Blockade Entertainment

Last updated
Blockade Hong Kong Animation LLC.
Type Animation, Film
Predecessor Imagi Animation Studios
Founded2008;16 years ago (2008)
Founders
Headquarters Taiwan, ,
Owner
Number of employees
178 (2020)
Subsidiaries
Website http://www.blockade.com/

Blockade Entertainment LLC, sometimes known by Blockade Hong Kong Animation, is a Hong Kong animation studio that was founded in 2008 and owned by Derek Chan, John C. Ip, and Brad Foxhoven. The studio was founded in 2008 with their first film, Heavenly Sword , being released in 2014.

Contents

History

2008-2016: Formation and first films

On March 8, 2008, the Chan brothers (Derek, Koop and Eric) met Korean CGI animator John C. Ip to launch an animation studio stationed at Hong Kong, China where they would produce CGI animated films with top-notch animators and directors. [1]

Brad Foxhoven also co-founded the studio with the Chan brothers and John C. Ip. While Brad owns the 50% share of the studio, the Chan brothers, and Mr. Ip own the rest of the studio. [2]

Foxhoven and the Chan brothers suggested their own prediction of what the studio's name would be.

The Chan brothers wanted the studio to be called Windriver Animation, Mr. Ip wanted the studio to be called Hong Kong Media Animation. However, Foxhoven voted the most for the name Blockade Entertainment.

On July 11. 2009, Blockade announced that they will produce films based upon properties from Sony PlayStation.

On December 3, 2009, Blockade Entertainment then said that those adaptations will be based upon Ratchat and Clank , Sly Cooper , and Heavenly Sword . [3]

On February 5, 2010, Blockade Entertainment acquired Imagi Animation Studios and its library of films and TV shows.

On September 6, 2010, Blockade announced an original movie starring Sean Astin and Kevin Smith. [4]

On September 2, 2014, their first film Heavenly Sword was released by TriCoast Worldwide. The film received mixed reviews and grossed $158 million. On September 16, 2014, despite the mixed reception of the first film, Blockade announced a sequel.

On September 23, Imagi and Blockade announced a film based upon a TV show based upon the Sonic The Hedgehog franchise, Sonic Boom . On October 15, 2014, their second film The Book Of Life was released by Open Road Films. The film received generally favorable reviews. However, the film was a box-office bomb, grossing $13.5 million worldwide. The underperformance of the film resulted in Blockade to take an Impairment charge with co-producer Reel FX Animation Studios for $10 million. On January 11, 2016, Foxhoven announced that Blockade Entertainment will acquire Reel FX Animation Studios for $55 million in order to increasing profits. On April 29, 2016, their third film Ratchat & Clank was released by Gramercy Pictures under Focus Features. The film received mixed-to-negative reviews, criticizing the story, characters, writing, narrative and pacing, though the animation, score and voice acting received praise. The film was also a box-office bomb, only grossing $14 million on a budget of $20 million. The film resulted in Rainmaker Entertainment, a co-producer of the film to take a impairment charge on their $10 million investment in the film.

2016-2020: Relocation to Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and Tim Cheung's arrival

On December 1, 2016, Foxhoven announced that Blockade would relocate to Taiwan in Hong Kong in order to make more money. On February 15, 2017, their fourth film The Breadwinner was released by Sony Pictures Classics.

The film was both a financial and critical success, grossing $186 million worldwide. On March 7, 2017, Tim Cheung joined Blockade Entertainment Inc. as a shareholder and one of the producers of their future films. On July 15, 2017, Foxhoven announced that Blockade is producing films like Wonder Park (with Paramount Animation), Isle of Dogs (with Fox Searchlight Animation) and Teen Titans GO! To The Movies (with Artroad Pictures).

On March 1, 2018, their fifth film Isle Of Dogs was released and was a financial and critical success, grossing $240 million worldwide.

On March 15, 2018, Blockade acquired Digital Dimension in Ontario, Canada. On April 15, 2018, Foxhoven announced that the original movie starring Sean Astin and Kevin Smith was cancelled.

On July 20, 2018, their sixth film Teen Titans Go! To The Movies was released by Open Road Films and received positive reviews and was a commercial success grossing $130 million worldwide.

On December 1, 2018, Blockade completed their deal to acquire Digital Dimension for $6.5 million.

On January 22, 2019, Tim Cheung announced an original movie starring Hong Kong actor and producer Jackie Chan.

On March 15, 2019, their seventh film Wonder Park was released by Open Road Films. The film received mixed reviews, while praising the animation and voice acting and score, they criticized the plot and tone. The film, though, was a box office success grossing $90.5 million worldwide on a low budget of $45 million.

2020-present: Current status of Blockade Entertainment

Then on July 15, 2020, Blockade Entertainment announced that they will acquire Jam Filled Entertainment for $5.5 billion. On August 3, 2020, Blockade announced that the sequel to Heavenly Sword will be released on January 3, 2022. On October 6, 2020, their eighth film Weathering with You was released by Open Road Films. The film received critical acclaim and grossed $1.4 billion worldwide, making this the highest-grossing film from Blockade. On February 26, 2021, their ninth film Tom & Jerry: The Movie was released by Warner Bros. The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews, but was a box office success grossing $116 million worldwide. On July 15, 2021, Blockade announced that they will have Cheung create an untitled film.

On January 3, 2022, their tenth film Heavenly Sword 2 was released by Lionsgate Premiere. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews, having a Rotten Tomatoes score of 64%, the film grossed $166 million worldwide. Blockade also completed their acquisition of Jam Filled Entertainment on May 12, 2022.

Feature films

Released

#DateFilmRNGrossBudgetCo-production withDistributor
1September 2, 2014 Heavenly Swords 45%$158 million$23 millionPlayStation OriginalsTriCoast Worldwide
2October 15, 2014 A Book Of Life 82%$12.3 million$10 million 20th Century Fox Animation,

Reel FX Animation Studios, Nitrogen Studios

Open Road Films
3April 29, 2016 Ratchet and Clank 21%$14 million$20 million Gramercy Pictures,

Rainmaker Entertainment, PlayStation Originals, CNHK Media China

Focus Features (via Gramercy Pictures in the United States),

Lionsgate Films (via Cinema Management Group internationally)

4February 15, 2017 The Breadwinner 95%$186 million$54 million StudioCanal,

Sony Pictures Classics

Sony Pictures Classics (Internationally),

Entertainment Film Distributors (UK), Entertainment One (Canada)

5March 1, 2018 Isle of Dogs 91%$240 million$36 million Fox Searchlight Pictures
6July 20, 2018 Teen Titans Go! To The Movies 98%$130 million$10 million DC Films Open Road Films
7March 15, 2019 Wonder Park 35%$90.5 million$45 million Paramount Pictures,

Paramount Animation, Nickelodeon Movies, Ilion Animation Studios

8October 6, 2020 Weathering with You 93%$1.4 billion$120 millionN/A
9February 26, 2021 Tom & Jerry 31%$116 million$90 million Warner Animation Group,

Turner Entertainment (uncredited)

Lionsgate
10January 3, 2022 Heavenly Sword 2 64%$166 million$75 million Lionsgate Premiere,

PlayStation Premiere, Iconic Entertainment, LIMITED Pictures

Upcoming

#DateFilmCo-production withDistributor
11Late December 2022Untitled Jackie Chan filmN/A Open Road Films (United States)

Lionsgate (International

12August 8, 2023Untitled film Reel FX Animation Studios Open Road Films
13TBAUntitled Calone animated film
14Galactic MenN/A
15Tim and the Large Clara

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References

  1. Chan, Derek (2012). Senior project #7 : longboard test apparatus. OCLC   808142515.
  2. Foxhoven, Brad (2015). Jirni volume 2. Aspen Comics. OCLC   1099033505.
  3. Niesenhaus, Jörg (January 2011). "Entertainment Interfaces". Entertainment Computing. 2 (4): 263. doi:10.1016/j.entcom.2011.10.001. ISSN   1875-9521.
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