Making waves in the world of premium animation, Assemblage Entertainment marked its tenth anniversary in December 2023. Sitting in the heart of Mumbai, this animation powerhouse has a list of impressive achievements under its belt.
The brainchild of AK Madhavan (fondly known as Madmax), a trailblazer for CGI animation in India, Assemblage has been flourishing under the leadership of Arjun Madhavan. Arjun, a Forbes 30 Under 30 awardee and a former investment banker has helped position the studio as India’s leading light in 3D animation and visual effects.
The Assemblage team is spread across the world including major Indian cities like Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Recently, they have opened the doors of their Bengaluru studio.
Talking about their Bengaluru expansion aligning with the company’s long-term goals and vision, Arjun said, “Our choice to spread our wings to Bengaluru was inspired by the city’s vibrant artistic scene and wealth of skilled individuals. This well-thought-out leap matches Assemblage’s thirst for growth and curiosity, allowing us to tap into the varied possibilities the city has to offer. The move to this city fits like a glove with our future plans, encouraging imagination and harnessing the power of diversity to venture into unexplored territories and partnerships.”
Milestones reached in 10 years
The studio has produced five full-length theatrical animated features over the years which have been released in North America as wide releases in over 3000+ screens, and long-form TV/episodic content with major streamers including Netflix, Apple, Amazon, HBO Max, Disney+, Peacock and others.
As a TPN Certified Company, Assemblage has been a leader in technology. The studio was also applauded by Google CEO Sundar Pichai for being the front-runner in using cloud rendering technology. Making a splash in late 2022, Assemblage entered into a partnership with Cinesite (headquartered in London). As a result of the deal, Cinesite acquired a majority stake, marking its foray in Asia and expansion of its Asian footprint. This deal further cemented Assemblage’s standing as a major player in the global animation field.
They had also ventured into VFX space by working on the directorial debut of actor R Madhavan’s Rocketry: The Nambi Effect.
Projects plans ahead
Assemblage is actively planning to diversify its portfolio by venturing into new and exciting domains. Specifically, it is set to explore opportunities in 2D animation and gaming. Aiming to bring some more magic to the world of 2D animation, they plan to take storytelling in this vibrant and reborn field of animation to a whole new level using their tech-savvy skills.
“These expansions align with our vision to stay at the forefront of industry trends, continuously innovate, and provide unique and engaging experiences to our audience. Simultaneously, we’re delving into game engines like Unreal, crafting hybrid formats and pioneering workflows,” Arjun signed off.
