Reel FX Animation (or simply Reel FX) - formerly known as Reel FX Creative Studios (also known as Reel FX Animation Studios) is an American

computer animation Computer animation is the process used for digitally generating animations. The more general term computer-generated imagery (CGI) encompasses both static scenes ( still images) and dynamic images ( moving images), while computer animation re ...

and

visual effects Visual effects (sometimes abbreviated VFX) is the process by which imagery is created or manipulated outside the context of a live-action shot in filmmaking and video production. The integration of live-action footage and other live-action foota ...

studio based in

Dallas Dallas () is the third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

;

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

. The studio develops and produces award-winning animated feature-length films, short films, and theme park content. Its first original animated feature film, ''

Free Birds ''Free Birds'' is a 2013 American computer-animated science fiction comedy film. The film follows two turkeys travelling back in time to the first Thanksgiving to get turkey off the menu. It was produced by Reel FX Creative Studios as its fir ...

'', was released in 2013 and grossed over $110 million worldwide. Its second film, '' The Book of Life'' was released in 2014 to widely positive reviews and received several nominations, including Best Animated Feature Nominations from the Golden Globe's, Critics’ Choice Awards, Producers Guild Awards and Annie Awards. '' Rumble'', the third original film from Reel FX and a co-production with

Paramount Animation Paramount Animation is an American animation studio, serving as the animation division and label of Paramount Pictures, a subsidiary of Paramount Global. The division was founded on July 6, 2011, following the box office success of Paramount's ow ...

, was released on December 15, 2021. The studio has also recently teamed up with

Netflix Animation Netflix Animation is an American animation studio and a subsidiary of Netflix. The studio primarily produces and develops animated programs and feature films. History When Netflix began to produce original animated content in 2013, all of them ...

to create ''

Back to the Outback ''Back to the Outback'' is a 2021 computer-animated adventure comedy film directed by Clare Knight and Harry Cripps, in both their directorial debuts, from a screenplay written by Cripps, and a story by Gregory Lessans and Cripps. The voice cast ...

'', Super Giant Robot Brothers! and with

Warner Animation Group The Warner Animation Group (WAG) is an American animation studio serving as the computer-animated feature film label of Warner Bros.' theatrical film production and distribution division, Warner Bros. Pictures. Established on January 7, 2013, ...

on ''

Scoob! ''SCOOB!'' is a 2020 American computer-animated mystery comedy film produced by the Warner Animation Group, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is a reboot of the theatrical'' Scooby-Doo'' film series and the third theatrical film b ...

''.

History

Reel FX was founded in 1993 as Reel Magic in Fort Worth, Texas. The company used an Onyx Reality Engine II system and was the sixth to purchase Autodesk Flame software. Following a large storm in Fort Worth, the company moved to Dallas in 1995, changing its name to Reel FX Creative Studios. Reel FX purchased West End Post in 1999 and moved another building in Dallas. The company produced a short film, ''The Man in the Moon'', directed by

William Joyce William Brooke Joyce (24 April 1906 – 3 January 1946), nicknamed Lord Haw-Haw, was an American-born fascist and Nazi propaganda broadcaster during the Second World War. After moving from New York to Ireland and subsequently to England, ...

and Brandon Oldenburg. After Reel FX provided visual effects for '' Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams'', and was noticed by

20th Century Fox Animation 20th Century Animation, Inc. (originally known as Fox Family Films, Fox Animation Studios, and 20th Century Fox Animation and sometimes referred to as Fox Animation) is an American animation studio located in Century City, Los Angeles. Formed ...

president

Chris Meledandri Christopher Meledandri (; born May 15, 1959) is an American film producer and founder and CEO of Illumination. He previously served as President of 20th Century Fox Animation, and has worked as the producer of the ''Despicable Me'' franchise a ...

, the company opened a second office in Pasadena, California, and moved its Dallas office to

Deep Ellum Deep Ellum is an American neighborhood composed largely of arts and entertainment venues near downtown in East Dallas, Texas. The name is based on a corruption of the area's principal thoroughfare, Elm Street. Older alternative uses include D ...

. In 2007, Reel FX pitched their ''The Man in the Moon'' project to

DreamWorks Animation DreamWorks Animation LLC (DWA, also known as DreamWorks Animation Studios and simply known as DreamWorks) is an American animation studio that produces animated films and television programs and is a subsidiary of Universal Pictures, a divisio ...

, eventually expanding it into a movie based on William Joyce's book series ''The Guardians of Childhood''. Reel FX also acquired Radium, which produced visual effects and commercials. Radium and Reel FX moved to a larger building in Santa Monica the following year. In December 2010, it was announced that Reel FX produced an untitled

3D film 3D films are motion pictures made to give an illusion of three-dimensional solidity, usually with the help of special glasses worn by viewers. They have existed in some form since 1915, but had been largely relegated to a niche in the motion pic ...

with producer

Andrew Adamson Andrew Ralph Adamson (born 1 December 1966) is a New Zealand film director, producer, and screenwriter based in Los Angeles, where he directed the Academy Award-winning animated films '' Shrek'' and '' Shrek 2''. He was director, executive p ...

and

Cirque du Soleil Cirque du Soleil (, ; "Circus of the Sun" or "Sun Circus") is a Canadian entertainment company and the largest contemporary circus producer in the world. Located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul on 16 ...

. In January 2012, it was announced by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

that it had acquired worldwide rights to the film, now titled '' Worlds Away'' directed by Adamson and executive-produced by

James Cameron James Francis Cameron (born August 16, 1954) is a Canadian filmmaker. A major figure in the post- New Hollywood era, he is considered one of the industry's most innovative filmmakers, regularly pushing the boundaries of cinematic capability ...

. In October 2012,

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly large ...

revealed Reel FX's connection to the 2012 feature film, ''

Rise of the Guardians ''Rise of the Guardians'' is a 2012 American 3D computer-animated fantasy action-adventure film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film was directed by Peter Ramsey (in his feature directorial debut ...

'', based on ''The Man in the Moon'' and ''The Guardians of Childhood''. Reel FX Animation Studios logo

From 2009 to 2013, Reel FX completed its first original animated feature film ''

''. Originally titled ''Turkeys'' and scheduled for the release of 2014, but it was pulled back to November 1, 2013.

Jimmy Hayward James Hayward (born September 17, 1970) is a Canadian film director, screenwriter and animator. Biography At a young age, Hayward began his career at Mainframe Entertainment animating and directing commercials. He was one of the original anim ...

directed the film, which tells a story about two turkeys who travel back in time to prevent their species from being the traditional Thanksgiving meal. RFX ANIMATION HORIZONTAL LOGO ORANGE

In February 2012, the studio announced a new CG-animated film, '' The Book of Life'', directed by

Jorge R. Gutierrez Jorge R. Gutierrez (born 1975) is a Mexican animator, director, painter, writer, voice actor, and production designer. He co-created (with wife, Sandra Equihua) the Annie and Emmy Award-winning Ni cktoon '' El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Ri ...

and produced by

Guillermo del Toro Guillermo del Toro Gómez (; born October 9, 1964) is a Mexican filmmaker, author, and actor. He directed the Academy Award–winning fantasy films ''Pan's Labyrinth'' (2006) and '' The Shape of Water'' (2017), winning the Academy Awards for ...

. It is described as a "Romeo and Juliet-style love story set against a Mexican

Day of the Dead The Day of the Dead ( es, Día de Muertos or ''Día de los Muertos'') is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality. It is widely obser ...

backdrop." In December 2012, it was reported that the studio has partnered with

to produce the film, and scheduled for October 3, 2014, but it was pushed back to October 17. '' Rumble'', their third original film, directed by Hamish Grieve and co-produced with Paramount was released on December 15, 2021.

Filmography

Original productions

Released films

In development

Short films

Television series

As an animation service

Feature films

Direct-to-video

* '' Barney Home Video'' (1996–2000) (special effects) * '' G.I. Joe: Spy Troops'' (2003) * '' G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom'' (2004) * ''Action Man: X Missions – The Movie'' (2005) * ''Boz: Colors and Shapes'' (2006) * ''Boz: Adventures in Imagination'' (2006) * ''The Very First Noel'' (2006) * ''Thank You God for B-O-Zs and 1-2-3s!'' (2007) * ''Start Singing with Boz'' (2008) * '' Tales of the Black Freighter'' (2009)

Television

=Series

= * ''

No Activity ''No Activity'' is an Australian comedy television series which streams on Stan. The series is about two detectives on a stakeout. The Australian series was the first commission produced for the Australian streaming service. It comes from the ...

'' (season 4; animation assistance with ATK PLN for Flight School Studio)

=Specials

= * '' Jonah Sing-Along Songs and More!'' (2002; with Big Idea Productions) * '' Halloweentown High'' (2004) * '' Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas'' (2011; with

and Blue Sky Studios)

Short films

* ''The Man in the Moon'' (1999) * '' Aunt Fanny's Tour of Booty'' (2005; co-animated with Blue Sky Studios) * '' Secrets of the Furious Five'' (2008; with

and Film Roman) * ''Live Music'' (2009) (co-produced with Mass Animation) * ''Looney Tunes'': (with Warner Bros. Pictures and

Warner Bros. Animation Warner Bros. Animation Inc. is an American animation studio which is part of the Warner Bros. Television Studios division of Warner Bros., a flagship of Warner Bros. Discovery. As the successor to Warner Bros. Cartoons, which was active from 19 ...

) ** Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner shorts: *** '' Rabid Rider'' (2010) *** '' Fur of Flying'' (2010) *** ''

Coyote Falls ''Coyote Falls'' is a 2010 3D computer-animated ''Looney Tunes'' short film featuring the characters Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. Directed by Matthew O'Callaghan and written by Tom Sheppard, it is the first Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner ...

'' (2010) *** ''Flash in the Pain'' (2014) ** '' I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat'' (2011) ** '' Daffy's Rhapsody'' (2012) * '' Pacific Rum: Jaeger Pilot'' (2014) * ''Son of Jaguar'' (2016) * '' Best Fiends'': ** ''Best Fiends: Boot Camp'' (2017) ** ''Best Fiends: Visit Minutia'' (2017) ** ''Best Fiends: Fort of Hard Knocks'' (2018) ** ''Best Fiends: Baby Slug's Big Day Out'' (2018) ** ''Best Fiends: Howie's Gift'' (2019) ** ''Best Fiends: Temper's Adventure'' (2019) ** ''Best Fiends: The Immortal Cockroach'' (2019) ** ''Best Fiends: The Fight Before Christmas'' (2019) ** ''Best Fiends: King Slug Industries'' (2020) *La Calesita (2022)

Theme park attractions

* ''

The Simpsons Ride ''The Simpsons'' Ride is a motion simulator ride located in the Springfield areas of both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood. Based on the animated television series ''The Simpsons'', the ride was announced in 2007 as a r ...

'' (2008; co-animated with

Blur Studio Blur Studio is an American-based production company which specialises in CGI visual effects, CGI animation and CGI design. Located in Culver City, California, the studio has produced CGI-animated films, teasers and ad spots for television, as wel ...

) * '' Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem'' (2012)

Virtual worlds

* '' Webosaurs''
Baby Bottle Pop

Production logos

Relativity Media Relativity Media is an American media company founded in 2004 by Lynwood Spinks and Ryan Kavanaugh. The company brokered film finance deals and later branched into film production and other entertainment ventures. The company was commerciall ...

(2013) *

(2019; co-produced with ATK PLN)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Reel FX Animation 1996 establishments in Texas Companies based in Dallas Companies based in Santa Monica, California American companies established in 1996 Mass media companies established in 1996 American animation studios Visual effects companies