Australia’s Animal Logic expands its award-winning animation studio into Vancouver, Canada

Award winning Australian visual effects and animation studio Animal Logic has announced that it is expanding its long established animation production relationship with Warner Bros. Pictures (Happy Feet, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, The LEGO Movie), signing a three picture deal that will see the Sydney based company set up a second animation studio in Vancouver, Canada.

The newly established Animal Logic Vancouver is expected to open its doors in September of this year.  It will initially be launched as an exclusive partnership to produce three animated features, the first of which will be none other than The LEGO Movie Sequel, with a view to producing subsequent projects in an ongoing collaboration with Warner Bros. Pictures.

Says Zareh Nalbandian (pictured), CEO and co-founder of Animal Logic: “For the past 15 years we have had a truly collaborative and highly successful relationship with our friends at Warner Bros., and we are excited to be taking our collaboration to the next level on the production of a terrific slate of films in Vancouver.”

Says Chris deFaria, president, animation, digital production and visual effects, Warner Bros. Pictures: “Animal Logic has helped bring some of our most popular animated titles to life, and we’re excited to be working even closer with them via this new venture. Their expertise and excellence are recognized industry-wide, and we know they’ll continue to bring their magic to our films.”

Animal Logic reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to its visual effects and animation businesses in Australia, supporting approximately 500 jobs across its operations. The Sydney studio will continue in production on the recently announced animated features LEGO Batman and Ninjago (due for release in 2017) and another unnamed animated feature which is scheduled to follow. The Australian studio has recently completed visual effects on Insurgent, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Chen Kaige’s Monk Comes Down the Mountain.

Says Nalbandian: “We remain committed to the Australian creative industries, and to continuing to produce great work in animation and visual effects. Our Sydney studio continues its focus on the current projects in production, as well as ongoing development of our growing slate of films being developed by Animal Logic Entertainment.”

Independent Australian company Animal Logic was named the 2014 inaugural NSW Creative Laureate. Nalbandian was awarded the 2014 Ambassador for NSW Creative Industries award, in recognition of his continued drive to promote NSW and Australia as a global creative centre. The company was also awarded the Premier’s Exporter of the Year Award as well as winning within the Creative Industries category at the 51st Australian Export Awards recognizing the company’s contribution as an exporter for the creative industries in Australia.

Production on The LEGO Movie Sequel will commence in Vancouver from January 2016.