Secret Location
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Content production, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | James Milward, Ryan Andal, Pietro Gagliano |
| Defunct | 2022 |
| Fate | Shutdown and merged into parent company Hasbro's broader operations |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Los Angeles , Canada, United States |
Area served | Canada, United States |
Key people | James Milward, Ryan Andal, Pietro Gagliano |
| Products | Digital content production, VR and AR projects |
| Parent | Hasbro (from 2019) |
Secret Location was an acclaimed content production studio honored with a Cannes Lion and several Emmy awards, specializing in projects across digital platforms such as web, mobile, tablets, and cutting-edge technologies including Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. Its operations were headquartered in Toronto and LA.
Background
Established in 2009 by James Milward, Ryan Andal, and Pietro Gagliano, Secret Location operated studios in both Canada and the United States.
The firm worked alongside prominent brands like Samsung, Red Bull Canada, TELUS, Toyota, Cadbury, Air Canada, Mitsubishi, National Film Board of Canada, Stanfield's, War Child, Focus Features, Fox Studios, NBC, Warner Bros., Disney XD, BET, PBS/Frontline, Nickelodeon/Teen Nick, Family Channel, CBC, MTV UK, YTV, CTV, TELETOON, City TV, Global TV, Showcase, OLN, MGM, Endemol, Sony Pictures / Television, eOne, Shaftesbury Films, and Temple Street.
In 2014, eOne acquired a stake in Secret Location,[1] completing full ownership by 2016.[2] Later in 2019, both eOne and Secret Location were purchased by Hasbro.[3] In 2022, Hasbro announced the shutdown of Secret Location and merged its functions into the parent company’s broader operations, leading to the dismissal of all studio staff.[4]
Before its closure, Secret Location had formed partnerships with VRSE[5] and the Los Angeles-based talent agency UTA.[6]
Awards
Secret Location earned two Emmy Awards during its tenure. The studio received its first International Emmy for an interactive installment of the Canadian television series Endgame. In 2015, it secured a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award for User Experience and Visual Design related to the drama Sleepy Hollow, marking the inaugural Emmy accolade for a virtual reality initiative. Additionally, the company was honored with three Webby Awards, thirteen Canadian Screen Award/Gemini wins, along with recognition from AToMiC, Creativity International, CASSIES, the Marketing Awards, and the Banff World Media Festival.