Imagi Animation Studios

Imagi Animation Studios, also known as Imagi Studios, was a Chinese 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.

Imagi Animation Studios Limited
TypePublic SEHK
IndustryCGI animation
Founded2000 (2000)
Defunct5 February 2010 (2010-02-05)
FateAcquired and merged with Blockade Entertainment
SuccessorBlockade Entertainment
HeadquartersChai Wan, Hong Kong
Key people
  • President & Co-CEO: Francis Kao
  • Chairman: Francis Leung Pak To
  • Executive Director & Co-CEO: Soh Szu Wei
OwnerImagi International Holdings Limited
Number of employees
400 in Hong Kong[1]
ParentBrad Foxhoven (2010)
Websitehttp://www.imagi.com.hk/

Background

In 2000, Imagi Animation Studios was set up and production starts 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 and 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 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 and was sold to Brad Foxhoven.[8][9][10] The sale was completed in May 2010.

Works

Theatrical feature films
# Title Release date(s) Distributor/Co-production with
1 TMNT March 23, 2007Warner Bros.
The Weinstein Company
2 Astro Boy October 8, 2009Summit Entertainment

Television/Direct-to-video films
# Title Release date(s) Distributor/Co-production with Note(s)
1 Digital Monster X-Evolution January 3, 2005Toei Animation
Toei Company		Television film
2 Highlander: The Search for Vengeance June 5, 2007Madhouse
Manga Entertainment		OVA

Short films
# Title Release date Associated Feature Film
1 The RRF in New Recruit 2010Astro Boy
2 Astro Boy vs. The Junkyard Pirates

TV series
# Title Release date(s) Distributor/Co-production with
1 Zentrix 2002–2003Bandai Entertainment
2 Father of the Pride 2004–2005DreamWorks Animation
NBCUniversal Television Distribution

Cancelled films
# Title Planned
release date
1 Gatchaman[11] 2011
2 T28[12] 2012
3 The Legend of Zelda[13] N/A
4 Cat Tale 2013
5 Tusker [14] N/A

References
  1. Ho, Pui Yan (16 March 2009). 意馬新動畫《阿童木》決定400港產創意壯士前路. MoneyMonday (in Japanese). Hong Kong: Ming Pao. p. B3.
  2. Cat Tale at Animation Magazine
  3. It closed its doors as Imagi to assume another company name as to avoid any unclaimed debts to investors and staff. "Astro Boy maintenu, Gatchaman sur la corde raide" (in French). Otakia. 9 January 2009. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
  4. Tribbey, Chris (3 June 2009). "Imagi Seeks Licensing Deals for 'Gatchaman'". Home Media Magazine. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  5. "Imagi Animation Studio Closes Los Angeles Office". Anime News Network. 27 January 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
  6. McLean, Thomas J. (29 January 2010). "Imagi Closes L.A. Studio". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  7. Gediminas, J. (26 January 2010). "Imagi International Holdings Ltd (OTCBB: IINHY) Still In Talks To Raise Capital". HotStocked.com. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  8. "意馬數百員工面臨遣散" (in Chinese). Sina.com. 6 February 2010. Archived from the original on 11 February 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. "Imagi Animation liquidator cut of more than 300 people" (in Chinese). Oriental Daily. 6 February 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  10. "HK studio behind 'TMNT,' 'Astro Boy' shuts down (AP)". Yahoo. Associated Press. 9 February 2010. Archived from the original on 14 February 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  11. "Gunpla Builders, CG Gatchaman Promo Videos Streamed". Anime News Network. 15 July 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  12. "Imagi Launches Testujin 28 site with CG Test Trailer". Anime News Network. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  13. Vejvoda, Jim (4 August 2013). "Footage From the Unproduced Legend of Zelda CG-Animated Movie". IGN. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  14. "Imagi revives 'Tusker' tale". 10 August 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
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