Permalink

Pixar to open studio in Vancouver, BC

pixar logo

Read about it here and at the Animation News Network.

Pixar Animation, the Oscar-winning studio behind such smash films as “WALL-E,” “Finding Nemo” and “Toy Story,” plans to open a branch in Vancouver, say executives.

“The operation will be small in size and dedicated to producing short-form quality computer animation for theme parks, DVDs, television and theatrical exhibition … for several different divisions of the Walt Disney Co.,” Disney/Pixar president Ed Catmull told the Hollywood Reporter.

I’m so thrilled to hear this news because the animation industry in Vancouver has been really suffering over the past year-and-a-half, and this means lots of people I know here in town will have fresh and exciting new work opportunities. Yay!

I don’t yet know where and when people can send their applications in, but I’d suggest watching the job boards on Pixar and maybe even Craigslist. Or get on the horn and call them. Squeaky wheels and all that. Good luck guys!

  • Opinion432

    That’s great and all, but with the U.S. economy sucking, shouldn’t they be building that here?

  • Opinion432

    That’s great and all, but with the U.S. economy sucking, shouldn’t they be building that here?

  • http://tumblr.luclatulippe.com/ Luc Latulippe

    Well, the economy sucks everywhere, even here in Canada. In this case, the BC government is giving tax incentives which Pixar is taking advantage of.

    Moreover, the animation industry in Canada is directly connected to the US industry. Huge amounts of US work get sent here because it’s cheaper to produce than in the US. That’s less to do with the economy and more to do with inflated production costs in the US, plus the lack of any union for animation artists in Canada. No one wants to do the work for cheap in the US, so off to Canada it goes. And what we don’t want to do because it’s too cheap for us, gets sent overseas. It’s been that way for 30 years now. I’m not defending any of this, just explaining the whole process.

  • http://www.luclatulippe.com Luc

    Well, the economy sucks everywhere, even here in Canada. In this case, the BC government is giving tax incentives which Pixar is taking advantage of.

    Moreover, the animation industry in Canada is directly connected to the US industry. Huge amounts of US work get sent here because it’s cheaper to produce than in the US. That’s less to do with the economy and more to do with inflated production costs in the US, plus the lack of any union for animation artists in Canada. No one wants to do the work for cheap in the US, so off to Canada it goes. And what we don’t want to do because it’s too cheap for us, gets sent overseas. It’s been that way for 30 years now. I’m not defending any of this, just explaining the whole process.

  • http://www.luclatulippe.com Luc

    ps: Also, you already DO have a gigantic Pixar studio in the US. :)

  • http://tumblr.luclatulippe.com/ Luc Latulippe

    ps: Also, you already DO have a gigantic Pixar studio in the US. :)

  • http://geoffcampbell.blogspot.com/ fraximus

    Yo, this is drawn .CA so please understand if we don’t sympathize with your protectionist sentiments.
    HERE to us is Canada.

  • http://geoffcampbell.blogspot.com fraximus

    Yo, this is drawn .CA so please understand if we don’t sympathize with your protectionist sentiments.
    HERE to us is Canada.

  • Ariel

    It seems like there’s opposing feelings to this in the industry(*mostly between canada and the US) and understandibly so. The reality is, as Luc already mentioned, is the tax insentives and luring these moves to take place so the US only has their own government(*and maybe unions) to blame. I personally am happy for BC(*i’m in the east) Besides its only going to be a “direct-to-dvd/sequels” type of studio. All the “fun” stuff will still be made in Cali. Don’t fret.. my american friends.

  • Ariel

    It seems like there’s opposing feelings to this in the industry(*mostly between canada and the US) and understandibly so. The reality is, as Luc already mentioned, is the tax insentives and luring these moves to take place so the US only has their own government(*and maybe unions) to blame. I personally am happy for BC(*i’m in the east) Besides its only going to be a “direct-to-dvd/sequels” type of studio. All the “fun” stuff will still be made in Cali. Don’t fret.. my american friends.