The animation studio reportedly has been operating despite last month’s Technicolor Group shutdown, and its projects, production pipeline, and most of its creative, technical and leadership teams have been kept on.
Leading VFX company Rodeo FX, known for its work on HBO’s Game of Thrones, Netflix’s Stranger Things, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Part 1 & 2, and Prime Video’s The Rings of Power has acquired Mikros Animation, the animation studio behind PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, Orion and the Dark, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem that was just recently shut down as part of the collapse of Technicolor Group late last month.
The acquisition includes all of Mikros Animation’s operations, as well as Technicolor Canada’s equipment. Operations reportedly continued uninterrupted following the recent shutdown of other companies within the Technicolor group. According to Rodeo FX, “This strategic expansion aligns with Rodeo FX’s ongoing global growth, following the establishment of its fifth international office in Paris in 2023. It also underscores the studio’s economic stability and resilience as the visual effects industry navigates post-pandemic shifts and recent disruptions caused by Hollywood labor strikes.”
Though now part of the Rodeo FX network, Mikros Animation will retain its brand identity, maintain its projects and production pipeline, and most of its creative, technical and leadership team. The animation studio is currently working on several high-profile titles, including the upcoming third instalment of the PAW Patrol film franchise, directed by Cal Brunker. The company just confirmed to AWN that “the vast majority of the recent headcount remains in both Canada and in France.”
“This is a deeply meaningful moment for me and for all of us at Rodeo FX,” says Sebastien Moreau, Founder & CEO of Rodeo FX. “Welcoming Mikros Animation into our creative family isn’t just about growth, it’s about aligning with people who share our values, our passion for storytelling, and our belief in the magic of animation. Together, we’re building something that goes beyond business: a creative home where artists can dream bigger, push further, and inspire the world.”
Mikros, which was acquired by Technicolor in 2015, has worked on 17 feature-length animated films and numerous series for studios including Paramount Animation, Netflix, and DreamWorks Animation, producing nearly 300 hours of programming broadcast in over 180 countries on networks such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, TF1, and France TV.
“Mikros Animation and Rodeo FX have always shared a mutual respect and admiration,” says Julien Meesters, newly appointed President of Mikros Animation. “This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for us. Joining the Rodeo FX family opens new doors for us to explore broader animation horizons and to continually reinvent ourselves. Over the years, we've built incredible stories alongside our partners. Now, we're embracing new challenges and evolving landscapes to ensure Mikros Animation remains a leading home for filmmakers.”
Rodeo FX has become one of the leading studios within the industry; its work on Dune: Part One and Part Two both earning Academy Awards for Outstanding Visual Effects. The studio also received three nominations at the Visual Effects Society Awards for its contributions to Expats, The Rings of Power Season 2, and Dune: Prophecy.
Source: Rodeo FX
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
