A Televisual report says Sony Pictures Entertainment plans to shutter the leading visual effects studio, closing its VFX and virtual production operations after existing commitments are completed.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include confirmation from Pixomondo management, which responded after publication. At the time of original publication, the company had not responded to requests for comment.
8:20 PST - Additional information just received from Sony has been added below.
Terrible news first thing this morning - Sony Pictures Entertainment is planning to wind down Pixomondo, the Oscar- and Emmy-winning VFX and virtual production company it acquired in 2022, according to a report by Televisual. At the time of the acquisition, Pixomondo operated three LED sound stages and seven offices in the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Canada.
AWN reached out to sources at Pixomondo to confirm the report but had not received a response as of this writing; Pixomondo company management has now confirmed the news about the shut down and that 500 people would be affected by the closure, though a source at Sony has just shared with AWN that the number is a few hundred, and that a large number of employees at PXO are hired on a project basis and those employees will fulfill their contracts and wrap those projects as with any contract. Sony added that many would be transferred over to Sony Group as well, and that planning is in the early stages and though there is no timeline to share, the effort will take several months at least.
Unconfirmed discussion on Reddit has also referenced an internal town hall and additional shutdown details, though those claims have not been independently verified.
The move by Sony would see the Pixomondo umbrella closed, with the company’s visual effects operations set to shut down after completing existing projects and contractual obligations. Sony is expected to consolidate VFX work within Sony Pictures Imageworks as part of the transition.
Pixomondo’s virtual production division will also be wound down once current commitments are fulfilled, while the company’s research and development functions are slated to be absorbed into Sony Group’s broader R&D operations. Televisual also reported that staff have been informed of the plan.
Pixomondo has been a prominent player in the global visual effects business, winning the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for Hugo and multiple Emmy Awards for its work on Game of Thrones. The company has also contributed to productions including The Boys, The Penguin, and House of the Dragon.
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
