Legend 3D Establishes Legend Animation

Industry-leading 3-D conversion, VFX and VR studio Legend 3D Inc. is expanding its line of business into the world of animation with the establishment of Legend Animation, it was announced Sept. 12 by Aidan Foley, Chief Executive Officer of Legend 3D Inc.

The new unit will be headed by veteran animation industry executive and producer Galen Walker (TMNT, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and be based at the Legend 3D headquarters within the parent company’s 27,000-square foot state-of-the-art facility on the Columbia Square campus in Hollywood.  Walker and his team will report to Will Maurer, VP, Legend VR and Animation.

In addition to multiple projects currently in development that are being brought under the new Legend Animation division, Walker and team will leverage Legend’s experience and relationships to collaborate with partners in identifying both new IP as well as existing properties that have never had a CGI/animated presence. Legend Animation has been designed as a global studio with the expertise to develop, produce and distribute animated content to worldwide markets.  Legend will partner with filmmakers, studios, creative agencies and brands to carefully craft compelling stories across all platforms. Using an award-winning team of creatives and technologists, a robust pipeline securely interconnected to a team of global collaborators enhances the abilities of the team at Legend Animation to create the highest possible quality animation within any budget or schedule.

“The launch of Legend Animation will expand Legend’s offerings in our sweet spot – digital media imaging – and will provide an expanded suite of services for our clients, TV networks, creative agencies and global brands,” said Foley.  “Adding capabilities in CGI, 2D and 3D animation is a natural extension to our core competency and will result in efficiencies both pre- and post-production work.  In addition, it will enable Legend to participate in new IP that the venture creates.  And adding Galen and his talented team of animation veterans to the Legend team provides clients with extraordinary creative talent across multiple media formats and a track record of success.”

A multi-faceted entertainment industry veteran, Walker was founder and President of Imagi Studios, where he secured the theatrical feature rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Highlander franchises and launc

hed animation production teams for each property in Los Angeles, Japan and Hong Kong.  He produced TMNT, the CGI-animated film financed and distributed by Warner Bros. and The Weinstein Co. (2007), which was No. 1 at the U.S. box office in its opening weekend and went on to gross $98 million-plus in theaters and millions in home video.  In 2014, Walker produced the Turtles’ live-action reboot with Michael Bay and his production company Platinum Dunes for Paramount Pictures, which grossed over $485 million worldwide.  Its sequel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, was released in June 2016, with Paramount anticipating additional films from this massive franchise. 

While continuing to control the TMNT film rights with Viacom, Walker also helped set up the animation production platform for the animation release of Astroboy in 2009.  

Walker and team are currently producing the CGI/Hybrid animated feature Once Upon a Zodiac with Paramount Studios and Unicorn Studios in Hong Kong/China as well as The Book of Mojo with creator Everett Downing and co-production partner Blueshore Films.  Their multiple projects in development and pre-production will be moved under the Legend Animation umbrella.

Walker co-created and executive produced the primetime game show Take It All with partner Howie Mandel and NBC Universal.  He has also created and developed multiple dramatic series, alternative content and game show formats for TV and cable networks.

Source: Legend Animation

Tom McLean has been writing for years about animation from a secret base in Los Angeles.