One of Australia’s most respected independent visual effects houses has gone into administration, according to a report from Australian media site mUmBRELLA.

Staff of Fuel VFX – which employs around 100 people – were given the news yesterday.

The Sydney-based Fuel VFX was set up 12 years ago by VFX supervisors Paul Butterworth, Andrew Hellen, Simon Maddison, Dave Morley and executive producer Jason Bath who had a shared background in film and TV projects. Fuel VFX specialises in computer generated animation, motion design and post production.

The production house has worked on a wide range of projects across film, TV and and commercials. Administrators Jirsch Sutherland are fighting to keep the company as a going concern and work is continuing on existing projects.

Recent film work has included Prometheus, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and The Avengers. TV work has included Nine Network’s Tricky Business. Its recent TV commercials have included work on brands including Optus, Wrigley’s, Leggo’s pasta, GE and McDonald’s.

The administrators issued a statement saying: “The company’s directors have advised Jirsch Sutherland that, being independent, the company has struggled to navigate the downturn in work that is affecting many visual effects companies worldwide at the moment. The voluntary administration process has been called on by the directors as a way of preserving and financially restructuring the business.

“In addition to the directors’ financial restructuring attempts, the administrators are seeking expressions of interest in the business and assets of the company as a going concern.”