From photorealistic beasts to otherwordly ‘Predators’, French VFX studios are shaping some of today’s most striking cinematic creatures. At the occasion of PIDS ENGHIEN, the CNC shines a light on the creative and technical expertise behind these digital characters.

PIDS ENGHIEN took place last week and showcased once more the very best of the French digital creation for films and series. At this occasion, the CNC, France’s National Centre of Cinema, has published an article exploring the growing expertise of French VFX studios in the creation and animation of CG creatures. This article is based on interviews with Laurens Ehrmann, founder and Creative Director of The Yard VFX, Beatrice Bauwens, Head of MPC Paris & Liege, as well as Cyril Bonjean, VFX Supervisor of MPC Paris.

The article offers  valuable insights into how French studios are contributing to major international productions, by delivering impactful creature work. From the extraterrestrial poacher of Predator: Badlands (2025), to the colossal destructive creature of Troll 2 (2025), and the hybrid human-animal mutants of The Animal Kingdom (Le Règne animal, 2023), creatures have become central to modern cinematic storytelling.

You’ll find below key takeaways of the article, with specific highlights on The Yard’s work for Predator : Badlands.

A thriving French VFX ecosystem

Over the past several years, France’s VFX industry has experienced strong and sustained growth. Around twenty studios now collaborate regularly on major international productions as well as high-profile French films and series. Among them is The Yard, founded in 2014 by Laurens Ehrmann. The studio’s rapid rise has led it to work increasingly with international partners, including on large-scale Hollywood projects, while remaining deeply involved in ambitious French productions.

The strengths of the French VFX studios rely on the combination of advanced technical tools with highly skilled talent trained at top schools and major international studios. As illustrated by the managing profiles at The Yard, many senior artists have brought their expertise back to France, reinforcing the country’s position on the global VFX map.

This strong talent pool, combined with France’s long-standing expertise in visual effects, makes the country increasingly attractive to foreign productions. The International Tax Rebate (C2I) plays a key role in this dynamic, offering significant fiscal incentives, including a 10% bonus for productions investing more than €2 million in VFX work carried out in France.

Recent films and series involving The Yard VFX are clear examples of this growing international appeal. Indeed, recently contributed to Predator : Badlands, Stranger Things 5, The Family Plan 2, among others.

Where art meets technology

Digital visual effects sit at the crossroads of art and technology, inheriting a legacy that dates back to the cinematic illusions pioneered by Georges Méliès. Today, VFX play a central role in filmmaking, allowing directors to bring impossible worlds and characters to the screen.

Creatures—whether animal, extraterrestrial, robotic, or humanoid—perfectly illustrate the diversity of techniques mastered by VFX studios. They function as full narrative elements rather than simple visual enhancements.

As Laurens Ehrmann explains, creating a creature is a demanding process, requiring extensive planning, resources, and highly specialized skills. Most cinematic creatures are born from a combination of practical effects (make-up, prosthetics, costumes) and digital visual effects, as it was the case with Predator : Badlands.

Large-scale international projects

International productions are placing increasing trust in French studios to deliver the visual effects of their blockbusters. A recent example is The Yard’s work on Predator: Badlands, directed by Dan Trachtenberg, which earned the studio two Genie Awards : Best Visual Effects for a Feature Film and Best Characters & Creatures.

For Predator: Badlands, the studio delivered a five-minute opening sequence in just four months—a major artistic and technical challenge. The sequence involved a fully photorealistic digital environment, the design and animation of three CG creatures, and two digital characters engaged in combat. Thanks to the quality of its previous work and the experience gained, The Yard now enjoys greater creative trust from directors and producers, allowing the studio to be involved right from the concept design stage. The studio has also developed THE YARD ART, its own artistic label dedicated to concept creation, further strengthening its creative identity, notably on the creatures.

French VFX studios are no longer just service providers—they are creative partners shaping some of the most memorable creatures in contemporary cinema. Their blend of artistic vision, technical excellence, and international credibility continues to attract major productions from around the world.

To explore the full interview and gain deeper insight into this expertise, read the complete CNC article here, available in French only.

Find out about our work on ‘Predator : Badlands‘ here.

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