Digital animation the South West’s newest industry
A Bunbury company is proving that a Hollywood address is no longer a requirement for making blockbuster movies.
The Australian Centre for Digital Innovation (ACDI) plans to use world-class technology to create animation and special effects for the motion picture industry from its base in the Bunbury library building.
To achieve this, it is developing a state-of-the-art special effects studio and supercomputing facilities.
The venture, between partners the Vue Group and ISA Technologies, paves the way for Bunbury to become a centre for excellence for digital content and in the making of animated films and special effects.
Vue Group managing director Alan Lindsay said the ACDI was an international company with shop fronts in Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Manchester.
“Why locate in Bunbury? In this age of digital connectivity it is far more important to have a campus for ideas and innovation than a capital city address,” he said.
“Bunbury is an energetic city, in a great lifestyle region − it has a university with digital content education aspirations and it is positioned close to Singapore where we are developing symbiotic digital content partnerships.
“The new facility will run in parallel with Vue Group’s documentary and drama production and be the home for Vue Group’s new feature film ventures.”
South West Development Commission chief executive officer Don Punch welcomed the creation of a new industry in the South West region.
“This marks the beginning of an exciting new virtual animation industry for Bunbury and the South West,” he said.
“It will help to position the region as a hub for digital animation, with scope to work in partnership with productions around the world.
“It will put the South West on the map in the internationally competitive digital content industry and provide local industries with access to world-class digital services.”
The ACDI is based in the City of Bunbury’s new $11 million library and data centre, which received funding from the South West Development Commission.
A lease between the ACDI and the City of Bunbury was signed last month and a fit-out of the facilities is expected to be completed by the end of the year.