Although our video game industry seems to be taking a hit of late (see recent Ubisoft closure), the entertainment CGI animation industry in Vancouver continues to grow. Today Sony Pictures Imageworks (located in Yaletown) announced that it is going to double its presence in Vancouver by early spring. The success of the original The Smurfs (animation was largely done at Sony’s Vancouver facility) has played a significant role in the decision to double its FX and CGI animation production presence in Vancouver.
Sony Pictures Imageworks stated on Friday that it will open in March another 16,000 square foot facility in downtown Vancouver to handle work on Men in Black 3, The Amazing Spider Man and Sony Pictures Animation’s Hotel Transylvania.
Imageworks opened its first studio facility in Vancouver in 2010 as an off-shore extension of the Culver Studio studio.
“Imageworks growing presence builds on the Vancouver studio’s experience with ‘The Smurfs’ production for Sony Pictures Animation and the successful integration of the Canadian team with Imageworks’ Culver City workforce and infrastructure. The new office effectively doubles the floor space. The two Vancouver locations, two blocks apart, are fully connected to Imageworks’ Culver City data center. Imageworks Canada will occupy a total of 32,000 square feet of office space when the new location comes online in March…”
“Vancouver today is a vibrant digital production center that offers a strong talent base and significant government incentives vital to our ability to deliver exceptional quality and value to our clients,” said Randy Lake, executive vice-president and general manager of Sony Pictures Imageworks.
This is welcome news to the local tech industry and great boost for Vancouver.
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