Brisbane games developers, Halfbrick Studios, have announced a partial acquisition of Adelaide based animation studio, The People's Republic of Animation (PRA). The move was made to strategically strengthen Halfbrick's production capabilities and improve IP branding across all gaming and entertainment platforms. The first project that the two companies will collaborate on will be Halfbrick's next mobile game title, Machine Gun Jetpack.
From the press release...
(Shainiel Deo, CEO of Halfbrick) This is an important step for Halfbrick. We see their narrative focus as an incredible resource for creating new and truly compelling IP. Between PRA and Halfbrick, there is barely a screen we can’t reach.
(Sam White, CEO of PRA) The Halfbrick team has built a culture that fosters creative brilliance and simply breeds success... We are very excited to be a part of Halfbrick, both to work with them to create exciting new gaming IP, and to continue to establish PRA one of the world’s leading animation studios.PRA's work includes cinematics and trailers for video games, including ModNation Racers, de Blob (1 and 2), The Last Airbender, Scooby Doo: First Frights, Hellboy: the Science of Evil, Pinata: Party Animals and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. They also produce animated TV commercials and short films for clients in the advertising industry with clients such as Bridgestone, Mitsubishi, Rundle Mall and Coopers. (A promotional trailer for THQ and Blue Tongue Entertainment's de Blob 2) (The PRA's most recent short film, "The Cat Piano" (2009) made the Oscar shortlist for the "Best Animated Short" category at the 82nd Academy Awards in 2010.) The RPA will be continuing to service new and ongoing clients in the advertising and games industry.