Framestore

Foundation

Framestore was founded in 1986 by William Sargent and Sharon Reed, together with three friends. Tim Webber joined Framestore in 1988 and led the company's push into digital film and television, developing Framestore's virtual camera and motion rig systems. In 1992, Mike Milne started the CGI department, adding computer-generated imagery animation to the company's range of facilities.

Merger with CFC

In 1997, Framestore acquired the Computer Film Company, which was one of the UK's first digital film visual effects companies, developing technology for digital film scanning, compositing and output. CFC was founded in London in 1984 by Mike Boudry, Wolfgang Lempp (now CTO at Filmlight) and Neil Harris (Lightworks). CFC's first film was The Fruit Machine, in 1988, which utilised early morphing techniques.

In 2004, Framestore opened its first satellite office in New York City, to focus on advertising. This was followed by another office in Iceland in 2008, which has since been closed and has reopened as a local VFX company, RVX. In 2013 Framestore opened an office in Montreal, followed by another in Los Angeles the same year. In 2014, it launched a production arm.

Early projects for the company include the delivery of its first feature animation project The Tale of Despereaux with Universal, the completion of Europe's first digital intermediate for the film Chicken Run in 2000, contribution of scenes for the 2009 film Avatar and the completion as a production project of four British feature films which opened in theatres between during 2009 and 2010.

Acquisition by CIH

In November 2016, the Shanghai-based Cultural Investment Holdings Co acquired 75% of Framestore for £112.50 million. The company worked on projects such as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Beauty and the Beast and Paddington 2. In April 2017, Framestore announced that it had opened a third US location, in Chicago, Illinois.

The company also worked on the 2017 film Darkest Hour directed by Joe Wright, working out of the Montreal facility of Framestore to create historically accurate backdrops for 85 shots in the film, including battle scenes.

The team created around 300 shots for the 2017 film Blade Runner 2049, with Framestore winning a special visual effects award at the 2018 British Academy Film Awards. Framestore has also worked on Black Mirror, creating props such as the 60s-style spaceship in the premiere of the fourth season.

In November 2020, Framestore announced that it had acquired Deluxe's former creative assets including Method Studios and Company 3 to expand its VFX and post-production landscapes.