Plastic Wax
Plastic Wax is a privately held Australian animation and VFX studio that produces cinematic trailers, in-engine cutscenes, and motion capture services for AAA video game publishers, film and TV productions, and entertainment IP holders using Unreal Engine 5.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersRhodes, Australia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Plastic Wax does
Plastic Wax is a privately held Australian animation and visual effects studio founded in 1997 and headquartered in Rhodes, NSW (Sydney), operating a 51-100 person team from a multi-story facility that includes a dedicated in-house motion capture stage. The studio delivers turnkey B2B production services for AAA video game publishers, film and television productions, and entertainment IP holders, with named engagements spanning Krafton/Unknown Worlds (Subnautica 2), 1047 Games (Splitgate 2), Warner Bros Games with NetherRealm Studios (Mortal Kombat 1) and Avalanche Software (Hogwarts Legacy), Bethesda (Ghostwire Tokyo), Warner Bros Games with Razorfish/Rokkan (Gotham Knights), and THQ Nordic/Purple Lamp/Disney (Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed).
The studio's core technology stack is built on Unreal Engine 5 for both pre-rendered CGI and in-engine animation, supplemented by an on-site motion capture stage offering full body and facial capture, photogrammetry, realtime capture and livestreaming, rigging and retargeting, prop/set fabrication, stunt choreography, and dry-hire packages. Service offerings are organized across pre-rendered animation, in-engine animation, motion capture, remote directing, creative development (pitching, scriptwriting, storyboarding, previz, concept art), games and VR/immersive content production, and advanced VFX (cloth, hair, fluid, body dynamics, chroma key).
Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements quoted on a per-project basis, with direct enterprise sales via a formal New Client Form and a [email protected] channel. Distribution is direct, globally oriented, and supported by remote-directing infrastructure that allows international clients to participate in mocap and review sessions in real time. The studio is founder-owned, reports no external funding or parent entity, and operates as an Unreal Engine Approved Service Partner of Epic Games, a Trusted Partner Network badge holder, and an AUSFILM Premium Member since 2014, with a reported 140+ projects, 46 industry awards, and 288M+ accumulated trailer views.
Plastic Wax firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Plastic Wax
- Legal name
- Plastic Wax
- Website
- https://plasticwax.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Plastic Wax is a privately held Australian animation and VFX studio that produces cinematic trailers, in-engine cutscenes, and motion capture services for AAA video game publishers, film and TV productions, and entertainment IP holders using Unreal Engine 5.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Plastic Wax industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animation and Visual Effects Services
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- 3D Character Animation (MPAHACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- 3D/CGI Animation Production (MPADACAB), VFX & Motion Graphics (CGI, Compositing, 2D/3D) (MPAAAMAC)
Keywords
Where Plastic Wax is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rhodes
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Plastic Wax business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Professional Animation & VFX Services: Project-based B2B services delivering custom animation, visual effects, and cinematic trailers for gaming and entertainment clients. Revenue is generated through direct client engagements for specific projects including pre-rendered CGI, in-engine cutscenes, and motion capture work.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Plastic Wax product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Plastic Wax is a B2B animation and visual effects studio that produces cinematic trailers, in-engine cutscenes, motion capture data, and VFX for video game studios, film/TV productions, and entertainment IP holders. The studio operates an integrated turnkey model combining creative development, pre-rendered CGI, Unreal Engine 5 in-engine animation, on-site motion capture with real-time and remote directing, and post-production under one roof.
Product overview
Plastic Wax is an animation and VFX studio offering turnkey production services that blend video game and cinema techniques. Their core offerings span pre-rendered CGI animation (assets, rigging, lighting, compositing, scene assembly, color grading), in-engine animation using Unreal Engine 5, on-site motion capture services (full body/facial mocap, photogrammetry, realtime, retargeting, dry hire), creative services (pitching, scriptwriting, directing, storyboarding, concept art, previz), remote directing capabilities for global clients, and games/VR development (cutscenes, loops, immersive experiences). Their motion capture stage enables accelerated previz-to-animation workflows with world-class talent, custom stunt rigs, and remote directing capabilities for international clientele.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pre-Rendered Animation
Quantifiable outcome
- 11 million views on Subnautica 2 trailer, achieving #1 most wishlisted on Steam
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Plastic Wax
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Plastic Wax technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Plastic Wax partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AUSFILMcorePremium AUSFILM member since 2014, connecting Plastic Wax with Australian film and television production opportunities and industry best practices.
- Epic Games (Unreal Engine)coreUnreal Engine Approved Service Partner. Plastic Wax uses Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5 for real-time animation and in-engine content production. This partnership enables the studio to deliver high-fidelity real-time graphics work for gaming clients.
- Trusted Partner NetworkminorBadge wearer of the Trusted Partner Network, indicating compliance with security standards for entertainment industry content protection.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Plastic Wax competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Certain Affinity: Austin-based game developer and content house delivering trailers, cinematics, and game development for partners including 343 Industries and Microsoft. Comparable to Plastic Wax in delivering AAA cinematic trailers and in-engine content for major publishers.
- Blur Studio: US-based animation/VFX studio that specialises in game cinematics, trailers, and feature animation for publishers such as Activision, Ubisoft, and Bethesda. Closest direct competitor to Plastic Wax on AAA cinematic trailers and in-engine cutscenes for major gaming franchises.
- Powerhouse Animation: Austin/Memphis animation studio known for Netflix's Castlevania, Blood of Zeus, and game-related animation. Comparable direct peer of similar scale producing high-quality 3D animation and cinematic content for major entertainment IP holders.
- Luma Pictures: Independent VFX studio producing animation and visual effects for film, television, and games (including trailers). Comparable boutique-scale VFX peer serving major entertainment and gaming clients with similar scope of work to Plastic Wax.
- Animal Logic: Sydney-headquartered animation and visual effects studio (now part of Netflix) known for feature animation and VFX. Closest same-city peer operating in feature animation, VFX, and entertainment IP work, with overlapping talent market and studio footprint.
Broad incumbents
- Weta FX: New Zealand-based flagship VFX studio (formerly Weta Digital) handling blockbuster film, streaming, and entertainment VFX. Larger incumbent operating in the same visual effects space as Plastic Wax but at much greater scale across film and streaming.
- Digital Domain: Hollywood-based VFX and animation studio with film, episodic, and game content pedigree. Larger peer operating across the same VFX and animation service lines as Plastic Wax, including in-engine and immersive content.
- Framestore: London-headquartered VFX, animation, and immersive content studio serving film, advertising, and entertainment. Comparable services overlap (VFX, CG animation, in-engine immersive content) with Plastic Wax, but at significantly larger global scale.
- DNEG: Global VFX and post-production services giant with film, episodic, and gaming VFX work. Broader incumbent competing with Plastic Wax for high-end VFX and animation engagements across film and entertainment.
Regional players
- Rising Sun Pictures: Adelaide-based VFX studio delivering film, episodic, and game-tied visual effects. Most direct Australian geographic peer to Plastic Wax with overlapping CGI/VFX services and entertainment-sector clients.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Plastic Wax social profiles
Digital presencePlastic Wax financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Plastic Wax leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Plastic Wax funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Plastic Wax 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 Plastic Wax
What does Plastic Wax do?
Plastic Wax is a B2B animation and visual effects studio that produces cinematic trailers, in-engine cutscenes, motion capture data, and VFX for video game studios, film/TV productions, and entertainment IP holders. The studio operates an integrated turnkey model combining creative development, pre-rendered CGI, Unreal Engine 5 in-engine animation, on-site motion capture with real-time and remote directing, and post-production under one roof.
Is Plastic Wax a public or private company?
Plastic Wax is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Plastic Wax founded?
Plastic Wax was founded in 1997. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Plastic Wax based?
Plastic Wax is headquartered in Rhodes, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Plastic Wax make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Animation & VFX Services.
Who are Plastic Wax's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Certain Affinity, Blur Studio, Powerhouse Animation, Luma Pictures and Animal Logic. Broad incumbents are Weta FX, Digital Domain, Framestore and DNEG. Rising Sun Pictures is listed as a regional player.
Does Plastic Wax have an API?
No public API is recorded for Plastic Wax.
What industry is Plastic Wax in?
Plastic Wax's product category is Animation and Visual Effects Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHACAB, 3D Character Animation, with a secondary code of MPADACAB, 3D/CGI Animation Production. Its SIC code is 7812.