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Rhythm & Hues Studios

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Rhythm & Hues Studios
Company typePrivate
IndustryVisual effects, animation
Founded1987
FounderJohn Hughes, Pauline Ts'o, Keith Goldfarb, Cliff Boule, Frank Wuts, Charles Gibson
FateFiled for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2013; acquired by 34x118 Holdings, LLC (affiliate of Prana Studios)
SuccessorRhythm & Hues (under Prana Studios)
Headquarters
Los Angeles
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsVisual effects and animation for film, television, and theme park ride films
Number of employees
~254 (before bankruptcy in 2013)
ParentPrana Studios (affiliate)

Rhythm & Hues Studios was a U.S.-based company specializing in visual effects and animation, established in 1987. It earned the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for its work on Babe (1995), The Golden Compass (2007), and Life of Pi (2012), in addition to receiving four Scientific and Technical Oscars.

In early 2013, the firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and was subsequently purchased by 34x118 Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Prana Studios, while maintaining the Rhythm & Hues brand.

1987–2008

Originating in Los Angeles, Rhythm & Hues was created by former Robert Abel and Associates employees John Hughes, Pauline Ts'o, Keith Goldfarb, Cliff Boule, Frank Wuts, and Charles Gibson. The company expanded its operations by acquiring VIFX from 20th Century Fox in 1999.

2009–2013

Director Ang Lee hired Rhythm & Hues in 2009 to produce the visual effects for Life of Pi. The studio dedicated a full year to research and development to create the film’s digital tiger, utilizing its worldwide offices located in Mumbai and Hyderabad (India), Cyberjaya (Malaysia), Vancouver (Canada), and Kaohsiung (Taiwan). Their cloud-based system allowed for remote rendering across these global sites.

Life of Pi, released in November 2012, achieved both critical acclaim and box office success, highlighting Rhythm & Hues' strength in CGI animation. Nevertheless, the company declared bankruptcy three months afterward, leading to the dismissal of about 254 staff members. This prompted protests from visual effects artists during the 2013 Academy Awards ceremony when Rhythm & Hues received the Oscar for Life of Pi. These demonstrations underscored ongoing difficulties within the VFX industry’s business framework and market conditions.

In March 2013, Prana Studios’ affiliate acquired Rhythm & Hues for an estimated $30 million. Following this acquisition, the company continued to provide acclaimed visual effects for films, television—including Emmy-winning contributions to Game of Thrones—and theme park ride films.

Selected filmography

2022
2021
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
  • The A-Team
  • Marmaduke
  • Charlie St. Cloud
  • Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
  • The Wolfman
  • Knight and Day
  • Little Fockers
  • Hot Tub Time Machine
  • Yogi Bear
2009
  • Aliens in the Attic
  • Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
  • Fast & Furious (2009 film)'
  • The Time Traveler's Wife'
  • Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant'
  • State of Play'
  • Land of the Lost'
  • Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel'
  • Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian'
2008
  • The Incredible Hulk'
  • The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor'
2007
  • The Golden Compass'
  • Live Free or Die Hard'
  • I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry'
  • The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising'
  • The Kingdom'
  • Alvin and the Chipmunks'
  • Evan Almighty'
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994

'* The Pagemaster '* The Flintstones

1993

'* Dennis the Menace '* Hocus Pocus '* We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story

1992

'* Stay Tuned

1991

'* Rover Dangerfield '* Flight of the Intruder

1990

'* Jetsons: The Movie '* The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera (ride)

Academy Award for Best Visual Effects

BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects

Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects

Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Animated Performance

Bibliography

External links

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