Lucasfilm Animation Singapore Opens and Preps Clone Wars
Lucasfilm Ltd. officially opened the doors of Lucasfilm Animation Singapore, a digital animation studio designed to produce movies and television for global audiences. The studio was created through a consortium that includes Lucasfilm Ltd., EDB Investments and Creative Technology Ltd.
Were very excited about the opening of the new studio, said George Lucas. Our first series a TV adventure titled CLONE WARS, based on the time between ATTACK OF THE CLONES and REVENGE OF THE SITH is already in active development and we hope to see it on the air in 2007.
Teo Ming Kian, chairman, Economic Development board said, Lucasfilms new studio in Singapore represents a significant milestone in the development of Singapores digital media industry. With this strategic partnership, we now have the opportunity to work with the best in the business. It will also open many exciting opportunities for our people with their broad range of interests and competencies to venture in. The opening today complements EDBs efforts in promoting rich, content areas from documentaries to gaming to digital animation which will add to the diversification of our economy.
Micheline Chau, president/coo of Lucasfilm, and Gail Currey, vp/gm of Lucasfilm Animation, flew in especially for the occasion from San Francisco.
The studio, which is approximately 3,715 square meters (40,000 square feet) employs more than 35 staff from 19 countries around the world. By the end of 2005, Lucasfilm Animation Singapore expects to hire 50 employees, with more being hired in 2006. Christian Kubsch was recently hired as general manager after serving as production exec at DreamWorks. The company announced several other key hires that will be based at the Singapore studio:
Phillip Stamp, director of animation, has more than 12 years of experience in animation production for both television and feature films. Hes been integrally involved in art direction, design, storyboarding, script supervision and animation. He joins the company from Canada, where he worked on INUK SEASON II, ALIEN PLANET and THE SECRET ADVENTURES OF JULES VERNE.
Teo Chor Guan, software engineer manager, has more than 15 years of experience in systems engineering for computer graphics. Her wide range of experience spans from 3D graphics research at the Institute of Systems Science in Singapore to building air traffic control systems for MacDonald Dettwiler & Assoc. in Canada. Most recently with the Games Development Group at the School of Design at Nanyang Polytechnic, she has also worked as a software developer at Electronic Arts (EA) Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronics) from the National University of Singapore and a Masters in Computer Science from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada.
Rossina Lim Yennyenn, controller, has 10 years of accounting, financial systems and financial management experience serving most recently as the Manager of Financial Accounting for ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) with responsibilities over cash flow, financial reporting, taxation and accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant with experience in public accounting (Arthur Andersen) and achieved a Bachelor of Accountancy from Nanyang Technological University.
Chris Kubsch is building a strong crew of artistic talent, production and operational expertise that will be a huge asset both to the Singapore animation community and our Lucasfilm entertainment companies, said Currey. Were looking forward to the innovation and creative vision theyll undoubtedly bring to our first television series and our future animation and digital media projects.
The technology at the studio will also lead the industry. Were leveraging not only the technology, but the expertise and the techniques developed over the years at Industrial Light & Magic and LucasArts, to train a new generation of digital artists at our Singapore studio, said Cliff Plumer, cto of Lucasfilm. Our infrastructure in Singapore mirrors our campuses at Skywalker Ranch and the Letterman Digital Arts Center in San Francisco, making the integration and communication seamless and efficient.
Lucasfilm Animation Singapore was established in August 2004. Lucasfilm Ltd. is one of the worlds leading film and entertainment companies. Founded by George Lucas in 1971, it is a privately held, fully integrated entertainment company. In addition to its motion picture and television productions, the companys global businesses include Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound; LucasArts; Lucas Licensing; Lucasfilm Animation and Lucas Online. Lucasfilms feature films have won 19 Oscars and its television projects have won 12 Emmy Awards.