Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic to Close VFX and Animation Facility in Singapore

lucasfilm is shutting its visual effects and animation studio in Singapore due to economic factors affecting the industry, says parent company Disney.

ILM announced that they are shutting down their VFX and animation operations in Singapore over the next several months as a result of the shifting entertainment landscape and likely implemented as part of Disney’s overall plan to shrink their workforce and streamline their budget.

In a statement, the Disney-owned company said, “Over the next several months, ILM will be consolidating its global footprint and winding down its Singapore studio due to economic factors affecting the industry.”

In February of this year, Disney announced it was planning to eliminate 7,000 jobs from its global workforce in an effort to cut $5.5 billion in costs. Shutting down the Singapore studios will affect about 300 employees according to Singapore news outlet CNA.

Disney said ILM will “give employees as much notice as possible and offer opportunities to relocate to one of the company’s growing studios,” along with hosting a local job fair “with companies identified as having a need for talent with similar skill sets.” ILM is headquartered in San Francisco and also has studios in Vancouver, London, Sydney and Mumbai.

In response to this news, The Singapore Economic Development Board and the InfoComm Media Development Authority released a joint statement:

“Lucasfilm’s decision to wind down its Singapore operations is in response to changes in the industry and business conditions. The global media industry is facing disruption from rapid technological advancements, while studios are coping with challenges relating to talent and profitability.

Throughout Lucasfilm’s tenure in Singapore, the company has developed world-class digital animation talent for the industry through knowledge and skills transfer. Our Singaporean talent have worked alongside and learned from experienced producers, enabling them to develop their skills and play on the world stage.

We are proud that Singaporeans have worked on Hollywood blockbusters such as Jurassic World: Dominion and Marvel’s The Eternals. Many have moved on to roles in media companies like Netflix or have gone on to start their own companies. In addition, Lucasfilm’s leaders actively contributed to training generations of students in digital and tech skills at polytechnics and Institutes of Higher Learning.

Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) VFX and animation studiowas founded in 2004 as Lucasfilm Animation Singapore and began operations in 2006 with work on the animated TV series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”