In-Game Animation Studio Plastic Wax Hits San Francisco

Australian digital animation studio Plastic Wax, which specializes in video game CG projects, is launching a global expansion to acquire new talent and technology, beginning a business development office in San Francisco. Plastic Wax says it's added over 30 new staffers including producers, animators and lighting and rendering leads to its team over the last few months. It's also made tech investments in its Australian CG facilities, adding a new in-house mocap studio and onsite audio-video production. With most of its experience in the pre-rendered CG arena, Plastic Wax says it's been working on its in-engine game work as well, aiming to work more collaboratively with developers and their production pipelines. Former Rockstar Games brand manager Kevin Gill, who has also overseen brands at Eidos, will head Plastic Wax's new San Francisco office as managing director of global operations. From the new location, the company hopes to be closer to the game development and entertainment community rooted in California. "We are very proud of our strides forward over the last three years, specifically in video games," says CEO Roger Maddams. "It has been an honor to work on premiere titles like Bioshock, Tomb Raider, The Darkness, and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II. At this point, we are making strategic moves to make sure the right people and technology are in place so we can continue to offer unmatched CG and motion capture services to those leading the way in entertainment."