcoming films with special effects.
• EscapeStudios - School of Visual Effects - EscapeStudios, London school of visual effects, runs courses in 2D visual effects and 3D computer animation, using the latest tools and packages including Maya, Softimage XSI and Shake.
• Highend2d.com - Technical resource for 2D Compositing with an emphasis on Feature Film work. Hosts several high quality discussion lists.
• 'How Stuff Works' list of Visual Effects articles - 'How Stuff Works' has a good overview of serveral Visual Effects processes as well as Feature Film case studies
• Inside Skywalker Ranch - Fan's visit inside of LucasArts, Industrial Light and Magic, and Skywalker Ranch
• KODAK: Motion Picture Imaging - Good general information and Case Studies related to Film and Digital Film. Includes an informative Glossary.
• Lightsaber Effect Rotoscoping In A Premiere Filmstrip - Step by step instructions on how to create light sabre effects, by Darel Finley.
• Special Effects Homepage - Site concerning special effects from large companies, as well as how-to's for low budget effects aimed at independent filmmakers.
• Unofficial Industrial Light and Magic Website - Information on special effects company, its employees, its work, and its techniques.
• Visual Effects Headquarters - Magazine for professionals in the visual effects industry. Read reviews of work done for such films as Turbulence and The Relic.
• Willis O'Brien - Special effects pioneer, famous for King Kong.

Mechanical Effects

• Creative Engineering, Inc. - Designers and manufacturers of highly sophisticated animatronic characters and arcade games for entertainment centers.
• Farmer Studios - Design and manufacture of rides, shows, attractions, animatronics, scenery, costume and effects for theme parks, museums, retail environments and visitor centres. England.
• Leo Cahn Moving Models - Special effects and models for film and commercials. Quicktime clips of previous projects with explanations of how each was done.
• Rando Productions Inc. - Mechanical special effects, theme park rides and attractions, rentals, props, scissor lifts, turntables, gimbals, truss, animatronics, robotics, for the entertainment industry.
• Reel EFX Inc. - A one-stop mechanical special effects house. Product sales, rentals and services. Full time staff of engineers, artistic directors and special effects technicians.
• Splashes Creative Services - Design and custom fabrication of stage props, magic illusions, and supply of art work to the entertainment industry. Las Vegas, NV.

Animatronics

• Animatronic Animals - Lifelike animatronic animals for the film and television industry.
• Animatronics Resource Site - Addresses, telephone numbers and links to animatronics companies and animatronics supplies companies.
• Atlas Robotics - Provides interactive entertainment robots used for promotions, conventions, parties and trade shows.
• Big Chief Studios - Action figure and toy prototypes and sculpture for film and television. Toy credits include Speed Racer, Sonic, Street Fighter, WCW, and Crash Bandicoot.
• Blue Point Engineering - Animatronic and robotic parts, supplies and help for the hobbyist and professional imagineer.
• Bruce Pollin - Sculptor and modelmaker. Realistic figures for museums as well as animal sculpture and character figures for theme parks.
• The Character Shop, Inc. - Animatronics, makeup effects, puppets, and robotics for motion picture and television.
• Characters Unlimited, Inc. - Creators of life size, mechanically animated, custom crafted, and hand painted theme characters.
• Creations - FX props, masks, models, and puppets for theatre, film and video. Horror and sci fi related merchandise.
• Creative Line Inc. - Sells custom made costume characters and electronic characters manufactured by The Creegan Company, Inc.
• Garner Holt Productions, Inc. - Manufacturers of animatronic characters as well as special effects, ride and show technology, sets and scenery, and related elements used in movies, theme parks, museums, casinos, and family entertainment centers.
• Gutsnstuff - Company in Michigan who supply grotesque masks, totems, figures and make-up effects.
• Jim Henson's Creature Shop - Design, manufacture and performance of animatronics and puppetry for the domestic and international feature film, television, advertising, museum and exhibition communities. Locations in London, Los Angeles, and New York.
• Jonathan Thomson Originals (JTO) - Sculpting and concept design of licensed products, figurines, ornaments, toys, and dolls.
• Life Size Statues - Offers a line of life-sized talking fiberglass statues.
• LifeFormations Animatronic and Static Characters - Designs and builds realistic characters for themed attractions, museums and trade shows. Company background, client list and contact information.
• Micromagic Systems Ltd. - Micromagic systems supply animatronic, robotic and CGI control systems and services to the film and television industry.
• The Nightmare Factory - Props including bodies and parts, heads, weapons, and creatures.
• Nimba Creations Special Effects - UK based company supplying animatronics, props, models, prosthetics, and creatures for film, television, and exhibitions. Offers an on-line store.
• Nostalgic Themes - Life size human figures and animal displays. Nostalgic human characters, holiday themed characters, magical characters, fortune teller coin operated machines, and animated and talking animal wall mounts.
• Promotional Props and Costumes - Costumes, puppets and props for promotional and marketing needs.
• Robot Entertainment - Promotional entertainment robots and animatronic characters for sale or rent.
• SMG Effects, Inc. - Design and creation of special effects and creatures for film, TV, videos, and theatre. Includes classes that teach movie effects and animation.
• Stan Winston Studios - For over 20 years, Stan Winston and his team of artists and technicians have been creating characters, creatures and monsters for motion pictures and television.
• Sticks and Stones FX Studio - Special effects make-up, props, costume design, animatronics, puppets and prosthetics for the film, television, video, and commercial industries.
• Thomas Kuebler - Life-size, life-like character and creature sculptures. Gallery, artist biography and contact information.
• YFX Studios - Animatronic designs for theme parks and the entertainment industry. Specializing in realistic creations of creatures, animals, humans, and monsters.

Props

• Articole Props - Props, prop makers and suppliers for exhibition, TV, stage and film scenic construction. UK.
• Atlantaprops - Design and creation of props and sets for film, video, photography and corporate events.
• Available Art - Provides cleared artworks of all types including paintings, photographs, and sculptures for rental to the entertainment industry.
• Ciné Shoppe - Rentals of historical and contemporary props and set dressing for movies. Dallas, TX.
• Clap Realitzacions SL - Character design and production including costumes, masks, and robotised items, as well as set accessories.
• Coastline Creations - Custom foam sculpture, three dimensional art, and distinctive displays for trade shows, retail space, events, and private homes.
• Creations by Cristobal - Animatronics, stage creature suits, theme park and attraction design, masks, sculptures, and models.
• Creative 3D - Oversized 3D foam props, sculpture, and advertising displays for movies, tradeshows, retail displays and events.
• Creative Rentals and Decor, Inc. - Props, scenery and decorations for stage, private parties, and promotional displays.
• The Creative Services of Anthony C Pierce - A full service display company for the theatrical and film production industries.
• Custom Creations - Designers and builders of themed environments, props, signage, parade floats, and promotional costumes.
• Custom Creations UK - Models, props and effects for the advertising, film and TV industry. Based in London, UK.
• E.B. Effects Incorporated - A custom fabrication company serving the entertainment industry. Models, miniatures, props, displays, and special effects for film, television, theater, theme parks and private industry.
• Eclectic Encore Props - Theme props available for rent for event decor, weddings, and theatrical productions.
• Eggsotic Events - Artistic themed props, fabrication, centerpieces, rentals and lighting for corporate and private clients. New Jersey.
• Exhibit Forms Company - Manufacturing and design company specializing in products for theme, amusement and water parks, museums, educational and discovery centers, exhibition halls, cinema industry, theaters, casinos and restaurants.
• The Fan Attic - John and Pippa Brooker make period-style folding fans for sale or hire to the film and television industries, theatre, re-creators, and costumed guides. Antique fans are also repaired and framed.
• Film Medical Services Ltd. - Medical, dental, and laboratory prop hire. Located in London, UK.
• Fingertip Fabrications - Modelmaking and sculpting for industry, film and television.
• Fire by Riz - Maker of products used in fire shows and fire dancing: fire poi, whips, fans, wands, and fire safety gear, as well as instructional videos.
• Foam Props - Design and fabrication of custom props, fiberglass props and foam sculpture.
• Fraser Paterson - Designer, sculptor and painter. Props and set design for film, television and public display.
• Gaps The Prop Shop - Supplying the movie, theatre and trade show industry with customized and pre-made props.
• Graham Sweet Studios - Polystyrene machinery, scrap iron, pipes, chains, anchors, and hoists with an authentic rusted ageworn appearance. Also large polystyrene balls, teardrops and oval shapes.
• Hotbox, Inc. - 3D fiberglass sculptures of figures, animals, cartoons and mascots custom made to specifications. Retro and unusual furniture and vacuum formed panels with custom design available.
• Independent Studio Services (ISS) - Props, set dressing, expendables, weapons. Sun Valley, CA.
• KW Props and Sets - Props and scenery for theatre, television, film, retail display, exhibition and events. London, UK.
• Med Rent Inc. - Medical prop rentals and sales for the motion picture and television industries.
• Michael Plesh and Company - Custom props, patterns, prototypes, heroes and ceramics for film, architectural and industrial uses.
• Mimesis - Model making and set building. Advertising stills, special effects, prototypes and problem solving.
• Modelmakers - Modelmakers to the film and TV industry.
• Modprop.com - Mod furniture, props, picture cars, and locations rentals for film and photography, trade shows and conventions, weddings, corporate events and parties.
• One Stop Prop Shop, Corp - Custom fabrication studio providing sculptures and decorative painting for museums, theme parks, and high end homes. Specialties include lifecasting and realistic human figures.
• Paragon Theme and Prop Fabrication Ltd. - Fabrication company supplying custom theatrical props and theming for stage productions, exhibits, retail, themed environments, special events, and motion pictures.
• Pinacoteca Picture Props - Culver City prophouse specializing in the rental of cleared artwork to the entertainment industry. Also available furniture props, smalls and fast custom framing.
• Prop Art Ltd. - Custom-made key props, models and miniature sets, with and without special effects, for use in film, CGI, print and display. Examples in all media and applications.
• Prop City - Props for film, television, advertising, photo displays, trade shows, and parties. San Francisco CA.
• Prop Heaven - Full-service prop house located in Southern California. Serves the entertainment, trade show, event and party industries.
• Proper Rental - Props available for photo shoots, movies, staging, theatres, commercials, trade shows, and advertising. Located in San Francisco, California.
• The Propper Source - Nationwide rentals of movie, TV, photography, stage, corporate, and party props. Worldwide sales of expendables, gifts and props. Custom prop building. Atlanta, GA.
• PropWorks - Art direction, property master, props, set decoration and rental props for film and television in Denver.
• Really Youthful Theatre Company - Props hire for horrors, musicals, amateur, and professional theatre.
• Red Curtain Rentals - Stock and custom props and costumes available for rent for theatrical productions.
• Retro Clothes and Furniture - Buyer and collector of retro clothes and furniture for the film and television industry and retail shops. Sales and hire.
• Russell Beck Studio - London based workshop for the design and creation of props, sculpture, and models for theatre, themed events, exhibitions, private parties, TV, film and corporate events.
• RWB Party Props, Inc. - Design, construction, rental and installation of theme prop decor. Prop rentals, production design and set design services.
• Scene 2 - Design and fabrication of sets, models and props for advertising, photography, commercials, television productions, trade shows and industrial design. San Francisco, CA.
• Screamline Studios - Manufacturer of horror, movie and theater related props, designs, displays, make-up, and prosthetics.
• Secrets Of - Design crafts for the entertainment industries. Props, sculptures, costumes, animation, masks, puppets, scenic backdrops, conceptual design, special FX and costume design.
• Simon Millington Associates Ltd. - Creative services in the conception, design and build of displays. Support for visual merchandising, museum and exhibition displays, promotional events and the production of props and models.
• Studio John Baldwin - Quebec-based model maker who designs and builds props, mechanical devices and prototypes for films, television commercials and promotional events.
• The Theme Factory of Philadelphia - Rental and sales of props and sets for themed parties, trade shows, meetings, restaurants, catering, and museums. Philadelphia, PA.
• Three Kings Theatrical Supply Co. - Theatrical, stage and casualty simulation make-up. Small props hire and locator service.
• Warwick Boole - Prop and model making services for the theatre, film and television industries. Work includes costume props, hand props, action furniture, and sculptures.
• Weird and Wonderful Ltd. - Hire of props, costumes and futuristic vehicles to the film, theatre and television industry. UK.