Apr 5, 2022

Weta FX Opens Office in Vancouver, First Studio Outside New Zealand

Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh's Wellington-based Weta FX, home to the largest single-site VFX studio in the world, has opened a new facility in Vancouver.

With an initial staff of 75 artists and plans to expand by the end of the year, the Vancouver office will work on various Weta projects, including James Cameron's "Avatar" sequel. The company is also working on 12 other unannounced titles for various studios, including Warner Bros. Pictures' blockbuster "Batman," Disney+'s original series "Moon Knight," and Marvel's "Doctor Strange: The Madness Multiverse."

The studio has executive offices in New Zealand and L.A., with the latter opening in late 2020. Weta's establishment of a studio in Vancouver comes shortly after the announcement of a $1.6 billion technology deal with Unity that will close in late 2021. According to the company, the opening of the Vancouver studio is just one step toward the company's larger commitment to global expansion and scale.

Cartoon Brew detailed the Unity/Weta deal last year, pointing to the role Metaverse has brought to the technology and animation company. It was said at the time that the agreement would allow Unity to make Weta's visual effects tools available to creators and artists worldwide, "enabling the next generation of RT3D (real-time 3D) creativity and shaping the future of the Metaverse."

"The global growth of entertainment content has given us the flexibility to expand our business model to really pursue the projects we want and leverage our talent in more places around the world," said Weta FX CEO Prem Akkaraju said of the new Canadian hub.

"Vancouver is an established market for VFX, animation, and gaming talent, and we look forward to welcoming them to the Weta FX family.

Top image: "The Legend of Shan Chiand Ten Rings" [11]