Visual Effects Companies Cinesite, Image Engine Merge
MUNICH — Leading visual effects companies Cinesite and Image Engine have merged, giving the two entities a combined staff of over 525 VFX and animation staff at their studios in London, Vancouver and Montreal.
Cinesite, which opened its doors in London in 1994, has contributed BAFTA and Academy Award nominated and winning visual effects to films including “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “Iron Man 3,” the Harry Potter series of films, and “The Golden Compass.” It is working on productions including “Now You See Me: The Second Act,” “Ant-Man,” “Spectre,” “The Last Witch Hunter,” “Gods of Egypt,” “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” and “The Revenant.”
Founded in Vancouver in 1995, Image Engine has built a strong reputation for producing high-quality visual effects for film and high-end television. Nominated for an Academy Award for its work on Neill Blomkamp’s “District 9” in 2009, the studio has gone on to work on such high-profile productions as “Elysium,” “Chappie,” “Jurassic World,” “Game of Thrones” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” Forthcoming releases include “Point Break” and “Straight Outta Compton.”
“Cinesite and Image Engine are totally complementary to each other,” stated Antony Hunt, managing director of Cinesite. “We will continue operating in our various geographical locations, and our focus will continue on our different core visual effects strengths. In addition, Cinesite is also leading the charge into feature animation. We’re working on very compelling projects including original IP from our development company, Comic Animations Ltd., and on projects brought to us by the studios. This work can now be shared across all three locations.”
Greg Holmes, Image Engine CEO, added: “In addition to widening our reach to achieve even greater heights in high-end visual effects, this alliance will present new career development opportunities for all our artists and crews and will deliver benefits and opportunities to all our stakeholders, be they staff, customers, suppliers, financial partners or shareholders.”
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