Animation & VFX Studio Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages an animation & vfx studio business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for animation, VFX, motion graphics, and virtual production studios. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual services and clients.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media / IP Liability | Covers copyright, trademark, and idea-theft claims over your work. | Core | |
| Technology / Professional E&O | Covers missed deadlines, defective deliverables, and client financial loss. | Core | |
| Cyber Liability | Covers ransomware, leaks of unreleased content, and data breaches. | Core | |
| Business Property / Computer Equipment | Covers workstations, render farms, and storage. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability | Covers artists, including repetitive strain. | Core | |
| Valuable Papers / Media & Data Restoration | Covers the cost to recreate lost project files. | Prevalent | |
| Business Income / Extra Expense | Replaces income and pays to rent render capacity after a loss. | Prevalent | |
| Employment Practices Liability | Covers wage, layoff, and misclassification claims. | Prevalent | |
| General Liability | Covers studio premises and on-set work. | Core | |
| Directors & Officers | Covers owners in investor and lender disputes. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by animation and VFX studios is the client's content. Studios hold unreleased footage and assets worth far more than their own equipment, and a leak or ransomware attack can trigger both a cyber claim and an E&O claim for missed delivery. Property policies also don't pay to recreate lost project files. Carry cyber and E&O together, add media and data restoration coverage, and back up project files offsite every day.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your animation & vfx studio coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Animation & VFX Studio Insurance · Animation & VFX Studio Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does an animation & vfx studio business need?
The core coverages for an animation & vfx studio business are Media / IP Liability, Technology / Professional E&O, Cyber Liability, Business Property / Computer Equipment, Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability, General Liability. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my animation & vfx studio coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.