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| Predecessor | Starz Animation (2002-2010) IDT (2000-2010) DKP Studios (1984-2000) |
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| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| Website | www.arcproductions.com |
Arc Productions, formerly known as Starz Animation Toronto, is a Canadian animation and visual effects studio based in Toronto, Ontario. It is majority owned by a Canadian investor group, with former owner Starz Media as a minority stakeholder.[1] The studio is best known for its work on animated feature films 9 and Gnomeo and Juliet, and it is currently working on an upcoming animated feature OZ3D (working title), an adaptation of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz".
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The studios was founded in 1985, by Dan Krech and Jackie Lynette,[2] and it went under various names during its history: Dan Krech Productions, DKP Effects and DKP Studios. The first offices were three Victorian style semi-detached houses (equal to one and a half houses) at 48 River Street in Toronto. The company later moved to 489 Queen Street East. DKP purchased the first SGI Crimson sold in Canada along with Alias PowerAnimator software. After retiring from active 3D work, it served as the webserver for many years. The company started doing video post and then moved into special effects and film work, culminating in effects work for the Seigfried & Roy 3D IMAX vehicle The Magic Box and the full CG feature The Nuttiest Nutcracker.
In 2004, U.S. animation producer IDT Corp. purchased the studio from the founders. IDT had already acquired in 2003 controlling interest of Film Roman and Anchor Bay Entertainment Group.[2] After the purchase by IDT, the studio moved again to 230 Richmond Street East.
On May 26, 2006, Starz Media's parent company Liberty Media bought IDT Entertainment from IDT, including Anchor Bay Entertainment and Film Roman.[3] Under its new management in 2007, the studio began a "Starz Shortz" program which has produced Bundle of Joy, Enter the Sandbox, Ormie and Lovebirds.[4] In 2007, Starz Animations took over animating Shane Acker's feature 9 from Attitude Studio, Luxembourg.[5] In 2010, the studio opened a major VFX wing to create all the effects for the new Starz Channel/Graham King Productions miniseries, Camelot, Alcon Entertainment's Dolphin Tale, and producer Avi Arad's family feature, Robosapien: Rebooted.
In April 2011, the studio was sold to a Canadian consortium, and renamed itself to Arc Productions. Under the new owner, the studio plans to do more proprietary production.[6]
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