# Crafty Apes

> Crafty Apes is a privately held, full-service visual effects and post-production company founded in Los Angeles in 2011. Its supervisor-led teams work across film, episodic television, streaming, commercials, and immersive production, covering the process from on-set consultation and previsualization through compositing, digital environments, character work, effects, and final delivery. The company says it has more than 550 artists and production staff across studios in North America, Europe, and Australia.

- **Founded:** 2011
- **Headquarters:** Los Angeles, United States
- **Founders:** Chris LeDoux (Co-founder and Chairman), Tim LeDoux (Co-founder and VFX Supervisor), Jason Sanford (Co-founder)
- **Team size:** 550+ artists and production staff reported by the company; LinkedIn lists a 501-1,000 employee range.
- **Products:** VFX supervision and consultation, 2D compositing and digital cosmetics, 3D CGI and digital assets, Previsualization and virtual production, Machine-learning solutions
- **Notable:** Expanded from Los Angeles into a global network spanning North America, London, and Australia., Acquired Vancouver-based CVD VFX in February 2020, taking the combined creative pool to nearly 200 staff at the time., Joined forces with New York and Los Angeles-based Molecule VFX in January 2022.

## Products & services

- **VFX supervision and consultation** — Creative and technical planning, film breakdowns, on-set supervision, plate photography, scanning, and production guidance from preproduction through post.
- **2D compositing and digital cosmetics** — Image integration, cleanup, set extensions, screen work, de-aging, beauty work, and the subtle alterations often described as invisible effects.
- **3D CGI and digital assets** — Modeling, texturing, rigging, animation, lighting, environments, creatures, effects, character effects, and photoreal asset creation.
- **Previsualization and virtual production** — Concept design, storyboarding, animatics, 3D previs, Unreal Engine workflows, and consultation for hybrid physical and virtual production.
- **Machine-learning solutions** — Internally developed and integrated tools intended to improve VFX production and post-production workflows while keeping artists in the creative loop.
- **Commercial and immersive work** — Visual effects and creative services for advertising, branded content, games, and immersive experiences alongside film and episodic work.

## Achievements

- Expanded from Los Angeles into a global network spanning North America, London, and Australia.
- Acquired Vancouver-based CVD VFX in February 2020, taking the combined creative pool to nearly 200 staff at the time.
- Joined forces with New York and Los Angeles-based Molecule VFX in January 2022.
- Received an Epic MegaGrant in 2022 to advance Unreal Engine and virtual-production work.
- Contributed visual effects to films including La La Land, Hidden Figures, Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Batman, The Creator, and The Holdovers.
- Built a fully digital White House environment and CG falcon work for Netflix's The Residence, which received three VES Award nominations and won Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode at the 2026 VES Awards.
- Opened an Australian operation in 2025, initially centered on Sydney and Adelaide.
- Grew to a reported team of more than 550 artists and production staff.

## Latest updates

- **2024-09** — Alana Newell became CEO after three years as COO; co-founder Chris LeDoux became Chairman.
- **2024-09** — A consortium led by Morgan Stanley Investment Management and Camberline Capital Management made an undisclosed strategic investment.
- **2024-11** — The company hired Hubert Maston as Chief Innovation Officer, Julie Tardieu as Global Head of Assets, and Mariana Silveira as Global HR Manager.
- **2025-03** — Crafty Apes announced an Australian expansion with operations in Sydney and Adelaide and promoted Dave Morley to Executive Creative Director.
- **2025-06** — Crafty Apes released a breakdown of its lead-vendor work on Netflix's The Residence, including a digital White House built over roughly a year.
- **2026-02** — The Residence earned three VES Award nominations for Crafty Apes' environment, creature, and supporting-effects work and won Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode.
- **2026-04** — The company highlighted de-aging and invisible-effects work as sole VFX vendor on Steven Soderbergh's The Christophers.

## Links

- Website: https://craftyapes.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/craftyapes
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/CraftyApesVFX
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CraftyApesVFX
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftyapesvfx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftyapesvfx/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/crafty-apes
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-13