Prana Studios

Last updated

Prana Studios, Inc.
Company type Private
Industry Visual effects, CGI animation
FoundedApril 2005;19 years ago (2005-04)
DefunctJuly 10, 2019
FateClosed
Successor88 Pictures
Headquarters,
Number of locations
2 (Mumbai, India)
Number of employees
300
Subsidiaries Rhythm and Hues
Website Prana Studios

Prana Studios, Inc. was an American computer animation and visual effects company, founded in 2005 in Los Angeles, United States, with a wholly owned subsidiary in Mumbai, India.

Contents

Prana Studios' investors include Reliance Industries and Mahindra Group. [1]

History

Prana Studios was founded in April 2005 by Arish Fyzee, Kristin Dornig and Pankaj Gunsagar. [2] In 2005, Prana opened its Mumbai office. [3]

In 2008, The Weinstein Company launched a series of direct-to-video CGI feature-length films called Unstable Fables - they were produced amongst others, by The Jim Henson Company and Prana Studios. [2] The first released was 3 Pigs and a Baby, the second released was Tortoise vs. Hare and third and final released was The Goldilocks and the 3 Bears Show.

Prana produced stories and CGI imagery for US domestic, international and Indian domestic Bollywood markets, including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai for Dharma Productions, [4] as well as the French animated film Why I Did (Not) Eat My Father .

On March 29, 2013, Prana Studios affiliate 34x118 Holdings, LLC won the bidding of Rhythm and Hues Studios in a bankruptcy auction against other visual effects/CGI animation studios, Prime Focus and Brave Vision. Another contender, Psyop, was eliminated early in the process. [5] The sale was "valued at about $30 million." [6]

Post 2013, Rhythm&Hues and their VFX Supervisors were multiple Emmy and Visual Effects Society Award nominees and winners for their work on Game of Thrones. [7] Prana Studios, Inc. is the recipient of multiple Themed Entertainment nominations and Awards, including for the attraction "5D Castle Theatre" at the prestigious Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Zuhai, China. [8]

Filmography

Feature films

TitleOriginal release dateCo-production withNotes
Hoodwinked! January 13, 2006 The Weinstein Company [6]
Kanbar Entertainment
Unstable Fables: 3 Pigs and a Baby March 4, 2008The Weinstein Company
The Jim Henson Company
Unstable Fables: Tortoise vs. Hare September 9, 2008
Tinker Bell September 18, 2008 Walt Disney Pictures
DisneyToon Studios
Unstable Fables: The Goldilocks and the 3 Bears Show December 16, 2008The Weinstein Company
The Jim Henson Company
Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back October 5, 2010 Vanguard Animation
Tron: Legacy November 30, 2010Walt Disney PicturesVFX only [6]
Dylan Dog: Dead of Night March 16, 2011
(Italy)
Hyde Park Entertainment
Platinum Studios
Transformers: Dark of the Moon June 28, 2011 Paramount Pictures Additional digital effects
Secret of the Wings August 16, 2012
(Ukraine)
DisneyToon Studios
Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return June 14, 2013
(AIAFF)
Summertime Entertainment
Metegol July 18, 2013
(Argentina)
Universal Pictures International
Planes August 9, 2013DisneyToon Studios [6]
Saving Santa November 5, 2013 Gateway Films
The Pirate Fairy February 13, 2014
(Denmark)
DisneyToon Studios
Postman Pat: The Movie May 23, 2014 DreamWorks Classics
Planes: Fire & Rescue July 18, 2014DisneyToon Studios
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast December 12, 2014
(United Kingdom)

Short films

TitleOriginal release dateCo-production with
The ChubbChubbs Save Xmas August 8, 2007 Columbia Pictures
Sony Pictures Animation
Alex & SylviaApril 2015 BRC Imagination Arts [9]
Kaka's Great AdventureMay 2015 Chimelong Ocean Kingdom [10]

Television

TitleOriginal release dateCo-production withNotes
Pixie Hollow Games November 19, 2011 DisneyToon Studios
An Elf's Story: The Elf on the Shelf November 26, 2011Trick 3D
Game of Thrones [11] April 17, 2011 HBO VFX only
The VeggieTales Show October 22, 2019 Big Idea Entertainment

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References

  1. Bhattacharjee, Nivedita (October 12, 2016). "Witches and thrones: Indian animators cash in on special effects boom". Reuters. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Baisley, Sarah (May 22, 2006). "Weinstein Co. Launches CG Unstable Fables Video Line". Animation World Network. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  3. "Foreign Animation Studios In Expansion Mode". Financial Express. August 6, 2004.
  4. "Karan Johar announces four new projects". Sify . February 8, 2008. Archived from the original on June 26, 2013.
  5. "Two-Day Roller Coaster Ends Delivers L.A. VFX Studio to Indian Owners." Variety, March 28, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Verrier, Richard (March 29, 2013). "Rhythm & Hues finalizes sale to Prana Studios". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  7. "Outstanding Special Visual Effects Nominees / Winners 2018".
  8. "Thea Award Recipients Named – List Includes Waterworld and Shanghai Disneyland". November 16, 2016.
  9. Alex and Sylvia - YouTube Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  10. Michael Switow (June 2015). "Chimelong Ocean Kingdom - June 2015". IAAPA. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  11. "This Indian company made Khaleesi's dragons in Game of Thrones", Quartz India , July 14, 2015