VirtualMagic Animation, the North Hollywood-based digital ink, paint and compositing company and former production division of USAnimation, is on the block. According to president Don Spielvogel, the company is being put up for sale by its investors as a result of the changing dynamics of the cartoon animation business in the U.S., as well as the wishes of its non-animation industry investors to move on. "The economics of providing animation services in the United States has changed so dramatically in the last few years that it only makes sense to do it as part of a larger entity," explained Spielvogel. "With 50 seats of USAnimation software and a great reputation, I feel we would be a solid purchase for a larger company that is producing or planning to produce many animated shows." VirtualMagic has had a long career in commercials, television, computer games and Internet projects, and is most recently credited with the digital compositing and scene planning for the Cartoon Network Studios feature THE POWERPUFF GIRLS MOVIE.
