BAD STAR Studios | B Corp certified

What BAD STAR Studios | B Corp certified does

BAD STAR Studios, also operating under the founder's name Kai Bastard, is a London-based creative studio founded in 2019 that delivers high-end visual content for global advertising campaigns. The studio combines photography with computer-generated imagery (CGI), green screen production, photogrammetry, CG animation and motion graphics, and creative retouching under a single creative direction led by founder Kai Bastard, who operates as a photographer and CG/AI director. Service categories include Photography & CGI, CG Animation & Motion, Fine Art, and Behind-the-Scenes content. The studio is B Corp certified and operates with a team of seven.

The underlying production stack integrates traditional photography workflows with CGI pipelines, 3D scanning via photogrammetry, green screen compositing, and post-production retouching. Website pages and a 'Studio Notes' newsletter distribute behind-the-scenes content as audience-building marketing. The studio is structured as a sole proprietorship (no disclosed legal entity, no investors, no funding), with Kai Bastard personally handling client relations and creative direction.

The business model is project-based: engagements are quoted individually via direct studio contact in the UK or through Greenhouse Reps (US sales representative Gary Hurewitz), with virtual consultations bookable through Calendly. Revenue derives entirely from one-time project fees for photography, CGI, animation, and retouching work. The target customer segment is global advertising brands and agencies requiring sophisticated visual content, served across London and New York markets.

Name

BAD STAR Studios | B Corp certified

Legal name

Kai Bastard

Website

https://badstar.studio

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BAD STAR Studios (Kai Bastard) is a London-based, seven-person creative studio founded in 2019 that delivers photography, CGI, animation, and retouching for global advertising brands. Services combine traditional photography with computer-generated imagery under single creative direction, sold via project-based fees through direct engagement and US sales representation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Advertising Production Services

NAICS

Photographic Services (54192), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Production & Talent Services (Casting, Crew, Production Management) (MPAAAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Real-Time Compositing, Keying & On-Set Playback (MPAHADAG), On-Set Virtual Art Department (VAD) & Previs/Postvis (MPAHADAD)

Keywords

• Commercial photography services
• CGI advertising production
• CG animation services
• Creative retouching
• Photogrammetry services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Creative Services / Project Fees: Studio generates revenue through project-based fees for photography, CGI, animation, and creative retouching services for advertising campaigns and brands. Services are sold directly to agencies and global brands.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

BAD STAR Studios operates as a creative production studio delivering high-end visual content for global advertising campaigns. Core offerings combine photography, CGI, green screen, photogrammetry, CG animation, motion graphics, and creative retouching under a single creative direction to produce hybrid photographic and computer-generated imagery for brands and advertising agencies.

Product overview

BAD STAR Studios operates as a visual artist and creative studio offering a portfolio of interconnected creative services: PHOTOGRAPHY & CGI (photography combined with CGI, green screen, and photogrammetry), CG ANIMATION & MOTION, and FINE ART. These services are unified under the direction of Kai Bastard, a photographer and CG/AI director, serving the global advertising industry. The studio is structured as a single practitioner operation with business representation in the USA (Greenhouse Reps) and studio operations in the United Kingdom. A newsletter (Studio Notes) provides behind-the-scenes content as a supplementary offering. The company is B Corp certified.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Photography & CGI Photography services combined with CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery), green screen, and photogrammetry techniques for modern advertising campaigns, targeting global advertising brands and agencies.
• CG Animation & Motion Computer-generated animation and motion graphics services for advertising and creative applications, serving global brands and advertising agencies.
• Fine Art Fine art portfolio featuring artistic photography and visual works, applying the studio's fine art sensibilities to commercial and gallery contexts.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Greenhouse RepscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGreenhouse Reps serves as the US sales representative for Kai Bastard studio, handling US-based client inquiries and business development. Contact: Gary Hurewitz, +001 917.410.7678, [email protected].

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Buck: Design-driven animation and motion graphics studio serving global brands and agencies with CG animation, design, and mixed-media campaigns. Closely comparable on the motion/CG/animation side of BAD STAR Studios' offering.
• The Mill: Global VFX and post-production studio producing high-end CG, animation, and creative content for the world's leading advertising brands. Most directly comparable in the integrated photography/CGI/motion offering BAD STAR Studios sells to the same enterprise advertising client base.
• B-Reel: Independent creative studio producing digital, film, and experiential content for leading global brands and agencies. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary boutique serving the same enterprise advertising client base with hybrid creative and technical production.
• Tendril: Boutique CG and design studio producing CGI, animation, and motion content for advertising and brand campaigns. Comparable on integrated CG/motion for global brands, though geographically anchored in Canada.
• PSYOP: Boutique commercial production and animation studio creating high-end CG, mixed-media, and motion content for global advertising agencies and brands. Direct peer in the premium CGI/animation-for-ads niche.
• Framestore: Award-winning VFX and creative studio with a large advertising division delivering CG animation, photoreal visual effects, and immersive content for global brands. Comparable in technology stack (photogrammetry, CGI, compositing) and enterprise brand clients.

Broad incumbents

• RSA Films: Long-established commercial and film production company representing high-end directors for global advertising campaigns. Comparable as a premium commercial production counterpart serving enterprise brand clients.
• Anonymous Content: Global content production company spanning commercials, film, and branded entertainment for leading brands and agencies. Comparable on the high-end commercial production side of BAD STAR Studios' business, though much larger and broader in scope.
• Moving Picture Company (MPC): Large, established VFX and post-production company serving both feature film and commercial advertising clients with high-end CGI and finishing. Comparable in CGI/motion capabilities for advertising but operates at significantly larger scale across film, episodic, and ads.

Regional players

• Acne Studios (Creative): Swedish creative studio and production house producing film, advertising, and branded content with a strong integrated production capability. Comparable in the hybrid creative/technical advertising production niche, though primarily serving European clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/badstarstudios

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BAD STAR Studios | B Corp certified