Basilic Fly Studio Invests in BAFTA & Emmy-Winning VFX House One of Us
Chennai-based Basilic Fly Studio (BFS) has made a significant investment in London and Paris-based VFX studio One of Us (OOU), acquiring a 70% stake. This partnership brings together two studios known for their high-quality VFX, expanding their combined capacity to over 900 artists. BFS, with studios in Chennai, Pune, Vancouver, and London, has contributed to major projects like Avatar and Avengers: Endgame, while OOU, founded in 2004, has won BAFTA and Emmy awards for its work on The Crown, The Witcher, and The Alienist. The two studios have previously collaborated on Bridgerton, Napoleon, and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. This alliance strengthens their ability to take on complex projects, leverage advanced technologies, and enhance their creative offerings for the evolving entertainment industry.
The deal will see the partnering of two studios whose growth has been founded on a reputation for quality. The combined skills and technologies of the two companies will create a more agile VFX partner for film, streaming, and TV content producers, in tune with the changing demands of the sector. The existing leadership will continue to lead One of Us on a day-to-day basis. The investment sees Basilic Fly take a 70% stake in One of Us, and together the studios will have capacity for over 900 artists.
Basilic Fly Studio (BFS) started with a small team of artists in Chennai over a decade ago. From these beginnings, BFS has grown into a more than 500-strong workforce with studios in Chennai, Pune, Vancouver, and London. BFS has been part of iconic projects including Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, and The Last of Us. The company’s journey includes getting listed on the India Stock Exchange, driven by a commitment to doing great work and growing the organization.
One of Us (OOU) works across film and TV, with its VFX studios in London and Paris having capacity for more than 450 artists. Founded in 2004 by Rachael Penfold, Dominic Parker, and Tom Debenham, One of Us has won two BAFTA TV awards for its work on both The Crown and The Witcher, and an Emmy for The Alienist, alongside other awards and nominations.
Over the last 5 years, BFS has worked with OOU on many of their most important projects, including: Bridgerton (Season 1 and 2); Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore; Napoleon; The Zone of Interest; and Luther: The Fallen Sun.
By uniting, BFS and OOU bring together their expertise for generating outstanding VFX, and their shared love for work that delights audiences at home and in cinemas worldwide. The deal will allow the studios to pool talent, creativity, and resources to enhance their client service offerings. Driven by the two founder-led teams, each with rich experience in VFX artistry, the studios will solidify their positions in the industry, with an even stronger framework for the imagination and inventiveness required to undertake bigger, more complex projects.
At a time of great change in the entertainment industry, with studios increasing their use of technologies such as AI, partnering will allow the studios to bolster their IT stacks and further explore ways of harnessing the vision of skilled VFX artists.
