New Venture Will Operate As Part of Partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures

Animal Logic is opening an animation studio in Vancouver, BC to produce three new animated features in its production relationship with Warner Bros.

The VFX and animation studio described the new Animal Logic Vancouver as "an exclusive partnership" with Warner Bros. Pictures. The studio is expected to open in September, with production on The Lego Movie Sequel scheduled to begin in January. The company said the new studio is expected to employ 300 staff.

Animal Logic has made other films with Warner, including Happy Feet and The Lego Movie, and Animal Logic Entertainment opened on office in Los Angeles in late 2013. "Animal Logic has helped bring some of our most popular animated titles to life, and we're excited to be working even closer with them via this new venture," said WB Pictures President of Animation, Digital Production and Visual Effects Chris deFaria in a prepared statement. "Their expertise and excellence are recognized industry-wide, and we know they'll continue to bring their magic to our films."

In Sydney, Animal Logic will continue production on the upcoming animated features Lego Batman and Ninjago, as well as VFX work on titles such as Avengers: Age of Ultron and director Chen Kaige's Monk Comes Down the Mountain. "We remain committed to the Australian creative industries, and to continuing to produce great work in animation and visual effects," said Animal Logic Co-Founder and CEO Zareh Nalbandian in a statement. "Our Sydney studio continues its focus on the current projects in production, as well as ongoing development of our growing slate of films being developed by Animal Logic Entertainment."