The Studio
ASC is an award-winning Design, VFX, and Game studio with a ubiquitous reputation for wowing audiences. Combining decades’ worth of experience with world class talent and visionary instincts, ASC set the industry standard and remains your one-stop-shop destination for Film, Television, Advertising, and Gaming. Cemented at the forefront of technical and creative innovation, we pride ourselves on the meaningful and long-lasting relationships we cultivate with our clients as we execute their vision from inception into stunning reality. From big-budget studio ventures to independent passion projects and everything in between, our design-first approach to character and world-building can give even the smallest idea a larger-than-life onscreen debut!
CONCEPT DESIGN
Credited with bringing to life some of the most iconic characters, creatures and worlds in entertainment, ASC is equipped to tackle any project’s design needs – from Hero Assets & Environments to Key Scenes, Props and FX.
VIDEO GAME DEVELOPMENT
Whether defining an artistic direction, crafting high-fidelity, playable assets, or building an entire vertical slice, ASC’s comprehensive pipeline guides game projects of all sizes from initial design through final delivery.
REALTIME VISUAL EFFECTS
From fictional characters and creatures to fully digital humans, ASC’s multifaceted proficiencies in Unreal Engine and other systems feature the latest-and-greatest of realtime technology, resulting in the highest quality visual realism for your project.
Filmography
ASC’s influence on global entertainment is reflected in a striking catalogue of high-profile projects and award-winning titles. With an international presence spanning multiple continents and languages, ASC’s hand has touched many a notable blockbuster and franchise property on its way to thrill viewers around the world.
Over 30 years’ experience working with some of the biggest names in the biz has fostered invaluable connections with studios, filmmakers, and creatives of all kinds. Stranger Things, Wonder Woman, Planet of the Apes Trilogy… we invite you to explore our filmography in more depth and discover the full breadth of our industry footprint.
The Backstory…
Founder and CEO, Aaron Sims, began his legendary career over three decades ago as a special effects artist working under industry giants Rick Baker and Stan Winston. As a critical voice in the making of some of the most memorable and iconic movie creatures of all time, his pioneering techniques in the world of visual effects helped influence the face of character and concept design for film and television early on in their application. From the early days of prosthetics and simple puppets in the 80’s, through the animatronics and emerging CG of the 90’s, to the latest advancements in VR and realtime VFX, Sims continues to inspire and propel the industry forward. In 2005, Aaron Sims Creative was formed with the sole purpose of bringing together the world’s most talented concept and visual effects artists to create and give life to unforgettable characters, creatures, and environments for all platforms of visual entertainment. Aaron’s unparalleled skill and dedication to creating consistently stunning content has made ASC the premier boutique studio for creature and franchise design & development.
“Aaron Sims moves out to LA to begin his career as a special effects makeup artist.”
“Sims begins working with legendary, Academy Award winning Rick Baker, with whom he will collaborate for the next 12 years.”
“Sims serves as Lead SFX artist on some of the most popular, defining movies of the 90’s: Gremlins 2, Batman Forever, Mighty Joe Young, Nutty Professor, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Men In Black.”
“Sims begins working for Academy Award winner Stan Winston, embracing advanced computers and cutting-edge software.”
“Sims introduces his visionary design process to Steven Spielberg, becoming Lead Character Designer for Artificial Intelligence: A.I.”
“Sims cofounds Stan Winston Digital and leads the studio as Art Director.”
“Sims art directs for Constantine, Fantastic Four, Terminator 3, War of the Worlds, Big Fish…”
“Sims founds his own company, Aaron Sims Creative.”
“Sims continues to work on this generation’s most defining properties: Stranger Things, Planet of the Apes, Wonder Woman, etc.”
“Sims embraces Unreal Engine as the next great innovation in storytelling.”
“THE EYE: CALANTHEK world premieres in Fortnite.”
What our clients say…
"Aaron Sims Creative is a powerhouse of talent. Their skilled and collaborative art direction means they really listen to our needs and then find creative solutions that are better than we imagined. They have brought incredible artists to the table and done gorgeous art, and they’re a real pleasure to work with."
- John Scott Tynes (Creative Lead, Wizards of the Coast)
“Aaron Sims and his team have been incredible early collaborators on our projects. Whether it’s designing characters, environments, wardrobe, or props, the artists at ASC have a scary ability to exceed my highest expectations. The creative passion and professionalism they bring has been pivotal in giving us confidence and inspiration as move forward. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with them.”
- Wes Ball (Maze Runner)
“I always depend heavily on Aaron and the great stable of artists he works with for everything from concept to final art in my films. The variety of skills he has warehoused into one place is a godsend and I always find they are willing to jump on board and aim for the sky.”
- Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman, Monster)
“With full confidence I can say that Aaron Sims Creative is one of the most experienced, diligent, invested, and humane teams that I got to work with. From the moment of inception, everyone showcased a high level of understanding of the title’s vision and its future needs.”
- Robert Matuszak (Art Producer, Wargaming)
Press and Interviews
TIME: Inside Epic’s Unreal Engine 5 – and What It Means for the Future of Gaming, Movies, and the Metaverse
EPIC: Unreal Engine 5 Release | The State of Unreal 2022 Keynote Presentation
IAMAG: Storytelling in Unreal with Aaron Sims, Presented by Allan McKay, “Creating THE EYE: CALANTHEK”
Gnomon Livestream: Storytelling in Unreal with Aaron Sims Creative
Unreal Article: THE EYE: CALANTHEK explores realtime filmmaking in Unreal Engine 5 Early Access
Before&Afters: How Aaron Sims Creative made ‘The Eye: Calanthek’ in UE5 in six weeks
VFX Voice: Deep-Diving Into Realtime Can Offer A Content Creator Instant Benefits
Unreal: Aaron Sims Creative Stress Tests UE5 Early Access Animation Tools | Spotlight | Unreal Engine
Visual Effects Society Panel: Navigating the Changing Landscape of Virtual Production