Cinesite

Source: Cinesite/Assemblage

Antony Hunt, Arjun Madhavan

UK-Canadian visual effects studio Cinesite has made its first move into Asia by acquiring a majority stake in Assemblage, a CGI animation studio based in Mumbai, India.

Assemblage will continue to service its clients independently under founder AK Madhavan and CEO Arjun Madhavan.

It was founded in 2013 and provides 3D animation and visual effects services to major Hollywood studios and independent companies across the globe. Credits include Lionsgate’s Norm Of The North, Netflix’s Trollhunters and Disney’s Miraculous Ladybug.

Cinesite’s previous acquisitions of studios include Image Engine in 2015, Trixter in 2018, and more recently Balkan VFX studio FX3X as well as Canadian animation studios L’Atelier Animation and Squeeze. The Cinesite group has over 2500 filmmakers working for it across the world. Recent credits include Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Netflix’s Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical.

“Assemblage is an undisputed CGI animation industry leader in Asia and knows the market, the culture and the landscape better than any other company,” said Antony Hunt, CEO of Cinesite. “To produce the quality of content that we are aiming for to serve the market demand in the future, we need to be able to draw on talent and competence from various territories around the world. Through this venture, we have found the right partner in Assemblage.”

Arjun Madhavan, CEO of Assemblage, added: “Cinesite brings a wealth of experience in the feature animation and VFX sectors that marries perfectly with our growth strategy. Its creative and technical expertise, multinational presence and robust talent network provides us with enhanced opportunities.”