Pearl Studio

History

On February 17, 2012, DreamWorks Animation announced a joint venture with China Media Capital, Shanghai Media Group and Shanghai Alliance Investment to build a Shanghai based family entertainment company named Shanghai Oriental DreamWorks Film & Television Technology Co., Ltd. or Oriental DreamWorks for short. The new venture was expected to develop and produce original Chinese animated and live-action content for distribution within China and worldwide. The company also produces live entertainment content, theme parks, games and consumer products. Oriental DreamWorks, owned 45% by DWA and 55% by the Chinese partners, launched on August 6, 2012, To produce animated films, 37 Entertainment, a Chinese animation studio with 175 employees, which had already worked on some of DWA's television productions, has been acquired.

Beside producing its own content, Oriental DreamWorks acts also as a distributor for DWA's productions. Releasing The Croods in 2013, ODW became the first company in 20–30 years that got a license to import Western films.

On November 25, 2015, Peilin Chou was appointed as the head of creative for feature animation at Oriental DreamWorks.

The studio's first animated feature film, Kung Fu Panda 3, was released on January 29, 2016, and was made in co-production with DWA, with 1/3 of the film being produced in China. The studio's first original film, titled Abominable, followed in 2019. On March 15, 2017, it was reported that NBCUniversal would sell off its stake in Oriental DreamWorks for restructuring and possibly face problems with Chinese antitrust investigation.

A film adaption of The Tibet Code, co-produced by China Film Group, was announced, but was cancelled.

On September 26, 2017, Peilin Chou was promoted to the role of Chief Creative Officer.

On February 1, 2018, CMC Capital Partners announced that they have taken the full ownership of Oriental DreamWorks and renamed it as Pearl Studio. Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation would still continue to collaborate with Pearl Studio for Abominable in 2019. Frank Zhu was appointed CEO.

On September 29, 2019, it was reported that Abominable grossed $30 million worldwide during its opening weekend.

Productions

Feature films

Production company

In development

Distributor in China

Additional production work

Dream Center

Part of the deal with the Chinese partners was also an entertainment and culture complex called Dream Center. Built in Shanghai with an investment exceeding $2.7 billion, As of May 2017, the Dream Center is in limbo.

Notable People

• Jackie Chan, Hong Kong actor, director
• Tom McGrath (animator), Canadian actor
• Jill Culton, animator
• Audrey Wells, American director

References

References

1. (October 29, 2014). "DreamWorks Animation SKG's (DWA) CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg on Q3 2014 Results - Earnings Call Transcript". [[Seeking Alpha]].
2. (February 2, 2018). "Oriental Dreamworks Relaunches As 100% Chinese-Owned Pearl Studio".
3. (September 6, 2013). "Oriental DreamWorks Rewrites Its China Production Strategy". Variety.
4. Szalai, Georg. (October 10, 2012). "DreamWorks Oriental to Eventually Produce Two, Three Films a Year in China". The Hollywood Reporter.
5. (April 30, 2013). "DreamWorks Animation SKG Management Discusses Q1 2013 Results - Earnings Call Transcript". Seeking Alpha.
6. (November 25, 2015). "Peilin Chou Will Head Up Oriental DreamWorks' East-West Creative Fusion".
7. (April 9, 2013). "Bryan Cranston, Mads Mikkelsen & Rebel Wilson Board 'Kung Fu Panda 3'". Deadline.
8. (November 1, 2012). "DreamWorks Animation SKG Management Discusses Q3 2012 Results - Earnings Call Transcript". Seeking Alpha.
9. (December 5, 2016). "'How To Train Your Dragon 3' Flies To 2019; Uni's DWA To Scale 'Everest'". Deadline.
10. Patrick Frater. (March 15, 2017). "Oriental DreamWorks Heads for Restructuring, Sale". Variety.
11. (8 June 2013). "DreamWorks sees global potential in Tibet Code". [[Xinhua News Agency]].
12. Coonan, Clifford. (21 April 2013). "Katzenberg Touts 'Tibet' as He Targets Chinese Auds". [[Penske Business Media]].
13. Zhang, Rui. (20 April 2013). "DreamWorks to make bestseller Tibet Code into film". [[China Internet Information Center]].
14. (September 26, 2017). "Oriental DreamWorks Names Peilin Chou As CCO; Designs Robust Animation Slate".
15. "China's CMC Takes Full Ownership of NBCUniversal's Oriental DreamWorks". The Hollywood Reporter.
16. D'Alessandro, Anthony. (29 September 2019). "DreamWorks Animation & Pearl Studio's 'Abominable' Bigfoots B.O. With Near-$21M Opening Weekend".
17. (October 3, 2017). "Don't Count Out Oriental Dreamworks; Chinese Studio Announces 6 Feature Film Projects".
18. (December 2, 2021). "'Over the Moon' Studio Pearl Unveils Three New Features, Talent Accelerator".
19. (December 2, 2021). "'Over the Moon' Studio Pearl Unveils Three New Features, Talent Accelerator".
20. (December 2, 2021). "'Over the Moon' Studio Pearl Unveils Three New Features, Talent Accelerator".
21. DreamWorks Animation. (August 6, 2012). "Rising Dreams in the Orient: Oriental DreamWorks To Establish Headquarters in Xuhui". DreamWorks Animation.