Pearl Studio Explained

Shanghai Pearl Studio Film and Television Technology Co., Ltd
Native Name:Pearl 东方梦工厂 (Pearl Dōngfāng mèng gōngchǎng)
Former Name:Shanghai Oriental DreamWorks Film & Television Technology Co., Ltd. (2012–2018)
Type:Private
Owner:China Media Capital[1] (2018–present)
Num Employees:250 (2014)[2]
Location City:Xuhui District, Shanghai
Location Country:China
Industry:Film industry
Parent:DreamWorks Animation (2012–2018)

Shanghai Pearl Studio Film and Television Technology Co., Ltd, doing business as Pearl Studio, formerly known as Oriental DreamWorks, the trade name of Shanghai Oriental DreamWorks Film & Television Technology Co., Ltd., is a Chinese animation film production company owned by CMC Capital Partners. The company was founded as a Chinese-American joint venture in 2012 by DreamWorks Animation and Chinese investment companies. The company mainly produces Chinese-themed animated and live-action films and their derivatives for distribution within China and worldwide. In 2018, CMC (China Media Capital) acquired NBCUniversal's stake in the 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,[3] launched on August 6, 2012, with cash and intellectual capital worth $350 million.[4] 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.[5]

On November 25, 2015, Peilin Chou was appointed as the head of creative for feature animation at Oriental DreamWorks.[6]

The studio's first animated feature film, Kung Fu Panda 3, was released on January 29, 2016,[7] and was made in co-production with DWA, with 1/3 of the film being produced in China.[8] The studio's first original film, titled Abominable, followed in 2019.[9] 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.[10]

A film adaption of The Tibet Code, co-produced by China Film Group, was announced, but was cancelled.[11] [12] [13]

On September 26, 2017, Peilin Chou was promoted to the role of Chief Creative Officer.[14]

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 still continued to collaborate with Pearl Studio for Abominable in 2019. Frank Zhu was appointed CEO.[15]

On September 29, 2019, it was reported that Abominable grossed $30 million worldwide during its opening weekend.[16]

Productions

Feature films

Production company

!Title !Release date!Distributor!Co-production with
Kung Fu Panda 3January 29, 201620th Century FoxDreamWorks Animation
China Film Group Corporation
Zhong Ming You Ying Film
AbominableSeptember 27, 2019Universal PicturesDreamWorks Animation
Zhong Ming You Ying Film
Over the MoonOctober 23, 2020NetflixNetflix Animation
Glen Keane Productions
Sony Pictures Imageworks
The Monkey KingAugust 18, 2023Netflix Animation
Star Overseas
In development
!Title !Notes
Untitled Chinatown Project[17]
Illumikitty
Lucky
Anitya[18]
Ultraland[19]
In the Stars[20]

Distributor in China

!Title!China Release date!Worldwide Distributor!Produced by
The CroodsApril 20, 201320th Century Fox (Worldwide)
CJ Entertainment (South Korea)
DreamWorks Animation
TurboSeptember 18, 2013
Mr. Peabody & ShermanMarch 28, 2014DreamWorks Animation
Pacific Data Images
Bullwinkle Studios
How to Train Your Dragon 2August 14, 2014DreamWorks Animation
Penguins of MadagascarNovember 14, 2014DreamWorks Animation
Pacific Data Images
HomeApril 24, 2015DreamWorks Animation
TrollsOctober 28, 2016

Additional production work

!Title !Release date!Distributed by!Produced by
How to Train Your Dragon 2June 13, 201420th Century FoxDreamWorks Animation
Penguins of MadagascarNovember 26, 2014DreamWorks Animation
Pacific Data Images
HomeMarch 27, 2015DreamWorks Animation

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,[4] it would feature series of theatres, cinemas, shopping areas, galleries, hotels, restaurants and the world's largest IMAX screen, and was expected to open in 2017 (it was eventually delayed).[21] As of May 2017, the Dream Center is in limbo.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Oriental Dreamworks Relaunches As 100% Chinese-Owned Pearl Studio. Amidi. Amid. Cartoon Brew. February 2, 2018. February 2, 2018.
  2. Web site: DreamWorks Animation SKG's (DWA) CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg on Q3 2014 Results - Earnings Call Transcript. Seeking Alpha. October 30, 2014. October 29, 2014. Our studio is now up and running with 250 people,....
  3. News: Oriental DreamWorks Rewrites Its China Production Strategy. November 14, 2013. Variety. September 6, 2013.
  4. News: Szalai. Georg. DreamWorks Oriental to Eventually Produce Two, Three Films a Year in China. November 26, 2012. The Hollywood Reporter. October 10, 2012.
  5. News: DreamWorks Animation SKG Management Discusses Q1 2013 Results - Earnings Call Transcript. May 1, 2013. Seeking Alpha. April 30, 2013.
  6. Web site: Peilin Chou Will Head Up Oriental DreamWorks' East-West Creative Fusion. Thill. Scott. Cartoon Brew. November 25, 2015. February 3, 2018.
  7. News: Bryan Cranston, Mads Mikkelsen & Rebel Wilson Board 'Kung Fu Panda 3'. April 11, 2013. Deadline. April 9, 2013.
  8. News: DreamWorks Animation SKG Management Discusses Q3 2012 Results - Earnings Call Transcript. November 26, 2012. Seeking Alpha. November 1, 2012.
  9. Web site: D'Alessandro. Anthony. 'How To Train Your Dragon 3' Flies To 2019; Uni's DWA To Scale 'Everest'. Deadline. December 6, 2016. December 5, 2016.
  10. News: Patrick Frater . Oriental DreamWorks Heads for Restructuring, Sale . Variety . March 15, 2017 . July 17, 2017.
  11. News: Jie. Du. Fang. Tong. DreamWorks sees global potential in Tibet Code. Xinhuanet.com. Xinhua News Agency. 8 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130626000220/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-06/08/c_132441330.htm. dead. June 26, 2013. 4 April 2014.
  12. News: Coonan. Clifford. Katzenberg Touts 'Tibet' as He Targets Chinese Auds. Variety. Penske Business Media. 21 April 2013. 4 April 2014.
  13. News: Zhang. Rui. DreamWorks to make bestseller Tibet Code into film. China Internet Information Center. 20 April 2013. 4 April 2014.
  14. Web site: Oriental DreamWorks Names Peilin Chou As CCO; Designs Robust Animation Slate. Deadline. Tartaglione. Nancy. September 26, 2017. February 3, 2018.
  15. News: China's CMC Takes Full Ownership of NBCUniversal's Oriental DreamWorks. 3 February 2018. The Hollywood Reporter. en.
  16. Web site: Anthony. D'Alessandro. DreamWorks Animation & Pearl Studio's 'Abominable' Bigfoots B.O. With Near-$21M Opening Weekend. Deadline. 29 September 2019. 2 November 2019.
  17. Web site: Amidi. Amid. October 3, 2017. Don't Count Out Oriental Dreamworks; Chinese Studio Announces 6 Feature Film Projects. February 2, 2018. Cartoon Brew.
  18. Web site: 'Over the Moon' Studio Pearl Unveils Three New Features, Talent Accelerator . December 2, 2021 .
  19. Web site: 'Over the Moon' Studio Pearl Unveils Three New Features, Talent Accelerator . December 2, 2021 .
  20. Web site: 'Over the Moon' Studio Pearl Unveils Three New Features, Talent Accelerator . December 2, 2021 .
  21. News: Rising Dreams in the Orient: Oriental DreamWorks To Establish Headquarters in Xuhui. https://archive.today/20121208192232/http://ir.dreamworksanimation.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=698481. dead. December 8, 2012. September 18, 2012. DreamWorks Animation. August 6, 2012. DreamWorks Animation.