Version2 Partners With Special Branch

New York-based editorial and vfx/motion design shop Version2 will partner with CG animation and vfx shop, Special Branch, forming Special Branch@V2 (SB@V2).

The partnership expands V2's current presence, ability, and scope allowing them to deliver a wider range of services and talent depth to its clients. Special Branch is run by Partners/Artists Fran Roberts and Ed Manning. The SB@V2 deal provides an additional dimension to the growing resources available at the vfx /motion design division of V2.

V2's Head of Production Frank Devlin said, "Having worked directly with Ed Manning, as a freelancer and then later when he started Special Branch, I was always impressed with the photoreal quality of his work. He achieves the highest production value on every project. Special Branch is a great compliment to the V2 companies and gives us the CG production support to compete in high end vfx projects."

Roberts is a veteran vfx Supervisor/Artist and Animation Director, spending several years at Blue Sky Studios where he was instrumental in completing the feature film, Ice Age. Following Blue Sky, Fran spent several years freelancing on campaigns for Nike, Toyota, AT&T, Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Lenscrafters to name a few before launching Special Branch in 2005.

Prior to Special Branch, vfx Supervisor/Artist/Animation Director Manning worked for companies such as R/GA, Riot, Charlex, Click 3X, Black Logic, Blink, Liquid Light, UV/Phactory, Spontaneous, Trollback, and Imaginary Forces. Manning has been part of dozens of award-winning spot campaigns, music videos, game cinematics, and feature films such as TWILIGHT ZONE, DREAMSCAPE, STAR TREK IV, MOONWALKER, THE ABYSS, BACK TO THE FUTURE II and TOTAL RECALL.