Imagi Animation Studios Explained

Imagi Animation Studios Limited
Type:Public SEHK
Fate:Bankruptcy
Owner:Imagi International Holdings Limited
Location:Chai Wan, Hong Kong
Key People:
  • Francis Kao
  • Francis Leung Pak To
  • Soh Szu Wei
Num Employees:400 in Hong Kong[1]
Industry:CGI animation
Homepage:http://www.imagi.com.hk/

Imagi Animation Studios, also known as Imagi Studios, was an animation and visual effects studio based in Hong Kong, and established in 2000 by Imagi International Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong-based investment company.

Background

In 2000, Imagi Animation Studios was set up and production started 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 Gatchamans 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. [8] [9] [10]

Works

Theatrical feature films

TitleRelease date(s)Distributor/Co-production with
1TMNT
2Astro Boy

Television/Direct-to-video films

TitleRelease date(s)Distributor/Co-production withNote(s)
1Digital Monster X-Evolution
2OVA

Short films

TitleRelease dateAssociated Feature Film
1The RRF in New Recruit2010 Astro Boy
2Astro Boy vs. The Junkyard Pirates

TV series

TitleRelease date(s)Distributor/Co-production with
1Zentrix2002–2003 Bandai Entertainment
2Father of the Pride2004–2005 DreamWorks Animation
NBCUniversal Syndication Studios

Cancelled films

TitlePlanned
release date
1Gatchaman[11] 2011
2T28[12] 2012
3The Legend of Zelda[13] N/A
4Cat Tale2013
5Tusker [14] N/A
6Trigun [15] N/A
7Fluorescent Black [16] N/A
8Project: Monster [17] N/A

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Pui Yan. Ho. zh:意馬新動畫《阿童木》決定400港產創意壯士前路. MoneyMonday. Ming Pao. Hong Kong. B3. 16 March 2009 . ja.
  2. http://www.animationmagazine.net/2010_movie_guide.html 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.

    Web site: Astro Boy maintenu, Gatchaman sur la corde raide. 9 January 2009. Otakia. fr. 29 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20150409205615/http://www.otakia.com/9722/actualites/astro-boy-maintenu-gatchaman-sur-la-corde-raide/. 2015-04-09. live.

  4. News: Imagi Seeks Licensing Deals for 'Gatchaman'. Tribbey. Chris. 3 June 2009. Home Media Magazine. 30 January 2010.
  5. News: Imagi Animation Studio Closes Los Angeles Office. 27 January 2010. Anime News Network. 29 January 2010.
  6. News: Imagi Closes L.A. Studio. McLean. Thomas J.. 29 January 2010. Animation Magazine. 30 January 2010.
  7. Web site: Imagi International Holdings Ltd (OTCBB: IINHY) Still In Talks To Raise Capital. Gediminas. J.. 26 January 2010. HotStocked.com. 30 January 2010.
  8. Web site: 意馬數百員工面臨遣散 . Sina.com . 28 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100211142020/http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/51/1/1/1420527/1.html . 11 February 2010 . zh . 6 February 2010 . unfit .
  9. Web site: Imagi Animation liquidator cut of more than 300 people. Oriental Daily. 28 November 2015. zh. 6 February 2010.
  10. Web site: HK studio behind 'TMNT,' 'Astro Boy' shuts down (AP). Yahoo. 28 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20100214170049/http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/hk-studio-behind-tmnt-astro-boy-shuts-down-ap. 14 February 2010. 9 February 2010. Associated Press.
  11. News: Gunpla Builders, CG Gatchaman Promo Videos Streamed. . July 15, 2010 . July 17, 2019.
  12. News: Imagi Launches Testujin 28 site with CG Test Trailer. 9 January 2009. Anime News Network. 9 January 2009.
  13. News: Vejvoda. Jim. Footage From the Unproduced Legend of Zelda CG-Animated Movie. 10 August 2013. IGN. 4 August 2013.
  14. Web site: Imagi revives 'Tusker' tale. August 10, 2008. March 3, 2018.
  15. Web site: Imagi studios Trigun Vash animation test (Likely movie pitch) . August 6, 2024 . 6 June 2024 .
  16. Web site: Imagi Goes Black . August 6, 2024 . 9 November 2007 .
  17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMMwxZX612M. August 6, 2024.