VirtualMagic expands to Asia
By dkilmer
Created 05/31/1999 - 00:00
Don Spielvogel, President of VirtualMagic Animation, Inc., and Jeffrey
Harrison, Chairman/CEO of ImagineAsia Studio, announce the formation of
VirtualMagic ASIA, a new digital ink, paint and compositing service in the
Philippines that will operate as a subsidiary of VirtualMagic Animation,
Inc. headquartered in North Hollywood, California. VirtualMagic ASIA is a
corporate venture between two animation and digital service studios,
VirtualMagic Animation, Inc. and ImagineAsia Studio, of Manila.
VirtualMagic Animation is a leader and pioneer in digital ink & paint among
just a handful of similar service-based providers. The company was formed
in 1992 originally as USAnimation to help develop the USAnimation System.
With more than 700 jobs completed both as USAnimation and now VirtualMagic
Animation, VirtualMagic Animation is known for quality service. ImagineAsia
is a digital and traditional animation production studio based in the
Philippines, established by Asia Data, Inc. of San Francisco, CA.
ImagineAsia is currently animating the Cine Groupe/Columbia TriStar feature
film sequel HEAVY METAL F.A.K.K.2 and will shortly begin production on its
own 26-episode, 3D-animated series, THE QUEST: TALES FROM THE RAMAYANA. "We
formed VirtualMagic ASIA to best serve high-quality, long-form animation.
By setting up digital ink & paint services at the ImagineAsia Studio
facility, a complete digital animation service in the Philippines. We will
be able to provide a variety of production solutions to the digital ink &
paint process," said Spielvogel. "VirtualMagic Animation has made the
commitment to the Philippines not only because we are impressed with
ImagineAsia, but we are also very impressed with the Philippine animation
industry." "We're very excited to be associated with a company like
VirtualMagic," says ImagineAsia chairman Jeffrey Harrison, "and we look
forward to a long and successful relationship." ImagineAsia Studio was
founded, in 1997, by Harrison, and partners COO Michael Collinson and
President Maria Passion. The studio specializes in 3D digital animation,
digital ink & paint, motion capture technology and digital puppetry. With
over 150 employees in a 30,000 square foot facility, ImagineAsia is
planning an extensive expansion in 1999.
