Due to changes in the global entertainment industry, the studio known for ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars,’ which began as Lucasfilm Animation Singapore in 2004, will soon shutter its doors, eliminating over 300 jobs.
It’s the end of an era. Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is set to close its doors in Singapore due to changes in the global entertainment industry, the studio confirms to AWN via Channel News Asia and Variety reports. The move will eliminate over 300 jobs.
The VFX and animation studio began as Lucasfilm Animation Singapore in 2004, with work on Star Wars: The Clone Wars beginning in 2006.
“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,” Disney said in a statement.
ILM vows to notify employees as early as possible and will offer relocation opportunities to other studios, along with Singaporean efforts with local businesses to hold a job fair. Remaining ILM studios include Vancouver, (opened in 2012), London (2014), Syndey (2019), ad Mumbai (2022) in addition to the San Francisco headquarters.
The venerable company has proven it too is susceptible to recent industry changes including corporate media company mergers and layoffs, massive changes and spending cutbacks in the streaming world, as well as the current SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. Unfortunately, the closure will lessen Singapore’s chances at becoming the leading Asian hub for entertainment, with India, China, and South Korea moving closer to the coveted spot.
However, the studio leaves a tremendous creative talent footprint built over close to two decades. “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,” the Disney/Lucasfilm statement continued.
“We would like to thank the Singapore Government, industry, and community for their partnership over the past 17 years,” added Luke Hetherington, head executive of ILM’s Singapore and Sydney studios. “We have been able to train and employ a generation of production talent, visual effects artists, and animators. We are very proud of the incredible work the team in Singapore has accomplished and look forward to providing new opportunities for Singapore talent to continue the innovative work they are doing.”
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