The animation and visual effects studio’s film division is already working on two high-profile Hollywood feature films, both of which are on floors.
MUMBAI: While homegrown animation firms pump steam for as many as 25 animation feature films slated to hit Indian screens over the next two years, Rhythm and Hues India is charting a different growth plan as it bags Hollywood projects.
The animation and visual effects studio’s film division is already working on two high-profile Hollywood feature films, both of which are on floors.
Saraswathi Balgam, director, Rhythm and Hues India, told DNA Money: “We are already in the production of The Incredible Hulk for Marvel and Universal Studios’ Mummy 3.”
The company will complete the projects using on its non-outsourced work model. “We currently have offices in Los Angeles, Mumbai and Hyderabad and expect to execute the projects using our highly collaborative production workflow,” said Balgam.
The studio recently managed to achieve the same in its largest-ever international project— The Golden Compass, which was recently released in India through Warner Bros Pictures.
Usually for any major Hollywood film which has a generous dose of high-end animation and VFX, a number of studios collaborate together.
For The Golden Compass, Rhythm and Hues integrated a total of about 800 shots, getting the major share of work among other international studios that were in the project. This included the likes of Cinesite, Framestore CFC, Digital Domain, Rainmaker UK, Peerless Camera, Matte World Digital, Tippett Studio and Digital Black Lot.
There’s good reason why major Hollywood studios are willing to bet on VFX studios like Rhythm and Hues India for a significant portion of their movie projects.
One reason is the fact that R&H India, thanks to its past work — The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Happy Feet, Night at the Museum, both the Scooby Doo and Garfield instalments — has gained a reputation for working on 3D models and characters from the animal kingdom.
Yet another one — Alvin and the Chipmunks — will be added to its kitty when it releases in India this week.
Moreover, unlike the typical outsourcing scenario, Indian artists from Rhythm and
Hues working on The Golden Compass were involved in all stages of creative process from modeling the characters to tracking the footage, animation, lighting and delivering the final compositing so as to deliver the completed shots.
“Overall about 150 employees in India worked on over one third of the animation and visual effects. That’s the largest quantum of work ever done by an Indian studio on a Hollywood project,” said Balgam.
Balgam says the studio eventually would like to produce their own films for India and was on the look-out for good scripts. “We are in talks with production partners but haven’t finalised on any ideas yet,” she said.
c_arcopol@dnaindia.net
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