Relish Interactive has opened up a new hub on Vancouver Island.

Serving as the Toronto-based digital content studio’s animation division headquarters, the Duncan, B.C. office which opened in October currently sees 10 full-time equivalent employees coming and going daily, with the space designed to host 25 people post-COVID-19, a spokesperson for Relish Interactive told Playback Daily.

Founded in 2007, the company behind game Weirdwood Manor also has offices in Ottawa, Toronto, L.A. and San Jose, Costa Rica with a total headcount of between 80 to 100 employees depending on how many projects the company is working on. Notably, a spokesperson for the company told Playback Daily that the team behind its Vancouver office is currently working from home.

By opening up an office in the new region, Relish Interactive qualifies for B.C.’s distant location regional tax credit.

This new studio will help Relish Interactive continue to meet growing demands for animation work, which earlier this year acquired Costa Rica-based Rocket Cartoons – growing its in-house animation team as well as its capabilities, according to a press release.

Led by CEO Paul Pattison (pictured) and CCO Russ Uttley, the company is currently in production on various service projects for Mattel and Relish’s first original animated feature.

Initially, the plan for the office will be to focus on short-form 2D and 3D, with the company looking to expand into longer-form, such as film and TV, according to the spokesperson.

“The Duncan facility is a crucial next step in our ongoing growth strategy,” said Relish’s Pattison in a statement. “Vancouver Island makes a perfect base for our West Coast animation operations for a few reasons. First, it provides an excellent backdrop for both current and new talent to work. Work-life balance is important to us and, in that regard, Vancouver Island really delivers. Secondly, it’s quite close to Vancouver – making it easy to work with clients and partners there. Our studio is even equipped with the infrastructure that gives us a seamless connection to the mainland.”

Previously, Bron Studios expanded into Duncan, B.C. in 2015 as a part of a move to expand its animation business operations.

Image of Pattison courtesy of Relish Interactive