Imagi Animation Studios
Animation studio in Hong Kong
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Imagi Animation Studios, also known as Imagi Studios, was a computer animation and visual effects studio based in Hong Kong, and established in 2000 by Imagi International Holdings Limited (SEHK: 585), a Hong Kong–based investment company.
| |
| Company type | Public SEHK |
|---|---|
| Industry | CGI animation |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Defunct | 5 February 2010 |
| Fate | Bankruptcy |
| Headquarters | Chai Wan, Hong Kong |
Key people |
|
| Owner | Imagi International Holdings Limited |
Number of employees | 400 in Hong Kong[1] |
| Website | www |
Background
In 2000, Imagi Animation Studios was set up and production started on its first project, the CGI-animated television series Zentrix. The company had a studio in Chai Wan, Hong Kong, as well as a creative development and production facility in Los Angeles, California and a satellite office in Tokyo.
The company's first CGI-animated theatrical film TMNT was released on March 23, 2007, by Warner Bros. in the United States and Canada, opening No. 1 at the box office, and was being distributed internationally by the Weinstein Company. Imagi's focus was to create high-quality CGI-animated feature films with superhero themes to entertain global audiences, combining Hollywood storytelling with computer animation done in Hong Kong.
Setbacks and bankruptcy
In January 2009, Imagi's auditing firm announced that the studio lacked funding to complete the release of Cat Tale (which was to have been released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer[2]) and Gatchaman. Art director Felix Ip reported that Gatchaman's release was not expected until later in 2009.[3] In June 2009, Imagi opened Gatchaman to licensing partners and announced a 3-D theatrical release for 2011.[4] In October 2009, Imagi released Astro Boy, based on the manga series of the same name. The film received generally mixed reviews from film critics and was a box-office bomb, losing the company $23 million in the process.
In January 2010, Imagi's Hong Kong–based parent company Imagi International Holdings Limited announced that the Gatchaman project will be "delivered in 100% Stereoscopic 3-D" and that in order to safeguard working capital, it closed its United States subsidiaries. This closure was finalized in late January with the layoff of approximately 30 staffers and the retaining of a few key personnel who will continue to work as consultants as Imagi seeks $30 million from investors to continue its animation projects.[5][6][7]
On February 5, 2010, following the financial failure of Astro Boy, Imagi Animation Studios filed for bankruptcy.[8][9][10]
Works
Theatrical feature films
| # | Title | Release date(s) | Distributor/Co-production with |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TMNT | March 23, 2007 | Warner Bros. The Weinstein Company |
| 2 | Astro Boy | October 8, 2009 | Summit Entertainment |
Television/Direct-to-video films
| # | Title | Release date(s) | Distributor/Co-production with | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Digital Monster X-Evolution | January 3, 2005 | Toei Animation Toei Company | Television film |
| 2 | Highlander: The Search for Vengeance | June 5, 2007 | Madhouse Manga Entertainment | OVA |
Short films
| # | Title | Release date | Associated Feature Film |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The RRF in New Recruit | 2010 | Astro Boy |
| 2 | Astro Boy vs. The Junkyard Pirates | ||
TV series
| # | Title | Release date(s) | Distributor/Co-production with |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zentrix | 2002 | Bandai Entertainment |
| 2 | Father of the Pride | 2004–2005 | DreamWorks Animation NBCUniversal Syndication Studios |