Video Copilot
Video Copilot, founded in 2005 by Andrew Kramer, develops Adobe After Effects plug-ins, 3D asset packs, and stock footage for motion designers and VFX professionals. It sells flagship tools like Element 3D and Optical Flares via direct e-commerce, supported by a free tutorial library.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersLake Elsinore, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Video Copilot does
Video Copilot, operating under the legal entity Video Copilot and Final Image Inc., is a privately held US company founded in 2005 by Andrew Kramer. It develops and sells professional Adobe After Effects plug-ins, 3D model packs, and stock footage targeted at motion designers and visual effects artists working in film, television, and digital content production. The product portfolio is anchored by Element 3D, a 3D object-based particle plug-in that enables real-time 3D object rendering and manipulation inside the After Effects timeline, supplemented by Optical Flares (lens flare design), Twitch (procedural effects), and Heat Distortion (heat haze simulation). The company also sells a catalog of 3D asset packs (JetStrike, Metropolitan, Pro Shaders, Motion Design), stock footage (Action Essentials 2, ShockWave, free Slime Stock FX Pack), sound FX (MotionPulse BlackBox), and music (Pro Scores), alongside free tools such as VC Orb and FX Console that serve as a top-of-funnel funnel into paid products.
The company runs a product-led growth model anchored on free educational content. Andrew Kramer publishes step-by-step VFX tutorials on YouTube and the company blog (videocopilot.net/blog), with over 150 tutorials and individual videos drawing hundreds of thousands of views. This tutorial engine functions simultaneously as demand generation, brand reinforcement, and customer training. The company monetizes through one-time perpetual licenses sold via its own e-commerce storefront (videocopilot.net), with global digital delivery. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Customer segments are horizontal: motion designers (primary) and VFX artists (secondary). Recent distribution and platform moves include the HitFilm Pro 14 native integration (extending plug-in compatibility beyond Adobe), Apple M1 native compatibility (2022-05), and After Effects 2022 Multi-Frame Rendering support (2021-12).
Video Copilot is founder-owned with no disclosed external investment, venture capital, or institutional funding. Andrew Kramer is the sole publicly identified executive. The legal name "Video Copilot and Final Image Inc." suggests a related-entity corporate structure, though the precise relationship is not stated. The company maintains an active blog and social presence and appears to be operating, though the cadence of new flagship product launches has slowed since Element 3D's 2012 debut, with most recent activity focused on compatibility updates and incremental asset packs. Geographic reach is global via digital distribution, with episodic community engagement through the Video Copilot LIVE! European tour (last referenced in 2019).
Video Copilot firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Video Copilot
- Legal name
- Video Copilot and Final Image Inc.
- Website
- https://videocopilot.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Video Copilot, founded in 2005 by Andrew Kramer, develops Adobe After Effects plug-ins, 3D asset packs, and stock footage for motion designers and VFX professionals. It sells flagship tools like Element 3D and Optical Flares via direct e-commerce, supported by a free tutorial library.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Video Copilot industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Motion Design & Visual Effects Software
- NAICS
- Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)
- SIC
- Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- 3D Product/Explainer Animation (MPAHACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Simulation & FX Animation (Cloth, Hair, Particles) (MPAHACAH), Motion Graphics & Title Design (MPADACAD), 3D Character Animation (MPAHACAB)
Keywords
Where Video Copilot is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lake Elsinore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Video Copilot business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Plugin and Software Sales: One-time purchase licenses for After Effects plug-ins including Element 3D, Optical Flares, Twitch, and Heat Distortion
- 3D Model Packs: Sale of professional 3D model packs for use with Element 3D, including JetStrike, Metropolitan, and Pro Shaders
- Stock Footage: Sale of stock footage packs including Action Essentials 2: 2K and ShockWave for VFX compositing
- Sound FX: Sale of MotionPulse BlackBox sound effects collection with 2000 multi-layered sound FX
- Free Products with Upsell: Free plug-ins like VC Orb and FX Console distributed to build audience and drive awareness of paid products
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | One-time plugin licenses |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Video Copilot product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Video Copilot develops and sells Adobe After Effects visual effects plug-ins, 3D model packs, stock footage, and sound effects collections for motion designers and VFX artists. Its flagship product Element 3D enables 3D object rendering and manipulation directly within After Effects, complemented by Optical Flares, Twitch, and a library of pre-keyed stock footage and sound assets. The company also operates a free tutorial platform that drives product adoption.
Product overview
Video Copilot is a motion design and visual effects resource company offering a portfolio of After Effects plug-ins, 3D asset packs, stock footage, and sound effects. The core product line centers on Element 3D (a real-time 3D object particle plug-in), complemented by optical effects tools (Optical Flares for lens flares, Twitch for procedural effects, Heat Distortion for simulation), audio packs (MotionPulse BlackBox sound FX, Pro Scores music), and stock footage (Action Essentials 2 pre-keyed action, ShockWave particles, free Slime Pack). The 3D offerings are expanded through asset packs including JetStrike (military/commercial jets), Metropolitan (city environments), Motion Design Pack, and Pro Shaders. The company also provides free tools like the VC Orb plug-in and FX Console workflow plugin, plus the Demon Cam iPhone application. All products are designed to work within Adobe After Effects for post-production professionals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Element 3D A 3D object-based particle plug-in for Adobe After Effects that enables real-time 3D object rendering and manipulation directly within the AE timeline. It is used by motion designers and VFX artists who need 3D capabilities without leaving After Effects.
- Optical Flares A 3D lens flare creation studio that provides tools for designing and animating professional lens flares within After Effects. It is used by motion designers and compositors for cinematic lens flare effects.
- Twitch A procedural video effects plug-in for creating dynamic, animated visual effects in After Effects. It is used by motion designers who need versatile procedural effects.
- Heat Distortion A heat distortion effect plug-in that simulates realistic heat haze and mirage effects within After Effects. It is used by VFX artists and motion designers for atmospheric scenes.
- MotionPulse BlackBox A sound effects pack containing 2000 multi-layered sound effects for use in video production. It is used by editors and motion designers for audio design on visual projects.
- ShockWave HD particle stock footage and effects for adding impactful visual elements to projects. It is used by VFX artists and motion designers for comp shots.
- Pro Scores A music scoring pack providing orchestral and electronic score elements for video projects. It is used by editors and motion designers for video soundtracks.
- Action Essentials 2 HD pre-keyed action stock footage at 2K resolution featuring action movie elements like explosions, impacts, and combat effects. It is used by VFX compositors for fast compositing.
- JetStrike A collection of commercial and military jet 3D models for use with Element 3D. It is used by motion designers and VFX artists who need realistic jet aircraft assets.
- Motion Design Pack A pack of 3D motion design elements and assets for creating animated graphics. It is used by motion designers for creating animated 3D graphics in Element 3D.
- Pro Shaders 2 A collection of professional-grade shader materials for 3D rendering in Element 3D. It is used by motion designers and VFX artists for realistic 3D surface shading.
- Metropolitan Professional 3D city and urban environment models for VFX and motion design projects. It is used by motion designers for cityscape scenes and environmental visuals.
- Demon Cam An iPhone app that allows users to record video and transform subjects into demons using face warping and visual effects. It is used by consumers for fun, social-media-ready effect videos.
Companies that use Video Copilot
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Video Copilot technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature11 records
Video Copilot partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Video Copilot competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Foundry: Foundry's Nuke, Mari, and Katana are VFX and 3D tools used in film/TV pipelines that overlap with the post-production workflows supported by Video Copilot, particularly at the high end of professional VFX.
- Blackmagic Design (DaVinci Resolve): DaVinci Resolve is a broad post-production platform expanding into motion graphics and VFX; it competes for the same creator budget and increasingly overlaps with After Effects-centric plug-in workflows.
- SideFX: SideFX Houdini is a leading procedural VFX and simulation tool used for particle and FX work that overlaps with the use cases of ShockWave, Element 3D, and Optical Flares at higher-end studios.
- Adobe (After Effects ecosystem): Adobe After Effects is the host platform for all Video Copilot plug-ins; Adobe's own first-party 3D and AI features and Creative Cloud bundling directly influence Video Copilot's addressable market.
Direct peers
- Maxon: Maxon develops Cinema 4D and the Maxon One bundle (including Redshift) used by motion designers and VFX artists for 3D and motion graphics — a directly comparable 3D/VFX tooling suite and the principal competitor to Element 3D in professional workflows.
- Boris FX: Boris FX offers Sapphire, Continuum, and Mocha Pro — a competing suite of post-production plug-ins used by the same motion designer and VFX compositor audience as Video Copilot.
- Red Giant (now part of Maxon): Red Giant builds After Effects plug-ins such as Trapcode Particular and Magic Bullet Looks, which overlap directly with Optical Flares, Twitch, and ShockWave in the AE post-production pipeline.
- aescripts + aeplugins: aescripts is a marketplace and developer of After Effects scripts and plug-ins, serving the same AE user base with both direct competing tools and a discovery channel that competes for the same wallet.
Emerging players
- FXhome / HitFilm (Artlist): HitFilm Pro is both a Video Copilot distribution partner (running VC plug-ins natively) and a competing post-production / VFX platform targeting the same indie motion designer segment.
- Digital Anarchy: Digital Anarchy develops specialized After Effects plug-ins (e.g., Transcriptive, KnockOut) for the same motion design and post-production audience as Video Copilot.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Video Copilot social profiles
Digital presenceVideo Copilot financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Video Copilot leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Video Copilot funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Video Copilot M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Video Copilot
What does Video Copilot do?
Video Copilot develops and sells Adobe After Effects visual effects plug-ins, 3D model packs, stock footage, and sound effects collections for motion designers and VFX artists. Its flagship product Element 3D enables 3D object rendering and manipulation directly within After Effects, complemented by Optical Flares, Twitch, and a library of pre-keyed stock footage and sound assets. The company also operates a free tutorial platform that drives product adoption.
Is Video Copilot a public or private company?
Video Copilot is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Video Copilot founded?
Video Copilot was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Video Copilot based?
Video Copilot is headquartered in Lake Elsinore, United States, in the North America region.
How does Video Copilot make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Plugin and Software Sales are the primary driver. The others are 3D Model Packs, stock Footage, sound FX and free Products with Upsell.
Who are Video Copilot's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Foundry, Blackmagic Design (DaVinci Resolve), SideFX and Adobe (After Effects ecosystem). Direct peers are Maxon, Boris FX, Red Giant (now part of Maxon) and aescripts + aeplugins. Emerging players are FXhome / HitFilm (Artlist) and Digital Anarchy.
Does Video Copilot have an API?
No public API is recorded for Video Copilot.
What industry is Video Copilot in?
Video Copilot's product category is Motion Design & Visual Effects Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHACAD, 3D Product/Explainer Animation, with a secondary code of MPAHACAH, Simulation & FX Animation (Cloth, Hair, Particles). Its NAICS code is 51219 and its SIC code is 7819.