Oktobor Animation launches – New Zealand’s largest purpose built CG animation studio

OmnilabMedia and Oktobor, its award winning visual effects, animation anddigital creative convergence studio, today gave details of their newAuckland-based Computer Generated (CG) animation studio – OktoborAnimation, which it has created and launched in conjunction withBackyard Animated Pictures (USA).

Says Oktobor GM Bruce Everett(left): “Oktobor Animation is a very significant CG animation businessthat will initially be servicing the world famous Nickelodeon Studios.We will be creating multiple CG animated television series for them andI’m delighted to say we have already secured a long-term contract whichwill see Oktobor Animation have the great fortune of working on severalhigh profile and highly rated television series including ‘The Penguinsof Madagascar’ based on the hit DreamWorks animated feature. Productionhas already commenced and currently our staff number 30. By mid-nextyear we expect to have a crew of over 120 artists and technicians. Infact, we anticipate Oktobor Animation will provide up to 300 jobs overthe first four years.”

Oktobor Animation will also provide openings to the growing number ofregional CG artists offering up to fifteen 3-month paid internships upto four times per year to top graduates of local NZQA schools andbetween 120-140 contract jobs at their Auckland facility.

The significant new CG animation studio is a first for New Zealand andcomes as a result of many months planning and negotiation with bothNickelodeon and Backyard.

Says Everett: “It has been a long and worthwhile process bringingOktobor Animation to life. We began initial discussions with Backyardand presented our proposal for Oktobor Animation to Nickelodeon earlythis year. I must say the Post, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) rebatehas been a key economic driver in helping us bring this business intothe Auckland area. We have received invaluable assistance from theMinistry of Economic Development, as well as input from New ZealandFilm Commission and Film New Zealand in order to make this businessopportunity viable.”

Formed in 2001, Oktobor is a world-class visual effects and animationstudio based in Auckland. Oktobor has a global reputation for providinghigh-end visual effects for television commercials and feature films,interactive and entertainment productions and also offers acomprehensive range of visual effects production services fromanimation to full colour grade and interactive media. Oktobor’s globalclient list includes, among others, Kraft Malaysia, McDonald’s,Vodafone, M1, Tiger Beer, Lexus, Sony and Singapore Airlines.

Formed in California in 1997 as a CG studio, Backyard has providednarrative content and services for clients including 20th Century Fox,EMI, Classic Media, and CCI and interactive content for some of thelargest publishers in the world such as Electronic Arts and Activision.The previous management of Backyard is now working at Oktobor Animationwith Chris Waters (left), Rob DiFiglia, Jason Adams and Dan Wang bringingtheir high-end animation pipeline and production expertise to the newventure.

Says Everett: “Over the next three years Oktobor Animation willbecome an international hub for Nickelodeon’s rising number of CGproductions giving Auckland a major international presence in thegrowing longform CG animation industry. Oktobor Animation will developour existing technology-driven artist-efficient CG pipeline and apassionate commitment to regional talent development to provide thehighest quality productions possible for a global audience. OktoborAnimation will also create a much-needed identity for the growing poolof CG artists in the Auckland region.”

Oktobor’s parent company Omnilab Media, Australia and New Zealand’slargest, privately owned, vertically integrated content development andmedia service business, is the driving force behind such ventures asDr. D – the innovative new digital film-making studio with Dr. GeorgeMiller and KMM, which is working on Happy Feet 2 and Mad Max 4. OmnilabMedia have also produced and co-financed recent blockbuster moviesincluding The Bank Job, W and the twice Oscar nominated The Messenger.Omnilab Media are currently in post production with John Marsden’sTomorrow When the War Began and production on The Killer Elite starringJason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro.

Says Omnilab Media managing director Christopher Mapp (left): “We are veryproud of the launch of this exciting new CG animation studio in NewZealand. Oktobor Animation is inspired by the success of WETA whosesuccess is owed in part to the strong commitment made by the NewZealand government to incentivise international producers to bringtheir films to the region. We believe there is a substantialopportunity to extend this success to the television VFX and animationarena by establishing Auckland as the viable and competitive productionhub for longform CG animation. Hence our significant financialcommitment in Oktobor Animation. We also have a strong belief in theNew Zealand market as a whole and will continue to invest in more andprojects as this vibrant market continues to develop.”

Adds Everett: “As we continue to attract the growing numberof long-form CG-productions to Auckland, the local talent pool willmature into a solid artist community through rewarding productionexperience designed to see them succeed in helping create high-profileprogrammes. Oktobor Animation is able to provide quality services toclients and partners in the animation industry as well as offeringcompelling pricing in the competitive global arena. As more and morebroadcast animated content transitions from traditional hand-drawn 2Dproduction, which has a long established 40 year history in South Koreaand other parts of Asia, to CG animation, Oktobor Animation will buildon the reputation New Zealand has created through unparalleled featureVFX into longform CG animation. We are already well into our firstthree CG productions for Nickelodeon and I’m delighted to say, we arein advanced discussions on many others from interested studio andproduction partners around the world.”

Oktobor Animation was launched in June 2010. Its official ‘red ribbon’opening, which will include leading New Zealand industry figures andsenior executives from Nickelodeon and Omnilab Media, is scheduled forearly November 2010.