Netflix officially cut the ribbon on its new Netflix Animation Studios (NAS) hub in Vancouver on Wednesday.
The new 110,600 sq. ft. studio is a purpose-built hub for animated feature film production and development, combining state-of-the-art technology with collaborative workspaces. The studio, which employs more than 450 people, will soon be joined by Vancouver employees of Netflix’s in-house VFX studio, Eyeline, creating what the streamer says will be an “integrated hub” bringing animation and visual effects together.
Netflix says the ongoing operations and studio workforce will have an ongoing impact on the province’s GDP to the tune of $100M CAD annually, with its construction alone contributing over $50M CAD to B.C.’s GDP.
Among those in attendance at this week’s grand opening B.C. Finance Min. Brenda Bailey; Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sports Min. Anne Kang; Netflix Chairman of Film Dan Lin; Netflix Head of Feature Animation and Family Film, Hannah Minghella; and Vancouver Deputy Mayor Sarah Kirby-Yung.
“This is an exciting new chapter for our studio,” said Minghella, Head of Feature Animation and Family Film, in an announcement from the streamer. “Our new Vancouver hub is an investment in the long-term growth of Netflix Animation Studios globally and reflects our ongoing commitment to make original animated movies for fans around the world.”
The next big project slated to come out of NAS Vancouver is the animated feature film Steps, a reimagining of the story of Cinderella’s sisters, featuring the voices of Ali Wong, Stephanie Tsu and Amanda Seyfried.
“We’re excited to be working on the upcoming film, Steps, from our new studio,” said Amir Nasrabadi, Chief Operating Officer, Netflix Animation Studios. “Vancouver is home to some of the world’s most incredible talent, and we’re lucky to have many of them in our studio. We’re proud of what we’ve created here and even more excited about the work to come.”
The Netflix Vancouver animation team has already contributed to Netflix animation titles like Leo, which spent 10 weeks on the Global Top 10 English Film List and reached #1 in 62 countries, as well as Thelma the Unicorn, which sat on the Global Top 10 English Film List for three weeks and reached the Top 10 in 72 countries.
Other Netflix productions filmed in the province include Avatar: The Last Airbender, Virgin River, The Wrong Paris, forthcoming feature film TIME OUT, currently in production, and the upcoming Remarkably Bright Creatures and Crew Girl.
“The opening of Netflix Animation Studios Vancouver marks an important milestone in our presence in Canada, creating a dedicated space where world-class artists can develop and produce more animated films for audiences to enjoy around the world,” the streamer noted.
