Netflix to boost its animation capabilities with Animal Logic acquisition
Netflix is set to acquire Australian animation studio Animal Logic, with the deal expected to close later this year subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
The acquisition will support Netflix’s upcoming animated film slate, building on films like Over the Moon, Klaus and the recently released The Sea Beast.
The Sydney headquartered animation studio has been producing award-winning design, visual effects and animation for over 30 years, having set up a second studio in Vancouver, Canada in 2015. It has worked on a suite of Hollywood blockbusters, including including Happy Feet, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, The LEGO Movies and Peter Rabbit 1 & 2, alongside a catalogue of visual effects work including The Matrix, Moulin Rouge!, 300, and The Great Gatsby.
Prior to the announcement, Animal Logic and Netflix already had a strong partnership, with a full slate of films across Animal Logic’s Sydney and Vancouver studios including The Magician’s Elephant, directed by Wendy Rogers, and the recently announced The Shrinking of the Treehorns, directed by Ron Howard, for Netflix.
“Netflix has been investing in animation over the past few years and this furthers our commitment to building a world-class animation studio,” said Amy Reinhard, Netflix vice president of studio operations. “Animal Logic is a leading animation studio with innovative technology that will strengthen our existing business and increase our long-term capacity in the animation space, so that we can better entertain our members around the world.”
The two companies will work together to accelerate the buildout of Netflix’s end-to-end animation production capabilities. The Animal Logic and Netflix Animation teams together will create a global creative production team and an animation studio that will produce some of Netflix’s largest animated film titles. Netflix will continue to work with many other studios around the world for animated series and film needs.
Led by CEO and co-founder Zareh Nalbandian, the Animal Logic teams and leadership will remain operating under the Animal Logic brand and will fulfil production of existing and ongoing commitments and continue to collaborate and work with longstanding studio partners.
“After 30 years of producing great work with great people, this is the perfect next chapter for Animal Logic,” said Nalbandian. “Our values and aspirations could not be more aligned with Netflix, in working with diverse content makers, producing innovative and engaging stories for audiences around the world. Our collective experience and talent will open new doors for all our teams and will empower a new level of creativity in animation.”
“The strength of our partnership across a number of projects is testament to our shared creative vision,” said Animal Logic’s COO Sharon Taylor. “Solidifying our future together felt like a mutually beneficial, natural progression and I am so excited to continue to build on our success together.”
Animal Logic Entertainment, the producers behind Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’hoole, Peter Rabbit 1 & 2 and The Shrinking of the Treehorns, will remain independent and continue to collaborate with filmmakers and major studio partners.
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