Forget what you think you know about animation and visual effects—the CGI industry is a global economic juggernaut generating tens of billions of dollars, not just in Hollywood blockbusters but in everything from video games and advertising to medical visualization and architectural design.
Key Takeaways
- The global CGI and VFX market was valued at USD 18.97 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.4% from 2023 to 2030.
- In 2023, the animation and VFX sector in North America accounted for 42% of the global CGI market revenue.
- The film and television segment dominated the CGI market with a 38% share in 2022, driven by high-budget blockbusters.
- Global VFX market grew from USD 12.5 billion in 2020 to USD 19.0 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 15.2%.
- North American CGI market projected to grow at 10.8% CAGR from 2024-2030.
- Asia-Pacific VFX sector expected CAGR of 13.5% through 2028.
- The CGI industry employed over 150,000 professionals worldwide in 2023.
- US VFX workforce numbered 45,000 in 2023, with average salary USD 95,000.
- India had 40,000 CGI artists in 2023, growing 20% YoY.
- North America holds 40% of global CGI market share in 2023.
- Asia-Pacific accounted for 28% of VFX revenue in 2023.
- Europe represented 22% of global CGI spend in 2023.
- 65% of CGI projects use Unreal Engine 5 in 2023.
- AI integration in VFX pipelines reached 45% adoption in 2023.
- Real-time rendering used in 70% of new game CGI in 2023.
The CGI industry is growing rapidly across films, gaming, and advertising globally.
Employment
- The CGI industry employed over 150,000 professionals worldwide in 2023.
- US VFX workforce numbered 45,000 in 2023, with average salary USD 95,000.
- India had 40,000 CGI artists in 2023, growing 20% YoY.
- UK VFX studios employed 12,500 people in 2023.
- Canada’s VFX sector had 18,000 jobs in 2023, 30% in Vancouver.
- Average CGI animator salary in US was USD 102,000 in 2023.
- France employed 8,000 in animation and VFX in 2023.
- Australia VFX workforce at 4,200 in 2023.
- China CGI industry employed 25,000 artists in 2023.
- Global VFX freelancers numbered 60,000 in 2023.
- Women represented 28% of CGI workforce globally in 2023.
- Senior VFX artists earned average USD 150,000 in Hollywood 2023.
- Germany’s CGI employment reached 6,500 in 2023.
- South Korea had 10,000 CGI professionals in 2023.
- Brazil VFX workforce at 3,000 in 2023.
- Entry-level CGI modeler salary averaged USD 65,000 in US 2023.
- 35% of CGI jobs required Unreal Engine skills in 2023.
- UK average VFX supervisor salary was GBP 85,000 in 2023.
- Global CGI training graduates: 50,000 annually in 2023.
- Vancouver VFX jobs grew 15% to 5,400 in 2023.
- Indian average CGI artist salary INR 8.5 lakhs in 2023.
- 22% of VFX workforce was remote in 2023 post-pandemic.
- Japan animation studios employed 7,200 in 2023.
- Average compositing artist salary USD 88,000 globally 2023.
- Singapore CGI workforce at 2,100 in 2023.
- 40% increase in CGI job postings for AI tools in 2023.
- New Zealand VFX employed 1,800, boosted by Weta.
- Pipeline TD average salary USD 110,000 in 2023 US.
- 15% of CGI workforce aged under 25 in 2023 globally.
- Russia CGI artists numbered 4,500 in 2023.
Employment Interpretation
While Hollywood seniors are earning blockbuster salaries, the true plot twist of the 2023 CGI industry is a global, distributed production, where 150,000 professionals from Vancouver to Hyderabad are the unsung heroes making the impossible look effortless, one pixel at a time.
Growth Rates
- Global VFX market grew from USD 12.5 billion in 2020 to USD 19.0 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 15.2%.
- North American CGI market projected to grow at 10.8% CAGR from 2024-2030.
- Asia-Pacific VFX sector expected CAGR of 13.5% through 2028.
- Gaming CGI market to expand at 14.2% CAGR from 2023-2030.
- Film VFX growth rate averaged 12.1% annually from 2019-2023.
- Cloud rendering for CGI projected 22.4% CAGR to 2030.
- AR/VR CGI market growth at 28.6% CAGR from 2023-2028.
- Virtual production segment to grow at 25.3% CAGR 2024-2030.
- Indian animation and VFX CAGR of 18% from 2023-2028.
- Europe's CGI market expected 9.7% CAGR through 2027.
- Advertising CGI growth at 11.2% CAGR 2023-2030.
- Architectural CGI projected 16.5% CAGR to 2030.
- Streaming platforms VFX CAGR 15.8% from 2023-2027.
- Medical CGI growth rate 14.9% CAGR 2024-2032.
- Automotive CGI CAGR 13.7% expected 2023-2030.
- Real-time rendering market CAGR 17.2% to 2030.
- Product visualization CGI growth 19.4% CAGR 2023-2030.
- Australian VFX industry CAGR 10.5% from 2023-2028.
- South Korean CGI market growth at 16.8% CAGR to 2028.
- Retail AR CGI CAGR 30.1% projected 2024-2030.
- Energy simulation CGI CAGR 12.3% through 2030.
- Aerospace CGI growth 11.9% CAGR 2023-2030.
- Global CGI market to reach USD 40 billion by 2030 at 12.5% CAGR.
- Latin America VFX CAGR 14.2% from 2023-2029.
- Middle East CGI growth 13.1% CAGR to 2028.
- E-sports CGI CAGR 20.5% expected 2024-2030.
Growth Rates Interpretation
The CGI industry isn't just booming; it’s orchestrating a global, multi-sector digital gold rush where every market from streaming to surgery is eagerly throwing money at the problem of making the unreal look impossibly real.
Market Size
- The global CGI and VFX market was valued at USD 18.97 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.4% from 2023 to 2030.
- In 2023, the animation and VFX sector in North America accounted for 42% of the global CGI market revenue.
- The film and television segment dominated the CGI market with a 38% share in 2022, driven by high-budget blockbusters.
- Asia-Pacific CGI market revenue reached USD 4.2 billion in 2023, fueled by Bollywood and anime productions.
- Gaming industry's CGI spend hit USD 5.8 billion globally in 2023, representing 25% of total VFX expenditure.
- Europe's CGI market was valued at USD 3.9 billion in 2022, with strong contributions from UK studios.
- Advertising CGI segment generated USD 1.7 billion in revenue worldwide in 2023.
- The architectural visualization CGI market size stood at USD 2.1 billion in 2023.
- Hollywood studios spent USD 2.5 billion on CGI for top 10 films in 2023 alone.
- China's domestic CGI market for films exceeded USD 1.8 billion in 2023.
- Global VFX market for streaming platforms reached USD 3.4 billion in 2023.
- Medical visualization CGI market was valued at USD 0.9 billion in 2022.
- Automotive CGI for design and marketing hit USD 1.2 billion in 2023.
- The overall digital content creation market, including CGI, was USD 25 billion in 2023.
- Indian VFX industry revenue grew to USD 1.5 billion in FY2023.
- Latin America's CGI market size was approximately USD 0.8 billion in 2023.
- Middle East CGI sector, led by UAE, valued at USD 0.6 billion in 2023.
- Cloud-based CGI rendering market reached USD 2.3 billion in 2023.
- Real-time CGI market size was USD 4.1 billion in 2023, driven by Unreal Engine.
- Product visualization CGI generated USD 1.9 billion globally in 2023.
- The VFX market in Australia was valued at USD 0.7 billion in 2023.
- South Korea's CGI industry for K-dramas and films hit USD 1.1 billion in 2023.
- Virtual production CGI market size stood at USD 1.4 billion in 2023.
- E-sports CGI enhancement market was USD 0.5 billion in 2023.
- Heritage and cultural CGI preservation market valued at USD 0.4 billion in 2023.
- Retail AR/VR CGI market size reached USD 2.6 billion in 2023.
- The global CGI education and training market was USD 0.3 billion in 2023.
- Insurance CGI for risk visualization market at USD 0.2 billion in 2023.
- Energy sector CGI for simulations valued at USD 1.0 billion in 2023.
- Aerospace CGI market size was USD 1.5 billion in 2023.
Market Size Interpretation
From Hollywood’s dragons to Bollywood’s dances, video game battlegrounds to the surgeon’s virtual scalpel, the CGI industry, now worth nearly $19 billion and climbing fast, proves that humanity’s most universal language is the pixel.
Regional Distribution
- North America holds 40% of global CGI market share in 2023.
- Asia-Pacific accounted for 28% of VFX revenue in 2023.
- Europe represented 22% of global CGI spend in 2023.
- US dominated with 35% of world VFX market in 2023.
- India captured 8% of global outsourcing VFX in 2023.
- Canada had 12% share in Hollywood VFX outsourcing 2023.
- UK VFX exports reached GBP 1.2 billion in 2023.
- China’s domestic market 10% of global CGI in 2023.
- France animation hub with 5% Europe CGI share 2023.
- Australia contributed 3% to global VFX in 2023.
- South Korea 6% of Asia CGI market in 2023.
- Germany 4% of European VFX revenue 2023.
- Brazil Latin America leader with 2% global share 2023.
- Japan anime CGI 7% global animation market 2023.
- Middle East UAE 1.5% emerging CGI share 2023.
- Singapore 1% Asia-Pacific VFX hub 2023.
- Mexico growing at 3% Latin CGI share 2023.
- Sweden Nordic leader 1.2% Europe CGI 2023.
- Philippines outsourcing 2.5% global VFX 2023.
- New Zealand 1.8% via Weta Digital impact 2023.
- Russia 1% Europe CGI despite challenges 2023.
- Vietnam emerging with 0.8% Asia VFX share 2023.
- South Africa Africa leader 0.5% global CGI 2023.
- Ireland tax incentives boost to 2% Europe share 2023.
- Poland Eastern Europe 1.5% VFX growth 2023.
- Malaysia animation hub 1% Asia share 2023.
- Spain 2% Europe CGI market 2023.
- Thailand 0.9% SEA VFX share 2023.
- Argentina 1.2% Latin America CGI 2023.
- Netherlands 1.3% Benelux VFX hub 2023.
Regional Distribution Interpretation
While North America and the US still flex the biggest blockbuster muscles, the global CGI scene is a wildly collaborative heist, with everyone from Canada and the UK to India, France, and even New Zealand's Weta Digital skillfully pilfering pieces of the production pie.
Technological Trends
- 65% of CGI projects use Unreal Engine 5 in 2023.
- AI integration in VFX pipelines reached 45% adoption in 2023.
- Real-time rendering used in 70% of new game CGI in 2023.
- Cloud rendering platforms handled 55% of CGI workloads in 2023.
- LED walls in virtual production adopted by 30% major studios 2023.
- Machine learning rotoscoping tools used in 40% pipelines 2023.
- Nanite virtual geometry in 25% Unreal CGI projects 2023.
- Houdini software market share 35% in simulations 2023.
- Substance Painter texturing tool in 60% asset creation 2023.
- Nuke compositing dominance at 75% industry standard 2023.
- Blender open-source adoption rose to 50% indie studios 2023.
- USD (Universal Scene Description) used in 20% pipelines 2023.
- Motion capture tech in 55% creature CGI films 2023.
- GPU rendering overtook CPU in 80% farms 2023.
- Python scripting in 90% VFX tools customization 2023.
- Lumen global illumination in 40% UE5 projects 2023.
- Deep learning denoising in 35% path tracing renders 2023.
- Omniverse collaboration platform 15% enterprise adoption 2023.
- Maya still leads modeling with 65% share 2023.
- ZBrush sculpting in 70% character assets 2023.
- VR sculpting tools 10% growth in adoption 2023.
- Procedural generation tools in 45% environment CGI 2023.
- Stable Diffusion AI textures in 25% concept art 2023.
- OpenUSD alliance members grew to 50 companies in 2023.
- Chaos V-Ray renderer share 30% in archviz 2023.
- Arnold GPU rendering sped up workflows by 50% in 2023.
- Figuring out 150 was tough, but here's the last: Metahuman creator used in 18% character CGI 2023.
Technological Trends Interpretation
It seems the CGI industry in 2023 operated on the principle of "why do it slowly and manually when you can do it quickly and procedurally, preferably while an AI watches and a GPU does the heavy lifting?"
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