Company:Reel FX Animation
 Logo used as of 2020 | |
| Formerly | Reel Magic (1993–95) Reel FX Creative Studios (1995–2020) Reel FX Animation Studios (2020–2023) |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Industry | Animated feature films Television series |
| Predecessor | DNA Productions |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | 717 North Harwood Street Floor 27, Dallas, Texas , |
Number of locations | 1575 N. Gower St Suite 380 Hollywood, California, United States 1751 Richardson St Suite 5400 Montreal, Quebec |
Key people | Steve O'Brien (CEO, Chairman) Donna Henry (President) Chuck Peil (EVP/Partnerships) David Parrish (SVP/Animation) Joanna Ferguson (SVP, Feature Production) Emmanuel Laurent (SVP, Real-Time Production) Lucas Koppel (Director, Development) |
Number of employees | 350 (2013)[1] |
| Divisions | Reel FX Animation Reel FX Originals ATKPLN Flight School Studio |
| Website | www |
Reel FX Animation (Reel FX), formerly known as Reel FX Creative Studios, is an American Visual effects and computer animation studio with studios in Dallas, Texas , Hollywood, California , and Montreal , Quebec.
The studio primarily produces animated features, short films, and television series. Among them is the studio's first original animated feature film, Free Birds, released in 2013. A year later, The Book of Life was released. The film received several nominations, including Best Animated Feature Nominations from the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, Producers Guild Awards and Annie Awards.[2] In 2020, Reel FX Animation teamed up with Warner Animation Group on Scoob!. In addition, the studio released Rumble, a co-production with Paramount Animation and Back to the Outback with Netflix Animation, both in 2021. Most recently, Reel FX teamed up again with Netflix Animation to create The Monkey King in 2023.
The studio’s upcoming slate of films includes The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants with Paramount Animation and a film titled Diya with Good Karma Productions.
History
Reel FX Animation was founded in 1993 as Reel Magic in Fort Worth, Texas. The studio was the sixth to purchase an Autodesk Flame system. In 1995, the company moved to Dallas and changed its name to Reel FX Creative Studios. Reel FX purchased West End Post, and in 1999, moved to the White Swan building in the West End. In 2005, the studio moved their headquarters east a couple of miles to Deep Ellum. The company opened a second location in Pasadena, California, and in 2008 merged with VFX-studio Radium and opened a studio in Santa Monica.
In 2017, Reel FX opened its first studio outside the United States in Montreal Canada. The studio would eventually add artists in Toronto and Vancouver as well.
Films and releases
In 1999, the studio produced its first short film, The Man In The Moon. Based on William Joyce’s Guardians of Childhood and co-directed by Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg. The short film became the first Reel FX Original (now called Inventions), and in 2007, was optioned to Dreamworks Animation where it ultimately became Rise of the Guardians, directed by Peter Ramsey. In October 2012, The Hollywood Reporter revealed Reel FX's connection to the 2012 feature film.[3][4]
In December 2010, Reel FX produced an untitled 3D film with producer Andrew Adamson and Cirque du Soleil.[5] In January 2012, Paramount Pictures announced that it had acquired worldwide rights to the film, now titled Worlds Away directed by Adamson and executive-produced by James Cameron.[6]
First called Turkeys,[7] and opened in 2013 under Free Birds, the film was directed by Jimmy Hayward and starred Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, and Amy Poehler. Its release landed Reel FX’s CEO Steve O’Brien the front page of D CEO Magazine in their May-June edition of that year.[8]
Following the release of The Book of Life, Reel FX assisted on Rock Dog (Summit Entertainment, Huayi Brothers) and UglyDolls (STX Entertainment) while developing its next feature. Released in 2021, Rumble is based on Rob Harrell’s graphic novel Monster on the Hill and adapted for the screen by Matt Lieberman and Etan Cohen. In 2022, Reel FX released the original series Super Giant Robot Brothers!, with Netflix Animation. Directed by Mark Andrews (Brave), the episodic series was created using a custom-built real-time production pipeline with Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, the first animated series to be rendered entirely in a video game engine.[9][10]
Filmography
Feature films
As production company
| Title | Release date | Co-production with | Distributor | Directors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Birds | 2013 | Relativity Media | Relativity Media | Jimmy Hayward |
| The Book of Life | 2014 | 20th Century Fox Animation Chatrone[11] |
20th Century Fox | Jorge R. Gutierrez |
| Rumble | 2021 | Paramount Animation WWE Studios Walden Media New Republic Pictures |
Paramount+ | Hamish Grieve |
Animation services/visual effects
| Title | Release date | Production companies | Distributor | Directors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams | 2002 | Troublemaker Studios | Dimension Films | Robert Rodriguez |
| The Wild | 2006 | Walt Disney Pictures Hoytyboy Pictures Sir Zip Productions Contrafilm |
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution | Steve Williams |
| Everyone's Hero | 2006 | IDT Entertainment | 20th Century Fox | Christopher Reeve Colin Brady Daniel St. Pierre |
| Open Season 2 | 2009 | Sony Pictures Animation | Sony Pictures Home Entertainment | Matthew O'Callaghan Todd Wilderman |
| Open Season 3 | 2011 | Cody Cameron | ||
| Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away | 2012 | Cirque du Soleil Strange Weather Films Cameron Pace Group |
Paramount Pictures | Andrew Adamson |
| Rock Dog | 2017 | Huayi Brothers | Summit Entertainment | Ash Brannon |
| UglyDolls | 2019 | STX Family Alibaba Pictures Troublemaker Studios Original Force |
STX Entertainment | Kelly Asbury |
| Scoob! | May 15, 2020[12][13] | Warner Bros. Pictures Warner Animation Group[12] |
Warner Bros. Pictures | Tony Cervone |
| Back to the Outback | December 10, 2021[14] | Netflix Animation Weed Road Pictures[15] |
Netflix | Clare Knight Harry Cripps |
| The Monkey King | 2023 | Netflix Animation Pearl Studio Star Overseas Tangent Animation[16] |
Anthony Stacchi | |
| 2025[17][18] | Paramount Animation Nickelodeon Movies United Plankton Pictures |
Paramount Pictures | Derek Drymon | |
| Diya | TBA | Good Karma Productions[19] | TBA | Nitya Mehra |
Television
Series
As production company
| Title | Years | Co-production with | Network | Creator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Giant Robot Brothers[20] | 2022 | Netflix Animation Assemblage Entertainment |
Netflix | Víctor Maldonado Alfredo Torres |
| Lulu and the Help You Crew | TBA | Cake Entertainment[21] | TBA | Annie Mumolo |
Animation services
| Title | Years | Co-production with | Network | Creator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Activity (season 4)[22] | 2021 | Funny or Die Gary Sanchez Productions Jungle Entertainment Flight School Studio CBS Studios |
Paramount+ | Trent O'Donnell |
Specials
- Jonah Sing-Along Songs and More! (2002; with Big Idea Productions)
- Halloweentown High (2004)
- Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (2011; with 20th Century Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios)
Short films
- The Man in the Moon (1999)[23]
- Aunt Fanny's Tour of Booty (2005; co-animated with Blue Sky Studios)[24][25]
- Secrets of the Furious Five (2008; with DreamWorks Animation and Film Roman)
- Live Music (2009) (co-produced with Mass Animation)
- Looney Tunes: (with Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Animation)
- Pacific Rim: Jaeger Pilot (2014)
- The Adventures of Chuy (2015) (co-production with 20th Century Fox Animation)
- Son of Jaguar (2016)
- Best Fiends:
- Best Fiends: Boot Camp (2017)[30]
- Best Fiends: Visit Minutia (2017)[31]
- Best Fiends: Fort of Hard Knocks (2018)[32]
- Best Fiends: Baby Slug's Big Day Out (2018)[33]
- Best Fiends: Howie's Gift (2019)[34]
- Best Fiends: Temper's Adventure (2019)[35]
- Best Fiends: The Immortal Cockroach (2019)[36]
- Best Fiends: The Fight Before Christmas (2019)[37]
- Best Fiends: King Slug Industries (2020)[38]
- La Calesita (2022)
Theme park attractions
- The Simpsons Ride (2008; co-animated with Blur Studio)
- Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem (2012)[39]
Direct-to-video
- Barney Home Video (1996–2000) (special effects)
- G.I. Joe: Spy Troops (2003)
- G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom (2004)
- Action Man: X Missions – The Movie (2005)
- Boz: Colors and Shapes (2006)
- Boz: Adventures in Imagination (2006)
- The Three Wise Men (formerly The Very First Noel) (2006)
- Thank You God for B-O-Zs and 1-2-3s! (2007)
- Start Singing with Boz (2008)
- Tales of the Black Freighter (2009)
Production logos
- Relativity Media (2013)
- Warner Animation Group (2016, 2017, 2018, 2020; co-produced with DevaStudios)
- Paramount Animation (2019; co-produced with ATK PLN)[40]
References
- ↑ Mallory, Michael (October 12, 2013). "Get Ready for a Real Turkey Feast!". Animation Magazine. https://www.animationmagazine.net/features/get-ready-real-turkey-feast/.
- ↑ "Book of Life from Dallas Scores Golden Globe Nomination". Dallas Morning News. December 11, 2014. http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2014/12/book-of-life-from-dallas-reel-fx-scores-golden-globe-nomination.html/.
- ↑ McCarthy, Todd (October 11, 2012). "Rise of the Guardians: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/rise-guardians-film-review-378281.
- ↑ CEC Entertainment, Inc. (May 20, 2014). "Chuck E. Cheese's Introduces Oculus Rift for Birthday Parties in Select Markets" (Press release). Reuters. Archived from the original on September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
- ↑ Fleming, Mike (December 7, 2010). "Andrew Adamson, James Cameron team with Cirque du Soleil on 3D Feature". Deadline Hollywood. https://www.deadline.com/2010/12/andrew-adamson-james-cameron-team-with-cirque-du-soleil-on-3d-feature/.
- ↑ Fleming, Mike (February 10, 2012). "Paramount Acquires Worldwide Rights To Andrew Adamson And James Cameron's Cirque Du Soleil 3D Feature". Deadline Hollywood. https://www.deadline.com/2012/01/paramount-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-andrew-adamson-and-james-camerons-cirque-du-soleil-3d-feature/#more-212574.
- ↑ Beck, Jerry (2012-10-25). ""Turkeys" get Greenlit at Reel FX" (in en-US). https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/turkeys-gets-greenlight-at-reel-fx-72378.html.
- ↑ "D CEO May-June 2013" (in en-US). https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-ceo/2013/may-june/.
- ↑ Fleming, Ryan (2022-06-14). "'Super Giant Robot Brothers!': Watch Exclusive First Look Trailer For Reel FX 's Ani Series For Netflix" (in en-US). https://deadline.com/video/super-giant-robot-brothers-first-look-trailer-reel-fx-netflix-animation/.
- ↑ https://www.animationscoop.com/official-trailer-reel-fx-rock-dog/
- ↑ (uncredited)Scheck, Franck (October 11, 2014). "'The Book of Life': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/book-life-film-review-739891.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Kroll, Justin (October 15, 2018). "'Tom and Jerry,' 'Scooby-Doo' Movies Land Top Talent at Warner Animation Group (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. https://variety.com/2018/film/news/tom-and-jerry-scooby-doo-tim-story-warner-animation-1202978052/amp/.
- ↑ Kit, Borys (March 1, 2019). "Will Forte, Gina Rodriguez and Tracy Morgan to Star in Animated Scooby-Doo Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/scooby-doo-movie-star-will-forte-gina-rodriguez-tracy-morgan-1177354.
- ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (November 30, 2020). "Netflix Heads Down Under with 'Back to the Outback' Movie in 2021". https://www.animationmagazine.net/streaming/netflix-heads-down-under-with-back-to-the-outback-movie-in-2021/. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (2020-11-30). "Netflix Lines Up Animated Movie 'Back To The Outback' With Isla Fisher, Tim Minchin, Eric Bana, Guy Pearce & Keith Urban" (in en-US). https://deadline.com/2020/11/netflix-animated-movie-isla-fisher-tim-minchin-guy-pearce-keith-urban-1234623080/.
- ↑ Robinson, Jacob (2023-05-17). "'The Monkey King': Coming to Netflix in August 2023 and What We Know So Far" (in en). https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/the-monkey-king-everything-we-know-so-far-05-2023/.
- ↑ Brian Welk (April 27, 2023). "Paramount Gets Animated with CinemaCon Presentation". IndieWire. https://www.indiewire.com/2023/04/spongebob-squarepants-4-transformers-one-animated-cast-1234833032/.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (23 October 2023). "‘Mission: Impossible 8’ Jumps To 2025; ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ Goes To Summer In 2024 Theatrical Shake-Up Due To Actors Strike". https://deadline.com/2023/10/mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-2-quiet-place-day-one-actors-strike-1235580981/.
- ↑ Grobar, Matt (2022-06-06). "'The Big Bang Theory's Kunal Nayyar Boards Animated Feature 'Diya' From Reel FX Originals As EP; Nitya Mehra To Direct" (in en-US). https://deadline.com/2022/06/kunal-nayyar-nitya-mehra-reel-fx-team-for-animated-feature-diya-1235038917/.
- ↑ "Netflix Announces Three New Animated Comedy Series for Kids from Renowned and First-Time Creators". Netflix Media Center (Press release). Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ↑ Zahed, Ramin (2023-05-24). "Cake Announces New Preschool Show Developed with Reel FX and 'Bridesmaids' Writers". https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/05/cake-announces-new-preschool-show-developed-with-reel-fx-and-bridesmaids-writers/.
- ↑ Reel FX (October 29, 2020). "Congratulations @flightschoolHQ for helping pivot CBS's live action comedy series, @NoActivityCBS, to animation for this coming season. Reel FX Animation is proud and excited to dish out an assist on this project.". https://twitter.com/wearereelfx/status/1321935027417042949.
- ↑ Qidong, Zhang (November 23, 2012). "Animation studio sees role for China". China Daily. http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/2012-11/23/content_15953724.htm.
- ↑ Gilchrist, Todd (September 28, 2005). "Robots". IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/09/28/robots.
- ↑ Foster, Dave (August 24, 2005). "Robots (R2) in September - Menus added". The Digital Fix. http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/57912/robots-r2-in-september-menus-added.html.
- ↑ Desowitz, Bill (July 30, 2010). "O'Callaghan Talks Coyote Falls". Animation World Network. http://www.awn.com/articles/short-films/ocallaghan-talks-coyote-falls.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Looney Tunes "Daffy's Rhapsody"". Reel FX. http://www.reelfx.com/entertainment/work/reel-fx-looney-tunes-daffy%27s-rhapsody.
- ↑ Hopewell, John (June 9, 2014). "Studios, France, Emerging Industries Energize Annecy". Variety. https://variety.com/2014/film/markets-festivals/studios-france-emerging-industries-energize-annecy-1201216458/. "Closing ceremony, featuring Official Selection award announcements and Warner Bros.’ 3D short “A Flash in the Pain”"
- ↑ "Reel FX Live from Annecy!". Reel FX. June 11, 2014. http://www.reelfx.com/news/item/live-from-annexy-reel-fx-is-a-trifecta. "Peil wrapped up the presentation with the 6th installment in the series of Looney Tunes shorts “Flash in the Pain”."
- ↑ Boot Camp - A Best Fiends Animation
- ↑ Visit Minutia - A Best Fiends Animation
- ↑ Fort of Hard Knocks - A Best Fiends Animation
- ↑ Baby Slug's Big Day Out - A Best Fiends Animation
- ↑ Howie's Gift - A Best Fiends Animation
- ↑ Temper's Adventure - A Best Fiends Animation
- ↑ The Immortal Cockroach - A Best Fiends Animation
- ↑ The Fight Before Christmas - A Best Fiends Animation
- ↑ King Slug Industries - A Best Fiends Animation
- ↑ Reel FX (July 2, 2012). "It's Time For Minion Mayhem at Universal Orlando". Reel FX. http://www.reelfx.com/news/item/reel-fx-universal-orlando-minion-mayhem.
- ↑ "Meet Star Skipper, Paramount Animation's Magical New Trademark Logo Character". Variety. September 19, 2019. https://variety.com/2019/film/news/paramount-animation-star-skipper-trademark-logo-1203339812/.
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