VFXWorld Magazine

While the famed creative services company has begun to shut down U.S. operations, the leadership and most of the artistic staff at The Mill have joined forces with Dream Machine FX for a new venture.

‘The Mandalorian’ creator Jon Favreau will write and produce the animation/live-action hybrid project, based on Walt Disney’s original cartoon character lost to Universal in 1928, for Disney+.

Following investor-related issues, the VFX and animation studio has reportedly paused operations temporarily; no current information on when or if business will continue.

Developed and released by animator Tal Minks, the system allows users to capture real-time hand motion with a webcam and bake directly onto characters in Maya.

Now fully operational, the Malaysian studio includes a curved LED wall, side panels, and ceiling displays, powered by three 4K Tessera SX40 LED video processors; INFiLED p2.5, p3.91, and p5.9 LED panels deliver HDR-ready visuals to meet the growing demands of the country’s filmmakers and content creators.

The ‘Speak No Evil’ helmer joins writer Mike Flanagan on the live-action project; the film features the shapeshifting Batman villain last seen in Max’s animated ‘Harley Quinn’ series.

The parent company sent U.S. employees a WARN notice on Friday, signaling a potential closing or mass layoff due to ‘severe financial challenges.’

The new video includes interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from the upcoming live-action musical reimagining, as well as clips from the famed animated ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.’

First teased in 2021 and previously in development at Paramount+, the project has found a new home at Netflix with Drew Crevello serving as writer, executive producer, and showrunner.