In 1998, Neil E. Pearson started a small consulting business called Sanrope Enterprises. Sanrope developed graphics and visual effects software, and subcontracted to visual effects studios producing TV commercials and packaging.

Within 2 years, Sanrope had not only provided services to major clients including The Cartoon Network, MTV, Sydney University, Alive Travel and The Discovery Channel, it had branched further into short films, music videos and even theatre.

In 2003, Sanrope produced the independent film Superdextrous, making Neil Australia's youngest ever feature-film director. Sanrope also won several awards and commendations for its short film productions and co-productions Human Hybrid, The Day After Yesterday and Anime is Cheaper than Crack, and Alexandra Vaughan's debut single music video, White Oak. Some of these videos are available at Sanrope Videos on YouTube

Throughout these productions, Sanrope performed many roles, from production management to scoring and sound design - but its main concern was with visual effects. It was unfortunate, however, that demand for the services of small business in the visual effects arena was essentially limited to creatively sparse projects such as TV commercials.

In order to harness the unique strengths of its experience and resources in visual effects in a creative and prosperous manner without bowing to the tedium and chaos of the commercial industry, Sanrope would have to focus its efforts elsewhere. It was through this position that Helium Studios was born.

With a heavy focus on visual effects and cinematic styling, Helium have established a new kind of portrait experience, where results are limited only by the imagination.