Snitchers are reporting that the legendary Method Studios, VFX house behind many of the films and TV commercials you know and love has been dissolved with most of the staff laid off on Monday. Finishing is being merged into CO3, with a small number of people being shifted to Framestore.
Some trolls have suggested that this is the result of Framestore acquiring Method but we all know that a brand being retired as the result of an acquisition is not done by quietly laying off the entire staff. Usually it’s done with a press release well in advance with all the media and ad publications posting about it, and a structured approach to shifting resources and business. This is not that.
With The Mill closing, and then Jellyfish, Method Studios seems to be the latest casualty in an unforeseen implosion of the VFX/Post studio industry. It is unclear if this affects all offices for Method including their US offices.
We will update with more information as the snitches come through. With several Method Studios staff confirming this on LinkedIn, this rumor will most likely change to verified soon.
It’s economics. Method charged agencies an arm and a leg to work with them while they would give work away to movies for next to nothing. This was their model for years as was The Mill’s. FFW to 2024 and now a fair majority of VFX is done by 1&2 person freelance teams who do it for a fraction of the cost of Method. They didn’t change and as such they went the way of the Dodo. It’s a shame they did pretty good work. Not amazing work. The Mill was amazing. I always felt Method was overpriced. Did two projects with them and wasn’t blown away. Sorry for the artists but if they are smart they will reach out to agency producers and work as freelancers/create their own boutique VFX house.