Indian animation service studio 88 Pictures has opened a Toronto office, hiring three Canadian industry veterans to run it and spearhead an expansion into original content.

Sabrina Riegel is the studio’s global head of look, overseeing film and TV animation, with Nol Meyer serving as global head of previsualization and layout, and Jean Claude Nouchy as digital FX supervisor.

Since launching in 2016, 88 Pictures has done CG animation service work on series including Gremlins: Secrets Of The Mogwai (2023), Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (2022) and Fast and Furious Spy Racers (2019). Its founder and CEO, Milind D. Shinde, set up the office in Toronto to leverage the city’s status as a major animation and VFX hub in North America. 

Establishing a Canadian service business is also the first step into original content, Shinde says. “It’s time for us to get ready to handle highest-end animation production,” he explains, noting that the company already has a few properties in early development.

The new hires have plenty of combined experience in feature and series animation to fuel 88 Pictures’ expansion plans. Riegel’s 26-year career includes gigs at DreamWorks Animation, Pixar and Disney Animation. Meyer has worked in the industry for 30 years, most recently as head of layout at Madrid-based Sergio Pablos Animation. And Nouchy (Inception and 2012) has a rich background in VFX for films and series, having worked at studios including Double Negative, Cinesite and Jellyfish Pictures.

88 Pictures also has offices in Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Pictured above, from left to right: Sabrina Riegel, Nol Meyer and Jean Claude Nouchy.