Omnilab And Oktobor Launch Animation
Studio
July 14, 2010
Source: Omnilab
Omnilab Media and Oktobor,
its award winning visual effects, animation and digital creative
convergence studio, today gave details of their new Auckland-based
Computer Generated (CG) animation studio - Oktobor Animation,
which it has created and launched in conjunction with Backyard
Animated Pictures (USA).
Oktobor GM Bruce Everett said, “Oktobor Animation is
a very significant CG animation business that will initially
be servicing the world famous Nickelodeon Studios. We will
be creating multiple CG animated television series for them
and I’m delighted to say we have already secured a long-term
contract which will see Oktobor Animation have the great fortune
of working on several high profile and highly rated television
series including "The Penguins of Madagascar" based
on the hit DreamWorks animated feature.
Production has already commenced and currently our staff number
30. By mid-next year we expect to have a crew of over 120
artists and technicians. In fact, we anticipate Oktobor Animation
will provide up to 300 jobs over the first four years.”
Oktobor Animation will also provide openings to the growing
number of regional CG artists offering up to fifteen 3-month
paid internships up to four times per year to top graduates
of local NZQA schools and between 120-140 contract jobs at
their Auckland facility.
The significant new CG animation studio is a first for New
Zealand and comes as a result of many months planning and
negotiation with both Nickelodeon and Backyard.
Everett continued, “It has been a long and worthwhile
process bringing Oktobor Animation to life. We began initial
discussions with Backyard and presented our proposal for Oktobor
Animation to Nickelodeon early this year. I must say the Post,
Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) rebate has been a key economic
driver in helping us bring this business into the Auckland
area. We have received invaluable assistance from the Ministry
of Economic Development, as well as input from New Zealand
Film Commission and Film New Zealand in order to make this
business opportunity viable.”
Formed in 2001, Oktobor is a world-class visual effects and
animation studio based in Auckland. Oktobor has a global reputation
for providing high-end visual effects for television commercials
and feature films, interactive and entertainment productions
and also offers a comprehensive range of visual effects production
services from animation to full colour grade and interactive
media. Oktobor’s global client list includes, among others,
Kraft Malaysia, McDonald’s, Vodafone, M1, Tiger Beer,
Lexus, Sony and Singapore Airlines.
Formed in California in 1997 as a CG studio, Backyard has
provided narrative content and services for clients including
20th Century Fox, EMI, Classic Media, and CCI and interactive
content for some of the largest publishers in the world such
as Electronic Arts and Activision.
The previous management of Backyard is now working at Oktobor
Animation with Chris Waters, Rob DiFiglia, Jason Adams and
Dan Wang bringing their high-end animation pipeline and production
expertise to the new venture.
Bruce Everett added, “Over the next three years Oktobor
Animation will become an international hub for Nickelodeon’s
rising number of CG productions giving Auckland a major international
presence in the growing longform CG animation industry. Oktobor
Animation will develop our existing technology-driven artist-efficient
CG pipeline and a passionate commitment to regional talent
development to provide the highest quality productions possible
for a global audience. Oktobor Animation will also create
a much-needed identity for the growing pool of CG artists
in the Auckland region.”
Oktobor’s parent company Omnilab Media, Australia and
New Zealand’s largest, privately owned, vertically integrated
content development and media service business, is the driving
force behind such ventures as Dr. D - the innovative new digital
film-making studio with Dr. George Miller and KMM, which is
working on Happy Feet 2 and Mad Max 4. Omnilab Media have
also produced and co-financed recent blockbuster movies including
The Bank Job, W and the twice Oscar nominated The Messenger.
Omnilab Media are currently in post production with John Marsden’s
Tomorrow When the War Began and production on The Killer Elite
starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro.
Omnilab Media Managing Director Christopher Mapp said, “We
are very proud of the launch of this exciting new CG animation
studio in New Zealand. Oktobor Animation is inspired by the
success of WETA whose success is owed in part to the strong
commitment made by the New Zealand government to incentivise
international producers to bring their films to the region.
We believe there is a substantial opportunity to extend this
success to the television VFX and animation arena by establishing
Auckland as the viable and competitive production hub for
longform CG animation. Hence our significant financial commitment
in Oktobor Animation. We also have a strong belief in the
New Zealand market as a whole and will continue to invest
in more and projects as this vibrant market continues to develop.”
Bruce Everett concluded, “As we continue to attract the
growing number of long-form CG-productions to Auckland, the
local talent pool will mature into a solid artist community
through rewarding production experience designed to see them
succeed in helping create high-profile programmes.
" Oktobor Animation is able to provide quality services
to clients and partners in the animation industry as well
as offering compelling pricing in the competitive global arena.
As more and more broadcast animated content transitions from
traditional hand-drawn 2D production, which has a long established
40 year history in South Korea and other parts of Asia, to
CG animation, Oktobor Animation will build on the reputation
New Zealand has created through unparalleled feature VFX into
longform CG animation. We are already well into our first
three CG productions for Nickelodeon and I’m delighted
to say, we are in advanced discussions on many others from
interested studio and production partners around the world.”
Oktobor Animation was launched in June 2010. Its official
‘red ribbon’ opening, which will include leading
New Zealand industry figures and senior executives from Nickelodeon
and Omnilab Media, is scheduled for early November 2010.
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