Angry Birds project lands in Vancouver
Rovio enlists local studio to give feathered franchise big- screen appearance
The expanding empire of Angry Birds, the addictive digital export of Finnish game studio Rovio Entertainment, will land in Vancouver as it expands into animated feature films, giving a boost to Sony Pictures Imageworks’ local studio.
Rovio, in conjunction with the province, announced on Friday that it has enlisted Sony Pictures Imageworks’ Vancouver operation as the lead animation house for an onscreen adaptation of the wildly popular game.
“It was very important for Rovio to find the perfect partner — in style, talent and location — to bring the Angry Birds movie to life,” Rovio CEO Mikael Hed said.
“Sony Pictures Imageworks in Vancouver made that decision easy.”
For Sony Pictures, making the production in Vancouver will mean “employing the most artists we ever have on any CG feature there in our 22- year history,” said Randy Lake, executive vice- president and general manager of Digital Production Services for the company.
In a statement, Lake said the Vancouver studio is currently working on The Amazing Spider Man 2, and just completed visual effects work for Warner Bros. Edge of Tomorrow, projects that are “allowing us to expand our footprint and talent base in Vancouver, making it a very exciting time for Imageworks.”
It is a busy time for B. C.’ s animation sector, said Richard Brownsey, CEO of Creative BC. “We’re seeing quite significant growth in animation activities in B. C., ( and the Angry Birds film) is obviously a significant addition,” Brownsey added.
The Rovio feature was a deal that B. C.’ s Ministry of International Trade actively courted by helping establish Rovio Animation in Canada through the work of the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Development, according to the news release.
Premier Christy Clark, in touting the announcement, said by showing “faith in Vancouver, ( that) will lead to more opportunities and more jobs.”
Tax incentives have also helped draw the CGI industry to Vancouver, with the province offering its DAVE ( digital animation or visual effects) tax incentive, a 17.5- per- cent tax credit on labour expenses for digital productions.
In January, news trickled out of Hollywood that Sony Pictures Imageworks was bolstering its Vancouver studio by moving about three dozen staff members, mostly in software development, north from Los Angeles, according to reports from the trade magazine Variety.
As a game, Angry Birds has been downloaded a reported one billion times, and has already been turned into a television property with Angry Birds Toons, which is available to watch through its game apps and will be distributed via cartoon networks including Teletoon.
The film will follow a script from Simpsons regular Jon Vitti and has a high- powered production roster.
Producer John Cohen’s credits include Despicable Me and Hop.
David Maisel, who is co- executive producer with Rovio’s Hed, has worked on Thor, Iron Man and Incredible Hulk projects in the Marvel Studios franchise.