Before it was Adobe, it was CoSA. This is the VFX history of Adobe After Effects. The industry-standard motion graphics and visual effects software started life in a small Rhode Island office in 1993. The early days of the Company of Science and Art (CoSA) were anything but easy, but their chaotic journey led to a digital filmmaking tool that changed Hollywood.
In this deep dive, I explore the 1990s television landscape and the conditions that had the industry was eager for change. To tell this story right, I got to speak to the true pioneers of motion design:
- Brian Maffitt (the creator of the first-ever AE video tutorials)
- Chris and Trish Meyer (original beta-testers and authors of the legendary Creating Motion Graphics books)
Watch as I dust off a Mac 1994 emulator to try out After Effects v1.0, joined by two titans of modern YouTube tutorials:
- @SternFX
Finally, I investigate one of the biggest myths in movie VFX history: Was After Effects actually used to create the famous Nedry’s "Elvis King Virus" screen animation in Jurassic Park (1993)? This would make the movie the first use of After Effects on film. (I did learn from Trish Meyer that the first, direct use of After Effects on film was for the opening titles for the movie S.F.W. (1994).)
Bibliography
Books and Print Media
Shay, D. and Duncan, J. (1993) The Making of Jurassic Park. Boxtree. Duncan, J. (1993)
'The Making of Jurassic Park', Cinefex, (55), pp. Meyer, C. and Meyer, T. (2000)
Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects. CMP Books. [Includes an Afterword by D. Simons].
Films and Documentaries
Jurassic Park (1993) Directed by Steven Spielberg [Film]. USA: Universal Pictures.
Making the Dinosaurs (1993) [Documentary]. USA: Universal Studios Home Video.
Light & Magic (2022) Directed by Lawrence Kasdan [Television Series]. Disney+.
Websites and digital archives
Company of Science and Art (n.d.) CoSA Home Page. Available at: https://cosa.com/ (Accessed: 1 June 2026).
SlashCAM (2013) After Effects 1 demo reel (1993). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4Zb-Qz68Ek (Accessed: 1 June 2026).
Silicon Graphics (2012) 1990 - Silicon Graphics Powervision Show. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOp_OxNdAoU (Accessed: 1 June 2026).
Silicon Graphics (2013) Sgi Demo tape from 1990ish. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3HgbQPTj_k (Accessed: 1 June 2026).
Total Training (2021) Adobe After Effects with Brian Maffitt 1997 Comprehensive Training. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPBIOf5hEdk (Accessed: 1 June 2026).
Microsoft Corporation (2021) Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 97 presentation (Windows, 1996). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSaTf_NTq0o (Accessed: 1 June 2026).
The Kyoobur Company (2022) Evolution Of QuickTime Sample Videos 1991-Present. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neGdpOOHR0M (Accessed: 1 June 2026).
VFX Tutor (2015) VFX Core Skills - Part 17 - Compositing - Nuke Slap Comp and Distortion Workflow. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iFNwvU9_XI (Accessed: 1 June 2026).
Leno, J. and Gates, B. (2023) Microsoft Windows 95 Launch with Bill Gates & Jay Leno (1995). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JzfROUDsK0 (Accessed: 1 June 2026).
Oscars (2019) 2019 Sci-Tech Awards: David Simons, Daniel Wilk, James Acquavella, Michael Natkin, David M. Cotter. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvE--8ZwbcI (Accessed: 1 June 2026).
TR3X PR0DÚCTÍ0NS (2019) NBC Logo History. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XMntKQwzh0 (Accessed: 1 June 2026).
Kirky A (2026) Apple Macintosh LC Advert British TV December 1990 Available at: hhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3F-jnBUxiA (Accessed: 1 June 2026).
