ImageMovers Digital

ImageMovers Digital was an American animation production venture established in 2007 by Robert Zemeckis's ImageMovers and The Walt Disney Company. Its purpose was to create feature films using performance-capture and computer-generated imagery, with production based in converted aircraft hangars in Marin County, California. The venture represented an effort to turn the motion-capture approach associated with Zemeckis's films into a dedicated animation pipeline capable of generating theatrical releases for Walt Disney Pictures. The studio's creation followed ImageMovers' earlier work on digitally intensive and performance-capture productions. ImageMovers, originally incorporated in 1984 as South Side Amusement Company and renamed in 1997, had produced or co-produced films including The Polar Express and Beowulf, both of which used extensive motion-capture techniques. Disney and ImageMovers formalized their collaboration in 2007, creating a separate facility intended to concentrate on animated features rather than conventional live-action production. The arrangement combined Disney's distribution and marketing infrastructure with ImageMovers' creative and technical experience under Zemeckis. ImageMovers Digital completed two theatrical features. The first was A Christmas Carol, released by Walt Disney Pictures in November 2009. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and adapted from Charles Dickens's novella, the film used performance-capture imagery and featured Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright, and Cary Elwes in multiple roles. Although it was a prominent release and demonstrated the studio's intended production model, its commercial performance did not establish motion-capture animation as a reliable business platform for the joint venture. The second and final release was Mars Needs Moms, released in March 2011. Directed by Simon Wells and based on the children's book by Berkeley Breathed, it was produced through ImageMovers Digital and distributed by Walt Disney Studios. The film was a significant commercial disappointment. Its reception and financial results contributed directly to Disney's decision to close the facility after completion of the picture. Disney announced the shutdown in March 2010, before the film's release, citing changing economic conditions and a decision to pursue other ways of developing content. The closure led to approximately 450 employee layoffs. The shutdown halted several projects associated with the venture or its intended production slate. These included a proposed motion-capture version of Yellow Submarine, an adaptation of The Nutcracker, an original project called Calling All Robots, and a proposed sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Some of these projects had been discussed publicly at different stages of development, but none became an ImageMovers Digital release. Disney's withdrawal ended the joint venture as an operating animation facility in 2011. ImageMovers itself continued as a production company after the closure. In August 2011, it was reported to have entered a two-year first-look producing arrangement with Universal Pictures. Later television activity associated with ImageMovers included The Borgias and, through its television division Compari Entertainment, Manifest. Those later activities should not be confused with ImageMovers Digital, which was specifically the discontinued Disney partnership and motion-capture animation facility.

ImageMovers Digital emerged from the collaboration between ImageMovers and The Walt Disney Company during a period when performance-capture filmmaking was being promoted as a possible bridge between live-action performance and computer animation. ImageMovers had been founded by filmmaker Robert Zemeckis in 1984 under the name South Side Amusement Company and adopted the ImageMovers name in 1997. The production company became closely associated with Zemeckis's films and with technically ambitious projects, including The Polar Express and Beowulf. In 2007, Disney and ImageMovers created ImageMovers Digital as a dedicated animation venture. The facility operated from two converted aircraft hangars in Marin County, California. Its production model relied on actors performing scenes that could be digitally transformed into animated characters and environments. The arrangement gave ImageMovers a specialized home for its motion-capture projects while providing Disney with a pipeline for theatrical animated films outside its conventional hand-drawn and computer-animation operations. The first completed project was A Christmas Carol, a feature adaptation of Charles Dickens's story directed by Zemeckis. Walt Disney Pictures released the film on November 6, 2009. The production used performance capture and featured Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright, and Cary Elwes, among others. The film was conceived as a major showcase for the technique and for the new venture's capabilities. The second production was Mars Needs Moms, directed by Simon Wells and based on Berkeley Breathed's children's book. It reached theaters in March 2011. Before its release, Disney had already decided that ImageMovers Digital would close after the film was finished. The company attributed the decision to economic conditions and to a reassessment of how it should develop and deliver creative content. The closure involved approximately 450 employee layoffs. The venture's winding down also affected projects that had been under consideration. A motion-capture remake of Yellow Submarine, an adaptation of The Nutcracker, the animated science-fiction project Calling All Robots, and a proposed Who Framed Roger Rabbit sequel were among the projects discussed in connection with ImageMovers or the Disney partnership. These projects were not released by ImageMovers Digital. The poor commercial performance of Mars Needs Moms was widely associated with the abandonment of the remaining slate and with the end of Disney's participation. ImageMovers Digital ceased to function as an operating studio in 2011. ImageMovers continued separately as a production company, later entering a first-look arrangement with Universal Pictures and participating in television production. This later activity belongs to ImageMovers rather than to the defunct ImageMovers Digital joint venture.

• 2011

  Mars Needs Moms is released

  [3]Mars Needs Momsen.wikipedia.org

  The second feature becomes the venture's final theatrical release.

• 2011

  ImageMovers Digital ends operations

  [1]ImageMoversen.wikipedia.org

  The Disney-backed animation facility completes its shutdown.

• 2010

  Disney announces the facility's closure

  [1]ImageMoversen.wikipedia.org

  Disney announces that ImageMovers Digital will shut down after completing Mars Needs Moms, with approximately 450 positions affected.

• 2009

  A Christmas Carol is released

  [2]A Christmas Carol (2009 film)en.wikipedia.org

  The first ImageMovers Digital feature is released by Walt Disney Pictures on November 6.

• 2007

  Disney and ImageMovers create the joint venture

  [1]ImageMoversen.wikipedia.org

  The companies establish ImageMovers Digital as a Marin County facility focused on motion-capture animated feature films.

A specialist motion-capture animation venture combining ImageMovers' filmmaker-led production expertise with Disney's studio distribution and financing capabilities.

• Motion-capture animated feature film · 2009

  A Christmas Carol

  A performance-capture adaptation of Charles Dickens's novella directed by Robert Zemeckis. The film used digitally rendered characters and environments while drawing performances from actors including Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright, and Cary Elwes. Released by Walt Disney Pictures in November 2009, it served as ImageMovers Digital's first public demonstration of its production model.

• Motion-capture animated feature film · 2011

  Mars Needs Moms

  A science-fiction family film directed by Simon Wells and adapted from Berkeley Breathed's children's book. Produced through ImageMovers Digital and released by Walt Disney Pictures in 2011, it was the venture's second feature and final theatrical production. Its commercial failure contributed to the abandonment of the studio's remaining development projects and the completion of the facility's closure.

• 2010

  Close ImageMovers Digital after its second filmStrategy

  Background

  Disney reassessed the venture amid changing economic conditions and the commercial uncertainty surrounding its motion-capture animation strategy.

  Action taken

  Disney announced that the facility would cease operations after Mars Needs Moms was completed, affecting approximately 450 employees.

  Aftermath

  ImageMovers Digital's remaining projects, including proposed versions of Yellow Submarine, The Nutcracker, Calling All Robots, and a Who Framed Roger Rabbit sequel, did not become releases from the venture.

  Source

• 2007

  Create a dedicated motion-capture animation studioStrategy

  Background

  ImageMovers and Disney sought to build a specialized production operation for animated features based on performance-capture filmmaking.

  Action taken

  The companies formed ImageMovers Digital and established the facility in converted aircraft hangars in Marin County, California.

  Aftermath

  The venture produced two theatrical films, A Christmas Carol and Mars Needs Moms.

  Source

1. 1ImageMoversen.wikipedia.org
2. 2A Christmas Carol (2009 film)en.wikipedia.org
3. 3Mars Needs Momsen.wikipedia.org