Starz Media has cut the ribbon on the new 45,000-square-foot home of its offshoot Starz Animation Toronto, which it unveiled to the press and industry earlier this week. The studio joins Starz’s other production and distribution operations in North America, which include Film Roman, Anchor Bay Entertainment and Vanguard Animation.

Toon veteran David Steinberg, who hails most recently from Walt Disney Feature Animation, is heading up operations as EVP and GM.

The new studio currently employs 150, but has room to staff up to 360, depending on the volume of projects coming through its doors. The team just wrapped animating the upcoming Big Idea/Universal Pictures feature The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie and is now working up 9, a dark, post-apocalyptic CGI tale produced by master of the macabre Tim Burton.

Steinberg told the crowd that close proximity to the animation talent being turned out by local post-secondary schools Sheridan and Seneca Colleges was a particular draw when it came to setting up in Toronto. As for non-work-for-hire toon projects, Starz is staying mum for the moment, but Steinberg did mention he was keen to start teaming up with other Canadian prodcos on original content.

From KidScreen Daily