Cinesite, the visual effects and animation studio, has opened a new animation studio Cinesite Animation in Montreal. The company studio has also unveiled a slate of nine animated feature films that will go into production over the next five years.
The studio has previously worked on the Harry Potter series, Iron Man 3 and Skyfall in terms of visual effects. While on the animation front, the first project among the films lined up will be Klaus, written and directed by Sergio Pablos, co-creator of Despicable Me.
The feature animation arm of Cinesite, Comic Animations, is teaming up with SPA Studios and Atresmedia Cine to co-produce the holiday season film Klaus at the new studio.
The studio has been working since with 3QU Media to develop its feature animation pipeline on a slate of films. Out of which the first film, Charming, is probably due out this year.
The nine feature films are in association with Investissement Québec and will thus pose the image of Cinesite Animation as both a service and production company. Investissement Quebec on behalf of the Government of Quebec is advancing a loan of $2.4 million to support creation of the infrastructure needed for feature animation production.
Cinesite, head of animation, Eamonn Butler said, “Drawing on the sophisticated techniques developed over the last 20 years in the visual effects industry, we wanted to build a new creative home for the world’s best storytellers, writers, directors and animators.”