Imagi Animation Studios (a.k.a. Imagi Studios) was an animation studio established in 2000 by Imagi International Holdings Limited (SEHK:Â 585).
Background
Imagi Animation Studios was set up in 2000, and production starts on its first project, the CG-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 major CG-animated theatrical movie, TMNT was released 23 March 2007 by Warner Bros. in the U.S. 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 CG-animated feature films with superhero themes to entertain global audiences, combining Hollywood storytelling with computer animation done in Hong Kong.
Setbacks
In January 2009 Imagi's auditing firm announced that the studio lacked funding to complete the release of films Cat Tale (which was to have been released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) and Gatchaman, and art director Felix Ip reported that Gatchaman's release was not expected until later in 2009. In June 2009 Imagi opened Gatchaman to licensing partners and announced a 3-D theatrical release for 2011.
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 3D", 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.
On 5 February 2010, Imagi Animation Studios was closed and shut down.
Works
Feature films
- Digital Monster X-Evolution (2005, Japan only) (TV-film)
- TMNT (2007, with Warner Bros. and The Weinstein Company)
- Highlander: The Search for Vengeance (2008, with Madhouse and Manga Entertainment) (OVA)
- Astro Boy (2009, with Summit Entertainment)
Short films
- The RRF in New Recruit (2010)
- Astro Boy vs. The Junkyard Pirates (2010)
TV series
- Zentrix (2002)
- Father of the Pride (with DreamWorks Animation, 2004)
Cancelled films
- Gatchaman (was to be released 2011)
- T28 (was to be released 2012)
- The Legend of Zelda
- Cat Tale
References
External links
- Imagi Website
- Imagi Animation Studios on IMDb
