“Angry Birds” Feature Will Be Produced at Sony Imageworks Vancouver

The Angry Birds feature film that was announced last October will be animated at Sony Pictures Imageworks in Vancouver, Canada. At least one of the film’s directors, Clay Kaytis, has confirmed on Twitter that he will move to Vancouver to direct the project.

Sony Imageworks’ Vancouver facility was established in 2010 in the city’s Yaletown district and has been growing as a result of British Columbia’s 17.5% tax credit on labor expenses for digital productions. Sony has been attempting to shift personnel from its main Imageworks facility in Los Angeles to Vancouver; last month they made an offer to approximately three dozen LA-based employees: move to Vancouver or lose your job. Also reported in a press release yesterday, the British Columbia Ministry of International Trade helped Rovio, the Finnish maker of Angry Birds, establish a Canadian studio, Rovio Animation, to qualify for tax credits.

“The Angry Birds movie will allow Sony Pictures Imageworks to employ more artists in Vancouver on a single film than we’ve had on any of our previous CG features,” said Randy Lake, Imageworks executive vice president and general manager, digital production services. “British Columbia is rich with animation and effects talent, and we look forward to further enhancing the production staff in our Vancouver facility.”

Angry Birds, directed by Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly, is slated for a July 1, 2016 release by Sony Pictures.