VANCOUVER, B.C– October 11th 2019. Cinesite Vancouver is proud to announce the completion of its first full-length animated feature, The Addams Family for Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios (MGM). As sole vendor on the production, the 240-strong Vancouver crew created the entire film, from storyboarding and design through to final delivery, comprising 1173 shots across 86 minutes.

Based on the famous New Yorker creations of Charles Addams, the kookiest family on the block is back on the big screen in The Addams Family with an all-star voice cast led by Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, Nick Kroll, Bette Midler, Allison Janney, Elsie Fisher and Snoop Dogg playing IT. Directed by Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2, Monsters vs. Aliens) and Greg Tiernan (Thomas & Friends, Day of the Diesels), The Addams Family is currently in theaters.

Cinesite Production Designer Patricia Atchison worked closely with directors Vernon and Tiernan to establish a new look for the animated adaptation. “The most enjoyable aspect of this production for me”, says Atchison, “was in re-imagining the Addams Family world, taking close visual reference from Charles Addams’ unique original cartoon drawings, while giving them a modern twist.”

Lighting was also key in establishing the fundamental contrast between the Addams’ gothic mansion home and contemporary New Jersey life; one is dark, candlelit and with diffused exterior lights, the other bright and colourful. “We were also dealing with characters which had very different sizes, shapes and needs,” explains Head of Lighting Laura Brousseau. “From the round Uncle Fester to the glamorous but almost skeletal Morticia, we needed to take into account each individual’s skin tone, shape and personality, making sure that the lighting was always sensitive to each character’s individuality and look, whether they were in the darker or brighter environments. “

The Addams Family was in production at Cinesite for 24 months, during which the team crafted complex scenes with high character counts and many CFX shots requiring hair and cloth. Cinesite looked to its own family during the latter stages of production, with its Montreal studio supporting Vancouver with additional minutes.

“Bringing a beloved franchise into a new medium was super exciting,” says General Manager Tara Kemes. “We assembled a fantastic team and I was amazed by how many people, especially our younger talent, knew and loved The Addams Family. We were all totally invested and felt honoured to have the opportunity to bring MGM’s first animated feature of the iconic family to the big screen.”

The Addams Family is the latest animated feature to be completed by Cinesite’s animation division, which has grown from strength to strength since launching in 2014. The independent studios in Vancouver and Montreal boast a strong and diverse collective of talented technicians, artists and management professionals, with several years of cumulative experience in creating world-class animation productions in collaboration with leading studios and distributors globally.

The production is the first completed by Cinesite’s Vancouver division since its acquisition by the group in 2015. The company recently announced that during production, it moved into a new building in the heart of the city’s creative hub, with 25,000 sq feet at Great Northern Way.

Cinesite Group CEO Antony Hunt added, “We’re very excited to announce the completion of The Addams Family. It is a moment of great pride to be able to deliver the film out of our facility in Vancouver, which only opened its doors in 2017. Establishing ourselves as a feature film ready production house and being associated with a timeless classic such as The Addams Family at the same time is truly rewarding. We continue our efforts to work on high-quality projects with leading studios globally and aspire to build a strong production portfolio.”

In addition to Cinesite Vancouver’s work on The Addams Family (MGM) it’s B.C based partner studio Image Engine has completed Carnival Row (Amazon Studios) , Pokémon Dectective Pikachu (Warner Bros) and Spider-Man: Far from Home (Marvel) all in 2019, it’s a major milestone year for Vancouver’s animation and visual effects industry, as the sector is on track to crack the $1 billion mark for the first time. This represents the tripling of the value of the industry to the local economy since 2012 from $324 million, according to the Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC). The Addams Family featuring Cinesite CGI animation arrives on October 11, 2019.