Stargate Studios
Stargate Studios is a privately held, founder-led visual effects and virtual production company serving major Hollywood studios, streamers, and TV networks. Since 1989, it has delivered VFX, mobile LED-volume production via its proprietary THRUView system, and a tax-incentivized six-location global production network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersSouth Pasadena, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Stargate Studios does
Stargate Studios is a privately held visual effects and virtual production company founded in 1989 by cinematographer Sam Nicholson ASC and headquartered in South Pasadena, California. The firm provides project-based VFX services — including 2D and 3D compositing, animation, rotoscoping, 3D asset creation, look development, and on-set supervision — for film, television, streaming, games, and commercial clients. Its client base spans the major Hollywood studios, broadcast networks, and streaming platforms, with credits including seven seasons of The Walking Dead, 24, NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, Black Mirror, M3gan, Insidious: The Red Door, Five Nights at Freddy's, and Our Flag Means Death.
The company's differentiated offering is mobile virtual production using its proprietary THRUView system, which combines custom-built LED panels, pixel-tracked kinetic lighting, on-set live color grading, and projector integration to deliver in-camera visual effects. This capability is complemented by a Virtual Backlot library of 2D plates, 3D assets, and aerial drone footage captured using LiDAR, NeRF, photogrammetry, and AI-assisted techniques, plus a 576-square-foot insert stage facility in South Pasadena offering LED walls, green/blue screen, camera, grip, and lighting equipment.
Stargate generates revenue primarily through professional services billed on a project basis, supplemented by stage rental and licensing of captured plate and background content. The firm has expanded into a six-location international network (Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, Toronto, Malta, and Bogota) to offer clients access to tax incentives ranging from 18% to 40%, and has extended into educational services through partnerships with the University of Southern California, Hollywood unions, and training academies in Colombia and Malta. Customer acquisition is driven by industry reputation, founder relationships, and referrals within the Hollywood production ecosystem rather than a formal sales motion.
Stargate Studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stargate Studios
- Legal name
- Stargate Studios
- Website
- https://stargatestudios.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Stargate Studios is a privately held, founder-led visual effects and virtual production company serving major Hollywood studios, streamers, and TV networks. Since 1989, it has delivered VFX, mobile LED-volume production via its proprietary THRUView system, and a tax-incentivized six-location global production network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stargate Studios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Visual Effects and Virtual Production Services
- NAICS
- Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- In-Camera VFX (ICVFX) Systems Integration & Workflows (MPAHADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- VFX Production & Shot Work (CG Integration, Matte Painting, FX) (MPAHABAB), Virtual Production Stages & LED Volume Operators (MPAHADAA)
Keywords
Where Stargate Studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- South Pasadena
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Stargate Studios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Visual Effects Services: Project-based visual effects work for television series, films, and commercials. Services include compositing, animation, rotoscoping, and on-set supervision across hundreds of productions.
- Virtual Production Services: Mobile LED wall rental, THRUView technology deployment, on-set playback, and virtual production supervision for film and television productions.
- Stage Rental: Rental of insert stage facility in South Pasadena (576 sq ft, 24'x24'x14'H) with LED walls, green/blue screen, camera gear, G&E equipment, production offices, and editing suites. Supports reshoots, pick-ups, and full productions.
- Plate and Content Licensing: Licensing of captured backgrounds (2D plates, driving plates, aerials) from the Virtual Backlot library for use in virtual production playback.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Stargate Studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stargate Studios provides full-service visual effects (compositing, animation, rotoscoping, 3D dynamics, asset creation, look development, pre-visualization and on-set supervision) and virtual production services for film, television, streaming and commercial clients. Its proprietary THRUView mobile LED-wall system, the Virtual Backlot plate and 3D asset library, and a South Pasadena insert stage support end-to-end production from plate capture through post.
Product overview
Stargate Studios operates as a multi-service visual effects and virtual production company offering a unified suite of services for film, television, and interactive projects. The core offerings include Visual Effects (compositing, animation, rotoscoping, 3D asset creation), Virtual Production (mobile LED walls with proprietary THRUView technology), and Plates & Content (custom background capture including 2D plates, 3D assets, aerials). These services are supported by an insert stage production facility in South Pasadena and educational programs through partnered academies. The company was founded in 1989 and has provided VFX for productions including The Walking Dead, Grey's Anatomy, and various feature films.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Visual Effects Full-service visual effects production including 2D and 3D compositing, animation, rotoscoping, 3D dynamics and asset creation, look development, pre-visualization, and on-set/post supervision for film, television, games and commercials.
- Virtual Production Mobile LED-wall-based virtual production services using the proprietary THRUView technology, delivering on-set playback and in-camera visual effects for film and television productions.
- THRUView Proprietary virtual production system combining custom-built hardware, software and cinema technology including mobile LED panels, pixel-tracked kinetic lighting, on-set live color grading and projection systems for authentic vehicle windshield reflections.
- Plates & Content (Virtual Backlot) Virtual production background content including 2D custom plate shooting, 3D asset creation, aerial/drone footage and a library of existing plates shot specifically for virtual production, built using LiDAR, photogrammetry and AI technologies.
- Stage & Production Services Physical production stage and services in South Pasadena featuring LED walls, green/blue screen, camera and grip equipment, production offices, editing suites and crew support for reshoots, pick-ups and full productions.
- Classes & Workshops Educational programs including La Escuela de Stargate in Colombia, The Malta Academy, and partnerships with USC and Hollywood unions for training visual effects and virtual production artists.
Quantifiable outcome
- Seven seasons of The Walking Dead visual effects
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Stargate Studios
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Stargate Studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Stargate Studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- University of Southern CaliforniaminorEducational partnership providing cutting-edge knowledge to filmmaking students. Stargate Studios contributes industry expertise and practical training to emerging filmmakers through university programs.
- Hollywood Unions (Los Angeles)minorPartnership with Hollywood entertainment industry unions in Los Angeles to provide professional development and training for seasoned industry professionals looking to upgrade their skills in virtual production and VFX techniques.
- La Escuela de Stargate (Colombia)minorEducational academy in Colombia dedicated to training the next generation of visual effects and virtual production artists. Part of Stargate's global presence in Bogotá.
- Malta AcademyminorTraining academy in Malta providing courses in visual effects and virtual production. Part of Stargate Studios' European presence with 40% cash rebate incentive for productions shooting in Malta.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Stargate Studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- FuseFX: FuseFX is a direct peer specializing in episodic television VFX, with a similar boutique scale, same LA-area footprint, and overlapping client base on network and streaming series.
- Framestore: Framestore is a direct peer delivering end-to-end VFX, immersive content, and integrated virtual production for feature films, episodic television, and commercials, serving the same Hollywood studio customer base.
- NEP Group: NEP Group operates mobile LED virtual production units and broadcast-grade production infrastructure globally, competing directly with Stargate's mobile LED wall and virtual production services.
- DNEG: DNEG is a direct peer providing visual effects and virtual production services for major film and television productions, with comparable scale and a similar studio-customer roster.
- Pixomondo: Pixomondo is a direct peer operating virtual production stages and LED volumes globally with proprietary StarTracker camera-tracking technology, serving the same Hollywood studio clients for film and episodic virtual production.
- Wētā FX: Wētā FX is a direct peer providing high-end visual effects and virtual production for major feature films, serving overlapping Hollywood studio clients and competing on premium VFX work.
Emerging players
- Magnopus: Magnopus is an emerging player in immersive content and virtual production with expertise in real-time pipelines and Unreal Engine workflows, intersecting with Stargate's ICVFX and 3D asset creation capabilities.
Broad incumbents
- Industrial Light & Magic (ILM): ILM is a broad incumbent—the pioneer of VFX and virtual production (StageCraft) for Disney/Lucasfilm—offering overlapping VFX, virtual production, and content services at significantly greater scale than Stargate.
- Digital Domain: Digital Domain is a broad incumbent VFX and virtual production studio with Hollywood feature film credentials (including Avengers-level work) and a broader service portfolio than Stargate.
- Sony Pictures Imageworks: Sony Pictures Imageworks is a broad incumbent VFX studio operating at much greater scale, providing VFX and virtual production services for major feature films and serving overlapping studio customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Stargate Studios social profiles
Digital presenceStargate Studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stargate Studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Stargate Studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stargate Studios 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 Stargate Studios
What does Stargate Studios do?
Stargate Studios provides full-service visual effects (compositing, animation, rotoscoping, 3D dynamics, asset creation, look development, pre-visualization and on-set supervision) and virtual production services for film, television, streaming and commercial clients. Its proprietary THRUView mobile LED-wall system, the Virtual Backlot plate and 3D asset library, and a South Pasadena insert stage support end-to-end production from plate capture through post.
Is Stargate Studios a public or private company?
Stargate Studios is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Stargate Studios founded?
Stargate Studios was founded in 1989. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Stargate Studios based?
Stargate Studios is headquartered in South Pasadena, United States, in the North America region.
How does Stargate Studios make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Visual Effects Services are the primary driver. The others are virtual Production Services, stage Rental and plate and Content Licensing.
Who are Stargate Studios's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are FuseFX, Framestore, NEP Group, DNEG, Pixomondo and Wētā FX. Magnopus is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Digital Domain and Sony Pictures Imageworks.
Does Stargate Studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stargate Studios.
What industry is Stargate Studios in?
Stargate Studios's product category is Visual Effects and Virtual Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHADAE, In-Camera VFX (ICVFX) Systems Integration & Workflows, with a secondary code of MPAHABAB, VFX Production & Shot Work (CG Integration, Matte Painting, FX). Its NAICS code is 51219 and its SIC code is 7812.