Crafty Apes Vancouver

Crafty Apes Vancouver is a Canadian visual effects studio established independently as CVD VFX by visual effects artist and supervisor Chris van Dyck. Its work spans feature films, episodic and streaming television, video game cinematics, and commercial advertising. The studio combines a background in detailed compositing with capabilities in computer-generated imagery and digital post-production.

Its specialties include photoreal 2D and 3D compositing, CG environment integration, digital matte painting, and stylized visual effects. Services extend from on-set supervision and creative consultation through asset creation, previsualization, postvisualization, and final image work. Its CG capabilities encompass creatures, vehicles, and environments, while digital cosmetics, beauty retouching, and clean-up support more subtle image adjustments.

Independent origins

Founded in 2014 and bootstrapped during 2014–2015, CVD VFX developed its practice around high-end television and feature production. Historical credits include the third season of Stranger Things, the second season of Westworld, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. Its feature work included 12 Strong and Indian Horse, alongside projects across other screen formats, including Mass Effect cinematics.

The studio expanded during its independent years and moved to a larger facility in North Vancouver in early 2018. Its development combined specialized compositing pipelines with a growing range of production work.

Continuing as Crafty Apes Vancouver

On February 4, 2020, Crafty Apes acquired CVD VFX, establishing the parent company's first international production facility. The transaction brought the Vancouver team's compositing expertise and production crew into the wider network. The studio subsequently integrated into that network and adopted the public name Crafty Apes Vancouver, retiring its standalone CVD VFX branding.

Under its current name, the Vancouver studio has contributed to The Last of Us, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Violent Night, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and Gran Turismo. Further Vancouver credits include The Continental: From the World of John Wick and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.