Rainmaker Digital Effects

Rainmaker, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada with an office in Los Angeles, California, is a visual effects, 3D animation and post-production company specialising in feature film, television, commercials, and games.

Rainmaker Digital Effects
IndustryVisual Effects Industry
PredecessorMainframe Entertainment
Founded1993 (1993)
Founder
    • Gavin Blair
    • Ian Pearson
    • Phil Mitchell
Headquarters
Vancouver
,
Canada
ParentDeluxe Entertainment Services Group
Websitewww.rainmaker.com 

History

Founded in 1993 as Mainframe Entertainment, the studio was started by British animators Gavin Blair, Ian Pearson and Phil Mitchell, after having used their technology to produce music videos such as Money for Nothing and Let's Get Rocked. Due to the cost of shipping equipment back home, advantageous tax credits and proximity to Los Angeles, the company set up shop in Vancouver, Canada.[1]

Mainframe became a publicly traded company with a listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange on June 17, 1997. In conjunction with the public offering, Alliance sold 700,000 shares in the company, lowering their ownership to 7.8%.[2] Pearson served as the initial President and Chief Executive Officer, Blair as Director of Operations and Mitchell as Vice President Operations.[3] In its first year on the stock exchange, Mainframe posted an $11 million loss.[4]

On April 17, 1998, the Mainframe USA office opened in Los Angeles. Headed by Dan DiDio, the division was created to oversee development, production and U.S. distribution.[5]

the IMAX Corporation made a $16 million investment in Mainframe in 1999. This partnership, which gave IMAX roughly 30% ownership of Mainframe.

In fiscal 1999, the company reported a $17 million loss.[6]

in 2001, the company faced a major management shakeup[7][8][9] Pearson had stepped down as CEO in June and left the company shortly after, with fellow co-founders Blair and Mitchell also leaving in 2002 and 2005, respectively.

Following financial losses of $18.9 million and $7.5 million in fiscal 2002 and 2003, the American IDT Corporation announced it would purchase 56% of Mainframe for $14 million on September 16, 2003.[10][11] Mainframe's first live-action production, an adaptation of Harriet the Spy ultimately did not see fruition.[12][13][14][15][16][17] In 2005, the company acquired the distribution rights to the live-action/CGI-animated television series Zixx. Mainframe also provided animation for the show's second and third seasons in conjunction with Thunderbird Films.[18]

After producing the visuals for the 2003 MTV Movie Awards, Mainframe started a creative services division to produce video game animation, graphic design, motion graphics, titling, show opening sequences and branding in 2005.[19][20] This branch of the company worked on a number of projects, including cut-scenes for Prototype, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand and Ghostbusters: The Video Game, as well as the 2006 MTV Movie Awards.[21]

Finding itself under new ownership, IDT sold its 62% stake in Mainframe to Vancouver-based post-production firm Rainmaker Income Fund on July 20, 2006 for $13.8 million.[22][23] The next month Rainmaker announced it would acquire the remaining 38% of Mainframe.[24] On January 30, 2007 Mainframe was renamed to Rainmaker Animation.[25] Rainmaker Income Fund announced on August 29, 2006, that RNK Capital Limited Partnership would acquire the 38% of shares it didn't own by merging with Rainmaker Income Fund. After the merger, Rainmaker announced on January 31, 2007 that Mainframe Entertainment's name would be changed to Rainmaker Entertainment. On November 29, 2007, Rainmaker Income Fund announced the sale of Rainmaker Visual Effects and Rainmaker Post to Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, leaving only the animation business.

Divisions

The company has three divisions: Rainmaker Animation, Rainmaker Visual Effects and Rainmaker Post.

  • Rainmaker Animation creates 3D animation for feature film and CG animation for television and direct-to-DVD family films.
  • Rainmaker Visual Effects (now Method Studios Vancouver) provides CG effects for feature film, television, commercials, and video games.
  • Rainmaker Post (now Encore Post Vancouver) provides post-production services including traditional film lab processes, digital image processing, and HD.

Film and television credits

Rainmaker has created special effects scenes for films such as I, Robot, Armageddon, Salt, and The DaVinci Code, as well as television series such as Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis and Smallville.

References
  1. Bakel, Rogier Van (March 1, 1997). "Before Toy Story there was ... ReBoot". Wired. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  2. "Mainframe Entertainment, Inc. Completes Initial Public Offering". Mainframe Entertainment. June 17, 1997. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  3. "Mainframe Entertainment Corporate". Mainframe Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 12, 1999. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  4. "Mainframe Entertainment, Inc. Announces Fiscal 1998 Year End Results". Mainframe Entertainment. July 24, 1998. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  5. "Mainframe Entertainment, Inc. Appoints L.A.-based Creative V.P." Mainframe Entertainment. April 17, 1998. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  6. "Mainframe Entertainment, Inc. Announces Fiscal 1999 Year End Results". Mainframe Entertainment. July 26, 1999. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  7. Johnson, Debra (June 6, 2001). "Mainframe ceo steps down to take creative role". C21 Media. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  8. "Mainframe's internal shuffle explained". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. November 1, 2001. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  9. Townson, Don (February 26, 2003). "Mainframe taps Mischel". Variety. Penske Media. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  10. Edwards, Ian (September 1, 2003). "Mainframe's revenue drops 34% in '03". Playback. Brunico Communications. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  11. Edwards, Ian (September 29, 2003). "Mainframe sells majority ownership". Playback. Brunico Communications. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  12. Kuzmyk, Jenn (June 13, 2003). "UK pick-up for new Mainframe toon". C21 Media. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  13. Dillon, Mark (February 14, 2005). "Spinning towards feature film FX". Playback. Brunico Communications. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  14. Godfrey, Leigh (January 7, 2003). "Mainframe Lands At NATPE With Two New Properties". Animation World Network. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  15. Ball, Ryan (August 28, 2003). "Silver Lining, Mainframe Make Big Plans for Small and Friends". Animation Magazine. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  16. DeMott, Rick (March 11, 2004). "MIP-TV News: Mainframe Sails into MIP-TV with Popeye and Others". Animation World Network. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  17. Demott, Rick (September 21, 2004). "Mainframe & Protocol Team On Live-Action Harriet The Spy". Animation World Network. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  18. "Thunderbird Films Inks Deal with Mainframe Entertainment on ZIXX" (Press release). Vancouver: Thunderbird Films. January 9, 2005. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  19. "Mainframe Animates MTV Movie Awards". Animation Magazine. May 21, 2003. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  20. "Mainframe goes after creative services work". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. November 1, 2005. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  21. "Mainframe Ent. Scores 2006 MTV Movie Awards Animation". Animation World Network. May 25, 2006. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  22. "Rainmaker to Acquire Mainframe Entertainment, a World Leader in CG Animation; Acquisition Will Create Canada's Largest Animation and Visual Effects Company" (Press release). Vancouver: Rainmaker Income Fund. July 20, 2006. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  23. Beiks, Ilona (August 7, 2006). "Rainmaker looks to rule CG with Mainframe pickup". Playback. Brunico Communications. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  24. "Rainmaker and Mainframe Enter Into Agreement for Rainmaker to Acquire Balance of Mainframe Shares" (Press release). Vancouver: Rainmaker Income Fund. August 30, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  25. "Rainmaker Announces New Animation Division" (Press release). Vancouver: Rainmaker Entertainment. January 30, 2007. Archived from the original on January 30, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
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