Sat Nov 22, 2008 — by Robert Greenberger

Economy Forces Sparx to Reduce Size

'Igor' Studio Remains in Vietnam

Sparx, the animation studio that produced this fall’s disappointing Igor, is closing its Paris office according to Variety. The bulk of its work will remain in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam while retaining a Los Angeles office.

“We’ve been hit by the shockwaves of the U.S. financial crisis,” said Thomas Schober, Sparx’s head of production. “Since our industry relies heavily on private financing, the crisis has made it extremely difficult for us to get work on features.”

Igor, released in September by The Weinstein Company, has managed to earn only $25,532,257 worldwide according to Box Office Mojo. They have since dropped out of working on Exodus Films’ Bunyan and Babe.

“Eventually we’ll be back working on big, sophisticated animated features from our Vietnam facility,” said Sparx CEO Renaud Biscarratr. “But for now, we’re going to focus on what we used to do before: commercials, TV series and videogames.”

Sparx has made their name by producing CGI effects for European features, trailers and commercials.

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