buys Ann-imation

Ann Smeltzer, president and creative director of Ann-imation Video and Special Effects, has resigned from the company and sold her interest to Command Post and Transfer.

Command Post is in the process of incorporating Ann-imation into the company, says president and ceo Michael Flanigan.

Since both businesses shared office space, the most complicated part of the merger are the legalities, which should be sorted out within 30 to 45 days, says Flanigan. At that point, the Ann-imation shingle will come down.

The incorporation is a result of Smeltzer’s desire to move into more long-format special-effects design work. Over the past 18 months, the volume of her private consultation work as a supervisor and designer of special effects for feature film and television projects increased to the point where she needed to make a change, says Flanigan. Her resignation was effective Feb. 1.

Flanigan, who was one of Ann-imation’s founding partners when the company was launched in 1987, says Command Post is strengthening its commitment to the commercial production industry. Ann-imation’s focus on commercial production became clouded with Smeltzer’s interest in long-format work, and the consolidation will change that, he concludes.