Film and television giant Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS) has announced that it will open a new animation studio in Vancouver, B.C. in January of next year.
The company said in a news release that the new studio will focus on long-form series as well as special projects created for the Disney+ streaming platform. Walt Disney said the Vancouver studio's work will begin with the musical television series "Moana."
Story development, storyboarding and production design for all projects will still be based in Disney’s Burbank, California studio, which also handles the company’s feature films.
Walt Disney said Amir Nasrabadi will lead the studio in Vancouver after working in senior roles with Vancouver-based WildBrain Studios, Pixar Canada and Paramount Animation.
Disney Animation President Clark Spencer said both Burbank and Vancouver are home to some of the world's most talented animators.
"We believe the storytelling and visual quality created within each location will meet the incredibly high standards we set for ourselves and (which) audiences have come to expect from Disney Animation," the company said in its news release.
