North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market Report 2030

Name: North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market Report 2030
Creator: Mordor Intelligence
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North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market Size and Share

North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market Summary — Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market size is estimated at USD 17.22 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 31.31 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 12.7% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

The market is witnessing unprecedented growth, driven by an insatiable demand for high-quality visual content. Streaming services, video games, and the rise of immersive technologies like VR and AR have expanded the landscape for animated and VFX-driven projects. This surge is significantly impacting the North America animation, VFX, and post-production market by increasing the demand for skilled professionals and advanced technologies, which are essential to meet the growing requirements of these industries.
Advancements in software, hardware, and AI are pushing the boundaries of creativity. These innovations are revolutionizing visual storytelling, facilitating photorealistic rendering, complex simulations, and intricate motion capture. As a result, the adoption of cutting-edge tools and techniques in North America is expected to rise, driving demand for innovative solutions and enhancing production quality across the market.
Genres like superhero films, fantasy, and science fiction increasingly rely on captivating animation and special effects. This reliance compels the North America market to invest heavily in specialized talent and state-of-the-art facilities, which are critical to meeting the heightened expectations of audiences and producers, thereby driving demand in the market.
Streaming giants such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ are making substantial investments in original animated and VFX-centric content. These investments are expected to boost the North America market by creating job opportunities, encouraging local production, and attracting international projects, all of which contribute to the growing demand for animation, VFX, and post-production services in the region.
To remain at the forefront, there's a continual need for investment in software, hardware, and employee training, which presents a considerable financial challenge. This necessity compels the North American market to allocate significant resources towards upgrading infrastructure and enhancing workforce capabilities, ensuring sustained growth and competitiveness.

North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market Trends and Insights

Television and OTT Animation Platform Segment is Expected to Hold Significant Market Share

As OTT platforms increasingly seek visually captivating and high-quality content, the demand for VFX and animation skills has surged. From crafting lifelike creatures for fantasy series to enhancing action-packed films, Animation, and VFX have become essential in OTT content creation. For instance, JustWatch reports that in Q3 2024, Amazon Prime Video led the U.S. subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) market with a 22% share, based on user interest in adding content to watch lists. Netflix closely trailed with a 21% market share. The rise of streaming in OTT media has empowered broadcasters to present their content directly to audiences, eliminating intermediaries and fostering direct customer relationships. This direct engagement drives the demand for VFX and post-production to create high-quality, engaging content.
Furthermore, as Netflix's subscriber base grows, so does its animation and VFX content spending. Responding to the audience's demand for top-tier visuals, production companies are driving a global increase in animation and VFX spending. For instance, in Q3 2024, Netflix boasted approximately 84.8 million subscribers in the U.S. and Canada, marking North America as its second-largest market, just behind Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). This expanding subscriber base necessitates more VFX and post-production work to maintain and enhance content quality.
To gain a competitive edge, businesses are increasingly turning to strategies like partnerships, agreements, and launches. This has resulted in heightened spending on VFX and animation for television and OTT platforms. These strategic moves drive the demand for VFX and post-production services to deliver innovative, high-quality content.
For instance, in March 2024, Virtuos, a prominent video game development firm, made headlines by acquiring Beyond-FX, a renowned visual effects (VFX) studio based in Los Angeles. This strategic move expands Virtuos' portfolio to include real-time VFX—a specialized skill blending artistic and technical prowess—and underscores its commitment to nurturing Beyond-FX's growth, advancing its talent, and utilizing its expertise for a global clientele. This acquisition highlights the growing demand for VFX and post-production expertise in the industry.
In summary, the escalating demand for premium content on streaming platforms is a primary driver behind the increased investment in animation and VFX for television and OTT. This surge in demand has resulted in larger production budgets, with a pronounced emphasis on visually captivating experiences. Consequently, the need for VFX and post-production services has intensified.
Moreover, technological advancements have made animation and VFX more cost-effective and accessible, enabling intricate visuals even on limited budgets. As streaming services proliferate globally, competition intensifies, pushing businesses to differentiate themselves with compelling content, including animated films and series. These trends are fueling the rising investment in animation and VFX within the TV and OTT sectors, thereby driving the demand for VFX and post-production services.

North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market: Number Of Netflix Paid Subscribers, In Millions, Worldwide, From 1st Quarter 2022 To 3rd Quarter 2024 — Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

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North America to hold significant market share

North America's established entertainment industry, flourishing gaming sector, and relentless technological advancements make it a pivotal market for Animation and VFX. The U.S., hosting major animation studios and VFX firms, cements the region's leadership in the global market. Industry titans like Disney, Pixar, and DreamWorks, alongside renowned VFX entities such as Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), drive the demand for VFX and post-production services in North America.
North America's gaming industry is booming. As video games increasingly demand realistic and immersive graphics, the VFX industry is witnessing significant growth. With games evolving to be more intricate and lifelike, there's a heightened need for advanced 3D animations, motion graphics, and real-time rendering. This evolution has led gaming studios to forge deeper collaborations with VFX companies, driving demand for VFX and post-production services.
Moreover, in 2024, post-strike, North America saw a surge in demand for VFX and animation work. The rising demand for intricate VFX projects has spotlighted the industry's talent shortage. Yet, the rise of new visual effects studios in the region promises to address this talent gap and drive market growth, further increasing the demand for VFX and post-production services.
For example, in July 2024, Jonah Hall (ECD) and Jason Cohon (EP) launched Boma, a remote studio specializing in visual effects, design, and immersive experiences. Located in Los Angeles, Boma navigates the dynamic digital production landscape, aiming for swift turnarounds on tight budgets without sacrificing creative quality. Their expertise encompasses visual effects, animation, editorial work, finishing, motion graphics, and creative direction. With a fully remote pipeline, Boma has forged global partnerships across three continents and taps into senior creative talent from the U.S., allowing for rapid project scaling. This innovative approach is set to drive demand for VFX and post-production services in North America.
Furthermore, in May 2024, Story Kitchen and DreamWorks Animation forged a strategic alliance, with Story Kitchen securing first-look rights for an animated film. Their goal is to procure iconic video game intellectual properties (IP) for DreamWorks Animation, aiming for adaptations that resonate with global animated audiences. This partnership is expected to drive demand for VFX and post-production services in North America.
Yet, the recent writers' and actors' strikes shadowed North America's animation and VFX market, leading to reduced spending in 2023. The strike delayed numerous films and TV shows, curtailing the demand for VFX and animation in the U.S. and Canadian entertainment sectors. A notable example is Paramount's delay of Tom Cruise's 'Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part Two', moving its release from June 28, 2024, to May 23, 2025. This disruption has temporarily impacted North America's demand for VFX and post-production services.

North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market: Number Of Cinema Screens And Movie Theaters Run By Marcus Theatres, United States, 2017 To 2023 — Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

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Competitive Landscape

The Animation, Vfx And Post Production in North America is fragmented, with a mixture of small and medium-sized vendors alongside several large, established players. This market structure is driven by continuous innovation, technological advancements, and the ongoing introduction of new solutions that help vendors maintain a competitive edge.

North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Industry Leaders

Walt Disney Animation Studios
Pixar Animation Studios
DreamWorks Animation
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
Sony Pictures Imageworks
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market Concentration — Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

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Recent Industry Developments

April 2024: Krow VFX, Torpedo Pictures, and Tryptyc, three visual effects studios from Ontario, have come together to establish Ticket VFX. This collaboration aims to harness their combined strengths and talents. With Ticket VFX, the trio intends to tackle larger projects while also emphasizing philanthropic endeavors. Their services, spanning from concept to post-production, will utilize a cutting-edge VFX pipeline.
March 2024: Virtuos, a video game developer, has acquired Beyond-FX, a comprehensive visual effects studio based in Los Angeles. This acquisition broadens Virtuos' offerings to encompass real-time VFX, a niche that requires a unique blend of artistry and technical skill. Virtuos has expressed its dedication to fostering Beyond-FX's growth, nurturing its artists, and extending its expertise to a global clientele.

Table of Contents for North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Industry Report

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
1.2 Scope of the Study

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4. MARKET INSIGHTS

4.1 Market Overview
- 4.1.1 Rise of Key Economies for Outsourcing as Service Exports increase
- 4.1.2 Surge in investment for advanced production in North America
- 4.1.3 Increased VFX reliance by theatrical releases
- 4.1.4 Commissioning of Animation Content by Broadcasters
- 4.1.5 Dedicated Government Support
- 4.1.6 Expansion of Key Stakeholders to enhance inter-operability by opening dedicated wings for Animation/VFX/Post-Production
4.2 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Forces Analysis
- 4.2.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 4.2.2 Bargaining Power of Consumers
- 4.2.3 Threat of New Entrants
- 4.2.4 Threat of Substitute Products
- 4.2.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry
4.3 Regulatory Landscape
4.4 Assessment of Impact of macroeconomic trends

5. MARKET DYNAMICS

5.1 Market Drivers
- 5.1.1 Increase in the usage of Digital Video Streaming Platforms
- 5.1.2 Increased Demand for High-Quality Visual Content in the entertainment market
5.2 Market Restraints
- 5.2.1 Rapid Technological Innovation In VFX and Animation Demands Continuous Update
5.3 Key use cases and case studies
5.4 Key Technological Innovations Noted
- 5.4.1 Higher focus towards 3D Animations and Visual Effects
- 5.4.2 Integration of Hyper-realistic CGI
- 5.4.3 Adoption of AI, ML and Extended Reality
5.5 Analysis of Prevalent Business (Revenue) Model
5.6 Breakdown by Type (Qualitative Analysis of Underlying Trends)
- 5.6.1 Animation
- 5.6.2 VFX
- 5.6.3 Post-Production Services

6. MARKET SEGMENTATION

6.1 By Animation Platform
- 6.1.1 Television and OTT
- 6.1.2 Films
- 6.1.3 Advertisment
- 6.1.4 Gaming
- 6.1.5 Other Animation Platforms
6.2 By Country
- 6.2.1 United States
- 6.2.2 Canada

7. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

7.1 Company Profiles*
- 7.1.1 Walt Disney Animation Studios
- 7.1.2 Pixar Animation Studios
- 7.1.3 DreamWorks Animation
- 7.1.4 Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
- 7.1.5 Sony Pictures Imageworks
- 7.1.6 Framestore
- 7.1.7 MPC
- 7.1.8 The Mill
- 7.1.9 Method Studios

8. INVESTMENT ANALYSIS

9. FUTURE OUTLOOK OF THE MARKET

**Subject to Availability

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North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market Report Scope

Animation, VFX, and post-production are interconnected disciplines that bring visual storytelling to life. Animation involves creating movement through images drawn by hand, manipulated physically, or generated digitally. VFX focuses on creating imagery that does not exist in real life, enhancing live-action footage with special effects, or generating entirely new worlds. Post-production encompasses all the processes after filming or recording, including editing, colour grading, sound design, VFX integration, and mastering, transforming raw footage into a polished final product. Together, these fields are essential for captivating audiences with visually immersive experiences across film, television, video games, advertising, and more.

The North America Animation and VFX industries are treated as a subset of the broader Creative industries. The study is structured to track the demand for Animation, VFX and post-production services rendered by various regional studios. However, generated by the content created through Animation, VFX, and Post Production services are excluded from the scope of work.

The study also tracks the key market parameters, underlying growth influencers, and major vendors operating in the industry, which supports market estimations and growth rates over the forecast period. The scope of the study includes segmentation by End User (Television and OTT, Films, Gaming, Advertising and Marketing, Others), and Key Countries. Detailed market size and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD) for each of these segments.

By Animation Platform

Television and OTT

Films

Advertisment

Gaming

Other Animation Platforms

By Country

United States

Canada

By Animation Platform	Television and OTT
	Films
	Advertisment
	Gaming
	Other Animation Platforms
By Country	United States
	Canada

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Key Questions Answered in the Report

How big is the North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market?

The North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market size is expected to reach USD 17.22 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 12.70% to reach USD 31.31 billion by 2030.

What is the current North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market size?

In 2025, the North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market size is expected to reach USD 17.22 billion.

Who are the key players in North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market?

Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, DreamWorks Animation, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Sony Pictures Imageworks are the major companies operating in the North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market.

What years does this North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?

In 2024, the North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market size was estimated at USD 15.03 billion. The report covers the North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the North America Animation, VFX And Post Production Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.

Page last updated on: March 3, 2025