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Digital Media

Canada is home to eight of the World’s Top 10 Video Game Publishers

A Norwegian multimedia gaming firm, Funcom, chose Montréal as its new home to launch its products across North America.

“Montréal’s diversity and open orientation make for a much more innovative environment to work in.”

Miguel Caron, CEO, Funcom Games Canada Inc.

The world’s leading digital media companies are in Canada— When it comes to digital media, Canada truly is at the top of its game. The Canadian interactive media sector represents some 3,000 companies, which collectively employ more than 52,000 people. The estimated revenue from interactive digital media projects in Canada is $3.8 billion. For decades now, Canada has attracted some of the world’s largest digital media companies. The companies that have invested in Canada in the recent past include Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Capcom Interactive Canada, Pixar Animation Studios, and Digital Domain.

Canadian digital gaming sector is the third largest in the world—Industry leaders have long known that Canada is a leading international player in the digital games industry. The Canadian video game industry generates $2 billion in revenues, employs 14,000 people and is ranked #3 in the world in terms of revenues in 2010, after the US and Japan. In 2010, the Canadian studios such as Matt Rix, Hemisphere Games, Relic, and Chaotic Box were on Develop 100’s list of top 100 most successful games development studios.

Source: “Computer Games and Canada’s Digital Economy: The Role of Universities in Promoting Innovation”. December 2010.

Develop 100>

Canada’s innovations in feature film applications have become industry favourites— Producers of high-profile Hollywood feature films regularly favour Canadian-developed multimedia technology, such as Maya® and Houdini software for creating special effects. Many of these films have been nominated for the Academy Award® for visual effects, including Avatar, Iron Man 2, and the Harry Potter series. Other recent blockbuster action movies, such as The Dark Knight and Transformers were partially filmed using IMAX cameras (produced by Toronto-based IMAX Corporation) to boost the immersive big screen experience for movie-goers.

Recent Foreign Investments – Digital Media

Map of Canada showing two locations: Vancouver, British Columbia and Montréal, Quebec

In January 2011, Zoic Studios of Los Angeles announced plans to expand their Vancouver offices due to an anticipated 60 percent increase in their workforce.
In May 2010, California-based Pixar Animation Studios, a multiple-Academy Award® winning studio, opened a 20,000-square-foot
(1 858 m2)  facility in Vancouver to produce its popular computer-animated short features
In November 2010, India’s Toonz Animation established a new production unit in a joint venture with Canada-based Mediabiz International. Located in Montréal, the new production unit will concentrate on producing animation and live action of comic book characters.
In March 2010, California’s Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced the establishment of a new development studio in Montréal. The studio is expected to employ over 300 people by the end of 2015.