Netflix plans to acquire the Australian animation studio Animal Logic. The agreed upon purchase price was not disclosed.
The acquisition of Animal Logic will support Netflix’s ambitious animated slate, building on films like Academy Award-nominated Over the Moon, Oscar-nominated Klaus and the recently released The Sea Beast.
Animal Logic has been producing award-winning design, visual effects and animation for over 30 years. Headquartered in Sydney, Animal Logic set up a second studio in Vancouver, Canada in 2015 and has worked on Hollywood blockbusters including Happy Feet, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, The LEGO Movies and Peter Rabbit 1 & 2, alongside a catalog of amazing visual effects work including The Matrix, Moulin Rouge!, 300 and The Great Gatsby.
The announcement builds on an already strong partnership between the two companies, with a full slate of films across Animal Logic’s Sydney and Vancouver studios including The Magician’s Elephant, directed by Wendy Rogers, and the recently announced The Shrinking of the Treehorns, directed by Ron Howard, for Netflix.
“Netflix has been investing in animation over the past few years and this furthers our commitment to building a world-class animation studio,” said Amy Reinhard, Netflix VP of studio operations. “Animal Logic is a leading animation studio with innovative technology that will strengthen our existing business and increase our long-term capacity in the animation space, so that we can better entertain our members around the world.”
Working with Animal Logic will accelerate the buildout of Netflix’s end-to-end animation production capabilities. The Animal Logic and Netflix Animation teams together will create a global creative production team and an animation studio that will produce some of Netflix’s largest animated film titles. Netflix will continue to work with many other studios around the world for animated series and film needs.
Led by CEO and co-founder Zareh Nalbandian, the Animal Logic teams and leadership will remain operating under the Animal Logic brand and will fulfill production of existing and ongoing commitments and continue to collaborate and work with longstanding studio partners.
“After 30 years of producing great work with great people, this is the perfect next chapter for Animal Logic,” said Nalbandian. “Our values and aspirations could not be more aligned with Netflix, in working with diverse content makers, producing innovative and engaging stories for audiences around the world. Our collective experience and talent will open new doors for all our teams and will empower a new level of creativity in animation.”
Animal Logic’s COO Sharon Taylor added, “The strength of our partnership across a number of projects is testament to our shared creative vision. Solidifying our future together felt like a mutually beneficial, natural progression and I am so excited to continue to build on our success together.”
Animal Logic Entertainment, the producers behind Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’hoole, Peter Rabbit 1 & 2 and The Shrinking of the Treehorns, will remain independent and continue to collaborate with iconic filmmakers and major studio partners to develop and produce elevated family entertainment with universal appeal.
Netflix’s fast-growing original slate of animated features and shorts includes Academy Award-nominated Robin, Robin,Academy Award-nominated Klaus, Kris Pearn’s The Willoughbys, Academy Award-nominated Over the Moon, Back to the Outback directed by Clare Knight and Harry Cripps, Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood from Richard Linklater, and The Sea Beast; as well as upcoming releases including Henry Selick’s Wendell & Wild, Nora Twomey’s My Father’s Dragon, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Wendy Rogers’ The Magician’s Elephant, and an Aardman sequel to Chicken Run. Recent animated film acquisitions by Netflix include the Academy Award-nominated The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Vivo!, Spongebob: Sponge on the Run (ex North America), and Wish Dragon.
Completion of this Netflix/Animal Logic transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The parties expect to close the transaction later this year.
