LOS ANGELES — Crafty Apes (craftyapes.com), a full-service visual effects studio with seven production facilities across North America, has acquired Molecule VFX, an established VFX company based in New York City and Los Angeles. The acquisition brings together two companies with a deep roster of talent in creative VFX supervision and production management, and more than doubles Crafty Apes's New York City-based headcount.
Crafty Apes recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary. The studio provides high-end visual effects and production services for film, episodic and commercial video production. Its services range from high quality 2D and 3D compositing to digital cosmetics and computer-generated imagery. The studio’s recent credits include Spider-Man: No Way Home, Red Notice, Licorice Pizza and Ghostbusters: Afterlife, in addition to the television shows Ted Lasso, Insecure and Stranger Things.
Molecule VFX has been a visual effects provider for both episodic television and feature films since 2005. Some of the studio's recent credits include series such as Billions, Gossip Girl, Genius: Aretha and P-Valley.
"We are always looking to grow our team with talented artists and the Molecule team has a strong track record of producing outstanding work while taking great care of their clients,” says Crafty Apes’ partner, Chris LeDoux. “Bringing our two teams together will allow us to even better serve our clients on a greater scale in both episodic television and feature films. Having worked with Molecule VFX over the years, we know we will have great success working together and continuing to meet the growing demand for visual effects."
The principal team from Molecule VFX includes Andrew Bly, the studio's CEO, and Luke DiTommaso, senior visual effects supervisor. Bly says of the partnership, "Luke and I are so proud of where our team's incredible talent has brought Molecule VFX. We have been allies with Crafty Apes for years, so joining forces with them will allow us to reach new heights together. We believe this merger will have a significant, positive impact on the VFX industry in New York."
Crafty Apes's New York City management team will be working with Bly and DiTommaso to integrate the two companies and expand their Manhattan footprint under the Crafty Apes banner. Over the past few years, the two companies have shared multiple episodic series between their respective Georgia and New York facilities, providing both on-set and post VFX resources to properties that filmed and finished in both cities, including Genius: Aretha for Nat Geo/Disney, and Starz’s acclaimed series P-Valley.
Together, the new Crafty Apes NYC will continue to service clients across feature films, commercials, streaming content and episodic filmed television shows, as well as provide front-end creative consultation and on-set supervision with their creative studio and production partners.