Corona | Coming Attractions

Pixar Animation Studios has opened its first production office outside of the company's headquarters in Silicon Valley. Pixar Canada had its official launch yesterday in Vancouver, inviting local press to see the company's headquarters in Gastown, close to the waterfront and the convention centre.

Currently staffed with about two dozen and with plans to bring that number up to 100, Pixar Canada will assist with the making of short films to be broadcast in Disney theme parks, in special attractions and direct-to-video projects. Two of the announced shows that Pixar Canada is currently working on are shorts featuring the characters from Toy Story and Cars.

As part of the launch Pixar Canada unveiled a short video showing John Lasseter praising the new facility and how it will use local animators to realize the next chapter in the company's success. Included in the presentation were scenes showing Pixar's family of characters exploring several well-known Vancouver landmarks and locales.

Pixar isn't the only big animation house to set up shop in Vancouver. Digital Domain has also recently opened its doors in the city and is currently working on special effects for Thor. There's also a rumor that Sony Pictures ImageWorks wants to open a Vancouver facility. Tax incentives offered by the province of British Columbia and being situated in the same time zone as Los Angeles/Hollywood are seen as the chief reasons why these American big players want to have operations on Canada's west coast.