Global VFX and animation workforce grows

The workforce grew 9.3% in the second half of 2024, but contracted by 7.6% in the first half of 2025, giving a 1% net industry global growth over the past 12 months.  

The London workforce reduced by 5.1%. This figure includes the impact on the UK of the global collapse of the Technicolor group, which resulted in the shuttering of The Mill and MPC in February, followed by the closure of Jellyfish Pictures in March. Together these accounted for the loss of around 500 jobs in the UK. 

London remains by far the largest city hub in Europe for VFX and animation, with 10,564 people, more than double the size of Paris, its closest European rival. 

In the global league table, London sits third, just behind Mumbai with 10,866, and Los Angeles with 12,354. 
 
The UK has recently improved its tax incentives for film and TV, with an uplifted rate of 29.25% net for VFX, which is also now exempt from the 80% cap on eligible expenditure.  

UK Screen Alliance in conjunction with the British Film Commission are platinum sponsors of the 2025 edition of the Visual Effects and Animation World Atlas. 

Its data is drawn from a study of 120,000 VFX and animation professionals associated with 2,450 studios worldwide.  
 
Neil Hatton, CEO of UK Screen Alliance, said: “UK Screen Alliance has surveyed its member companies to gauge future sentiment, and found that 71% have seen an increase in sales enquires since the introduction of the VFX uplift, with 43% of those surveyed indicating a significant increase. As those enquiries translate into confirmed bookings VFX companies are showing increasing confidence in a return to sustained growth in excess of 5% over the next 12 months.”