Animal Logic

History

In 1991, Zareh Nalbandian and Chris Godfrey formed and founded a digital studio in Crows Nest, Sydney, Australia. The company was born out of Video Paint Brush Company, which Nalbandian, who had worked there for a few years, and his colleague Godfrey acquired in a management buy-out and renamed Animal Logic.

Animal Logic moved to Fox Studios Australia in Moore Park, Sydney, in 1998. In 2003, Animal Logic began work on its first computer-animated feature film, Happy Feet, for director George Miller. Released in the United States on 17 November 2006, the project saw the company expand significantly, recruiting up to 300 artists and technicians from Australia and around the world. Happy Feet, which was the first computer-animated feature film produced in Australia, went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature as well as the new BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film.

Their full-length feature animation, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, was released on 24 September 2010 and was Australia's first animated feature to be released in 3D. From 2004 to 2007, the company produced the CN City bumpers for Cartoon Network. In 2011, the company produced and animated LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace, a 30-minute TV special. Produced for Lucasfilm and Cartoon Network, the special premiered in the United States on Cartoon Network and was followed by a worldwide DVD and Blu-ray release. In 2012, Animal Logic acquired the assets of fellow Australian visual effects studio Fuel VFX, known for their work on feature films such as Iron Man 3, Prometheus, The Avengers, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Cowboys & Aliens, Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor. Fuel VFX was nominated for a Visual Effects Society Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects for their work on Prometheus. 2012 also saw the release of the Animal Logic-animated "Polar Bowl" campaign, consisting of a 60-second and two 30-second commercials that aired at halftime at the Super Bowl XLVI. The campaign aimed to re-launch the iconic Coca-Cola polar bear characters to a new generation. Following the success of the 3 spots, which were viewed by over 160 million people globally, the company went on to animate a 6-minute short film directed by John Stevenson to headline Coca-Cola's 2013 global campaign. The film was first released through YouTube in December 2012, followed by a worldwide international theater release. In 2013, the company led visual effects and animation work on BBC Earth and Evergreen Films' 3D live-action feature Walking with Dinosaurs 3D,

In 2014, Animal Logic provided animation services for the 2014 film The Lego Movie, which was produced by the Warner Animation Group and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. After the film's huge success, the company was split into three subsidiaries operating under the Animal Logic's group: Animal Logic VFX, Animal Logic Animation, and Animal Logic Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based arm tasked with developing VFX, animation and hybrid feature films for the company. The following year, the company opened a 45000 sqft facility in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The new studio initially produced work for The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, the first in a three-film deal with Warner Bros., all of which were to be developed in Canada.

In July 2022, Netflix announced plans to acquire Animal Logic in an all-cash deal. In January 2024, it was announced that the studio would merge with Netflix Animation, with CEO Sharon Taylor resigning and Netflix Animation's Karen Toliver taking her place to lead the studio. Taylor would later return to Netflix Animation as head of production in June 2024.

Filmography

Awards

Film

Design

Industry

References

References

1. (18 June 2024). "Hannah Minghella, Sharon Taylor Take Over Netflix Feature Animation Leadership".
2. D'Alessandro, Anthony. (23 May 2018). "Warner Bros. & Producer Dan Lin's Rebranded Company Rideback Renew First-Look Feature Deal".
3. haubursin, christophe. (15 June 2017). "How fan films shaped The Lego Movie".
4. "Winners & Nominees".
5. (17 December 2018). "APDG Awards recognise Peter Rabbit".
6. (19 July 2019). "Zareh Nalbandian reflects on 30 years of Animal Logic". IF Magazine.
7. (16 October 2014). "Animal Logic set to seal LEGO deals". IF Magazine.
8. (20 April 2003). "CGI studio gears up for 'Happy Feet'". Variety.
9. (30 October 2003). "Australia's Animal Logic gears up for CGI Feet". Screen Daily.
10. (27 February 2007). "And the 2007 Oscars go to...".
11. (11 February 2007). "BAFTA Anoints 'The Queen' Best Film: List". Deadline.
12. "Animal Logic Helps Cartoon Network With 3D Rebranding".
13. Anderton, Ethan. (7 July 2011). "Lucasfilm Announces LEGO STAR WARS: THE PADAWAN MENACE Cartoon Network Special". Collider.com.
14. (22 July 2011). "LEGO STAR WARS®: The Padawan Menace™ Animated Special Arrives on Blu-ray and DVD September 16". LEGO Systems.
15. (2 October 2012). "Animal Logic acquires assets of Fuel VFX". Campaign Brief Australia.
16. "Fuel VFX receives Visual Effects Society award nominations". if.com.au.
17. "BAFTAs: Fuel VFX, Hugh Jackman feature as Lincoln leads with 10 nominations". if.com.au.
18. (22 March 2012). "Animal Logic and Coke's Polar Bears Kick Off at Super Bowl 2012". Digital Media World.
19. Swift, Brendan. (28 January 2011). "Animal Logic wins $65m Walking with Dinosaurs 3D". If.
20. Apostolou, Natalie. (16 November 2011). "Confirmed: Animal Logic will animate Lego". The Register.
21. (4 March 2014). "Australian VFX House Animal Logic Splits into Three Divisions". The Hollywood Reporter.
22. (22 September 2015). "Animal Logic Opens Vancouver Studio". Animation Magazine.
23. (20 May 2015). "'Lego' Producer Animal Logic to Open Vancouver Studio". Variety.
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26. (January 5, 2024). "Animal Logic Merging into Parent Co. Netflix Animation, Toliver Takes the Reins". Animation Magazine.
27. Donnelly, Matt. (June 18, 2024). "Netflix Names Hannah Minghella Head of Feature Animation and Live-Action Family Film (EXCLUSIVE)".
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30. Garry Maddox. (6 November 2015). "Johnny Depp to join Animal Logic in a film of Neil Gaiman's Fortunately, The Milk". SMH.
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37. (26 September 2016). "Sony's Columbia Pictures Teams Up With Frederick Warne & Co".
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39. (8 May 2017). "'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2': A Digital Kurt Russell and Other VFX Tricks Revealed".
40. (26 April 2017). "Alien: Covenant".
41. "The Great Wall".
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46. (13 March 2014). "Columbia Pictures Boards Chinese Martial Arts Feature The Monk". ComingSoon.net.
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51. Ricki. (4 March 2014). "Animal Logic restructures with launch of three divisions to operate under its group of companies".
52. Beltrone, Gabriel. (7 January 2013). "Ad of the Day: Coca-Cola The brand's polar bears weather some family drama in this six-minute short, produced by Ridley Scott". Adweek.
53. (28 January 2011). "VFX House Animal Logic Will Lead Animation on BBC's 'Walking With Dinosaurs 3D'".
54. "Film in 2015". bafta.org.
55. "AFI | AACTA | the Awards | 4th AACTA Awards | Visual Effects and Animation".
56. "Critics' Choice Awards". criticschoice.com.
57. "Children's in 2014". bafta.org.
58. "Awards – New York Film Critics Circle – NYFCC". nyfcc.com.
59. "AFI | AACTA | the Awards | 3rd AACTA Awards | First Winners Announced".
60. "AEAF Finalists & Winners 1996 - 2013".
61. "Animal Logic picks up AACTA and Mobius awards". if.com.au.
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66. https://www.exportawards.gov.au/Case-Study-2012-Animal-Logic-NSW Australian Export Award
67. "The Australian Film Institute | 2010 Byron Kennedy Award".