Cinesite, a VFX company based in the UK and Canada, has entered Asia for the first time by acquiring a majority stake in Assemblage, a rising CGI animation and VFX studio in Mumbai, India.
Assemblage will continue to provide independent service to its global clientele under the direction of CEO Arjun Madhavan and founder AK Madhavan.
Assemblage has worked on a wide range of US studio and independent films and series, including Disney’s Miraculous Ladybug, Sony’s Swan Princess, Lionsgate’s Norm Of The North, Entertainment Studios’ Artic Dogs, and France TV’s Enchanted Village Of Pinocchio. The company was founded in 2013 by Madhavan, who is referred to as Madmax in the industry.The studio has also collaborated frequently with AppleTV+ and Amazon Prime on Puffins and Puffins Impossible, as well as with Netflix on productions like Trollhunters, Chico Bon Bon, and Word Party.
During the global production boom, Cinesite has become increasingly acquisitive, recently acquiring Canadian animation studios L’Atelier Animation and Squeeze, as well as Balkans-based VFX house FX3X; Trixter, which has facilities in Berlin and Munich;and Image Engine in Vancouver, in addition to Cinesite’s initial locations in London, Vancouver, and Montreal.
“To produce the quality of content that we are aiming for to serve the market demand in the future, we need to be able to draw on talent and competence from various territories around the world. Through this venture, we have found the right partner in Assemblage who is well-placed to further solidify its position as an important player in the international animation market, grow its VFX capabilities and meet the extensive commercial demand in Asia.”
Assemblage CEO Arjun Madhavan said: “Cinesite brings a wealth of experience in the feature animation and VFX sectors that marries perfectly with our growth strategy. Its creative and technical expertise, multinational presence and robust talent network provides us with enhanced opportunities. This will empower us to further strengthen our service offerings, deepen our footprint and widen our clientele globally. With a legacy of pioneering many firsts in and from India, we are enthused by how much more we can achieve together.”
Recent and forthcoming credits for Cinesite include Marvel’s Black Panther:Wakanda Forever, Matilda and the Witcher Season 3 on Netflix, and Foundation Season 2 on Apple TV+
