Netflix Acquires Aussie Animation Indie Animal Logic

Netflix and Animal Logic announced today that Netflix plans to acquire the Australian animation studio. This acquisition will support Netflix’s ambitious animated film slate, building on films like Academy Award-nominated Over the Moon, Academy Award-nominated Klaus and the recently released The Sea Beast, which has topped the streamer’s English-language movie charts for two weeks straight according to Netflix Top 10.

Completion of this transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions; the deal is expected to close later this year.

Animal Logic has been producing award-winning design, visual effects and animation for over 30 years. Headquartered in Sydney, Animal Logic set up a second studio in Vancouver, Canada in 2015 and has worked on Hollywood blockbusters including Happy Feet, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, the LEGO movies and Peter Rabbit 1 & 2, alongside a catalog of amazing VFX work including The Matrix, Moulin Rouge!, 300 and The Great Gatsby.

The announcement builds on an already strong partnership between the two companies, with a full slate of films across Animal Logic’s Sydney and Vancouver studios including The Magician’s Elephant, directed by Wendy Rogers, and the recently announced The Shrinking of Treehorn, directed by Ron Howard, for Netflix.

“Netflix has been investing in animation over the past few years and this furthers our commitment to building a world-class animation studio,” said Amy Reinhard, Netflix Vice President of Studio Operations. “Animal Logic is a leading animation studio with innovative technology that will strengthen our existing business and increase our long-term capacity in the animation space, so that we can better entertain our members around the world.”

Working with Animal Logic will accelerate the buildout of Netflix’s end-to-end animation production capabilities. The Animal Logic and Netflix Animation teams together will create a global creative production team and an animation studio that will produce some of Netflix’s largest animated film titles. Netflix will continue to work with many other studios around the world for animated series and film needs.

Led by CEO and co-founder Zareh Nalbandian, the Animal Logic teams and leadership will remain operating under the Animal Logic brand and will fulfil production of existing and ongoing commitments and continue to collaborate and work with longstanding studio partners.

“After 30 years of producing great work with great people, this is the perfect next chapter for Animal Logic,” said Nalbandian. “Our values and aspirations could not be more aligned with Netflix, in working with diverse content makers, producing innovative and engaging stories for audiences around the world. Our collective experience and talent will open new doors for all our teams and will empower a new level of creativity in animation.”

“The strength of our partnership across a number of projects is testament to our shared creative vision,” said Animal Logic’s COO Sharon Taylor. “Solidifying our future together felt like a mutually beneficial, natural progression and I am so excited to continue to build on our success together.”

Animal Logic Entertainment will remain independent and continue to
collaborate with iconic filmmakers and major studio partners to develop and produce elevated family entertainment with universal appeal.

Netflix’s fast-growing original slate of animated features and shorts also includes Academy Award-nominated Robin, Robin, Kris Pearn’s The Willoughbys, Clare Knight and Harry Cripps’s Back to the Outback and Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood from Richard Linklater, as well as upcoming releases including Henry Selick’s Wendell & Wild, Nora Twomey’s My Father’s Dragon, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and an Aardman sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Recent acquisitions include the Academy Award-nominated The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Vivo!, Spongebob: Sponge on the Run (ex North America) and Wish Dragon.