Congratulations to our good friend Warren Franklin who has received his VES fellowship award. The Visual Effects Society (VES), the industry’s global professional honorary society, celebrated the new Honorary Members, VES Fellows and inductees into the VES Hall of Fame with a virtual celebration.

Check out Warren’s acceptance speech here:

Commenting on the accolade Mike Chambers, VES Board Chair said “Our VES honourees represent a group of exceptional artists, innovators and professionals who have had a profound impact on the field of visual effects. We are proud to recognize those who helped shape our shared legacy and continue to inspire future generations of VFX practitioners.”

For those of you who don’t know Warren allow us to shed some light on this industry titan. Warren Franklin, Executive Producer, is a global leader of the visual effects and animation industry. As the founder and former CEO of Rainmaker Entertainment, Warren created one of North America’s leading independent animation studios. Currently Warren is executive producing a slate of animated feature films with us at our Montreal and Vancouver facilities.

The Addams Family 2 – MGM

Everyone’s favourite spooky family is back in the new animated comedy sequel The Addams Family 2. In this all new movie, The Addams get tangled up in wacky adventures and find themselves involved in hilarious run-ins with all sorts of unsuspecting characters.

Riverdance: The Animated Adventure – Aniventure & River Productions

Inspired by the global stage sensation and with new music by Grammy winner Bill Whelan, this is an animated adventure of sight, sound and dance as you’ve never before experienced!

Hitpig – Aniventure

From Pulitzer Prize-winning author Berkeley Breathed’s wild imagination comes an adventure about learning that sometimes what we want isn’t what we need.

Blazing Samurai – Aniventure & GFM Animation

Inspired by Mel Brooks’ seminal 1974 Western comedy film Blazing Saddles.

Produced by Disney’s The Lion King director, Rob Minkoff, and from the mind of comedy genius Mel Brooks, this Japanese-inspired animated comedy teaches kids and adults alike that embracing diversity is what truly makes you a hero.

Princess Awesome – Aniventure

Inspired by Chinese mythology, the movie centers on a young heroine who is transported to a mythical kingdom and sets out on a quest to restore wisdom and humor in the land.

Warren has over 25 years of experience as an executive and creative producer with such industry leaders as Lucasfilm Ltd and has collaborated on projects with all of the major Hollywood studios. For 13 years Warren was a key member of George Lucas’ creative and management team where he served as Group Vice President, managing six divisions, including Industrial Light & Magic, LucasArts and Skywalker Sound. As the VP and GM of ILM, Warren spearheaded its growth and dominance as the industry’s premier visual effects company, which won nine Academy Awards during his tenure including The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, and Return of the Jedi.

Warren is currently Chairman of the Visual Effects Society’s Vancouver chapter.

So, he’s kind of a big deal!  Congratulations again Warren, we’re delighted to work alongside you bringing a roster of fantastic films to global audiences.