Los Angeles-headquartered visual effects powerhouse Crafty Apes is launching in the Australian market with a new office in Sydney, attracted by world-class talent in "booming production hubs" and access to "some of the most lucrative and competitive visual effects tax credits in the world".

The company also plans to draw talent from Adelaide, and adds that Australia is also "an ideal destination for both physical and post production".

With more than 550 staff worldwide, Crafty Apes has an expanding roster of clients and has built a strong reputation for creative collaboration over its 14-year history. The extensive list of films the company has worked on includes It Ends With Us, The Menu, and Guardians of the Galaxy, while its episodic portfolio includes The Last of Us, Tulsa King and Yellowstone.

Crafty Apes highlights that Australian government-backed programs are designed to attract international production and enhance the local VFX industry, making it a prime location for Crafty Apes to build a presence while also contributing to the development of the local creative economy.

The fresh opening adds to existing offices in LA, Atlanta, New York, London, Montreal and Vancouver.

"Having spent a decade of my career in Australia, I am excited to open our doors here and continue our mission to deliver world-class visual effects for our clients worldwide," says Crafty Apes CEO Alana Newell, who previously held various senior roles with Rising Sun Pictures in Adelaide.

"This expansion allows us to tap into Australia's growing talent pool, state-of-the-art facilities, and the generous regional and federal tax incentives offered, creating a solid foundation for future growth and collaboration.

"Expanding Crafty Apes' global footprint to include Australia is a natural next step in our growth."

Crafty Apes executive creative director Dave Morley will be opening the Sydney facility.

"It's incredibly exciting to be part of establishing our presence in Australia, first in Sydney and beyond as we grow," says Morley, who spent the first two decades of his career in Sydney at Animal Logic and Fuel VFX, working on productions including Moulin Rouge, Rabbit-Proof Fence, Tomorrow, When the War Began and more. 

"Returning home to work alongside old friends and colleagues and injecting fresh energy into the vibrant Australian VFX scene fills me with immense pride."

After successfully growing Crafty Apes Vancouver to the company's largest facility, Morley recently served as the show-side VFX supervisor for Paul Feig on both A Simple Favor 2 and the upcoming The Housemaid. 

Morley will be assuming the executive creative director role, working closely with A-list directors and showrunners in creative look development on new projects, while also mentoring the global team of VFX supervisors at the company.

The expansion comes after Crafty Apes received a strategic investment for an undisclosed sum in August 2024 from a consortium of institutional investors led by investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management and Camberline Capital Management, with global facility expansion a key focus of the capital injection.

"As the industry begins to recover from recent challenges, content creation is beginning to crescendo again, and we will continue to serve the creative needs of our clients as the industry picks up globally," Newell said at the time.

"This investment is a testament to Crafty Apes' resilient business model and our commitment to navigating industry challenges with strength and agility.

"We believe Crafty Apes has a reputation for delivering top-tier digital work on many of the most well-known IP's. As we have watched and worked with management for several years, our confidence in the team has only strengthened with their navigation of the business during the industry's recent strikes," added Morgan Stanley Investment Management managing director Jonathan Spivak.

At the time the company also listed studios in Albuquerque and Louisiana. Neither was included in the latest announcement regarding its footprint, although the company still lists an office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on its website.

Business News Australia has sought clarification from the company regarding its existing and planned staff count in Australia, and what role Adelaide will play in the expansion.

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