7 October 2009
New Delhi studio launches CGI "superhero" solution for Hollywood
Animated superhero movies have been the biggest growth area for Hollywood over the last 10 years. With Disney recently taking over Marvel, this trend shows no signs of dying down.
The need to breathe life into these fictional characters coupled with reduced film budgets has led to the launch of Movie Foundry; a dedicated movie 3DA outsourcing division from New Delhi based Image Foundry Studios.
Recession trends
“It seemed the perfect time to launch Movie Foundry,” said Anand Kapoor, Managing Director. “As a result of the recession, cinema audiences are the highest they have been for 7 years, with animation and 3D films, mainly along the super hero theme, being at the top of the agenda for future releases.”
Movie Foundry will act as a dedicated animation outsource provider for the film and TV industry. Outsourcing to India has already proved a popular option for leading studios including Disney outsourcing to Yash Raj Film, and Dreamworks to Paprikass.
Movie Foundry is an award winning studio that has already delivered successful media animation projects for National Geographic, Granada and The Discovery Chanel including creating the “Real Face of Cleopatra” which appeared on Channel 5’s “Secret’s of Egypt” documentary.
Superhero solution
“Although the boom in film and animation is welcomed, it coincides with budget cuts and redundancies for production houses worldwide,” explains Anand. “Outsourcing elements of the 3D production will help bridge the gap providing the ability to deliver on time, on budget and with consistent quality.”
Movie Foundry is one of the four companies under the Image Foundry brand. Gaming Foundry, Advertising Foundry and Property Foundry have also been established as part of the restructure, providing an outsource network for the relevant industries.
Developments in India
Image Foundry Studios runs a cross continental operation with bases in both New Delhi and Manchester, UK. “Due to cheaper production costs, India is a popular outsource option. There are currently 10,000 animation professionals in the country and it is predicted that 25,000 will be required to cope with the outsource demand by the end of 2009.
The fact that we have offices in both India and the UK means the client not only gains financially but also from having a UK based experienced management team. Anand also points out the outsource trend will have a positive ripple effect on the Indian market by keeping projects moving and winning new ones.
“Our India office was initially set up as a back office with the intention of developing into a front facing operation in the future. This has progressed a lot faster than first thought and the team in India are very much now at the forefront of the company,” said Anand. “The progression since we launched in India back in 2006 has been phenomenal. There is now a rich and experienced talent pool which is constantly developing and having nothing but positive impact on the Indian market.”
“It is an exciting time for Movie Foundry and the industry as a whole. We’re looking forward to working with super heroes both on and off the big screen.”