Anima Vitae
| Industry | Animation |
|---|---|
| Genre | Computer Animation Visual effects |
| Founded | 12 May 2000 |
| Founder | Jani Kuronen
|
| Headquarters | , |
| Website | www |
Anima Vitae is an animation studio based in Helsinki, Finland. Anima is known for CGI animation feature Niko and The Way to the Stars (also known as The Flight Before Christmas) (2008) which was sold to over 100 territories.[1] The movie was also nominated for the Best Feature at the European Film Awards in 2009. Currently the sequel for Niko, "Niko2 – Little Brother, Big Trouble" (also known as Little Brother, Big Trouble: A Christmas Adventure), is traveling around the world. The film's producers Anima Vitae and Cinemaker were also nominated for Cartoon Movie's European Animation Producer of the Year in 2013.[2] In 2013 Anima set up its second animation studio, AnimaPoint, to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in cooperation with a local partner, Creative Media Point.[3]
History
Anima is a privately owned animation studio founded in the year 2000 and located in Helsinki, Finland. With a sister company, Anima Point in Kuala Lumpur, Anima is a full service 3D animation production company. Anima's first real international hit, an award-winning 3D feature "Niko & The Way to the Stars" (2008) has been sold to over 100 countries. In year 2009 Anima was nominated for a Cartoon Movie Tributes as the best European animation producer, and European Film Academy slated Niko for the Best animation feature film of the year. Its sequel, Niko 2 – Little Brother, Big Trouble (also known as Little Brother, Big Trouble: A Christmas Adventure), premiered in 2012 and was nominated in four different categories for Finnish movie award, Jussi.[4] Niko 2 was also a key element for Anima to get nominated for a Cartoon Movie Tributes 2013 as the best European animation producer.[5] Anima has produced on a subcontractor basis seven TV-movies, 233 episodes of a weekly 15 min primetime political satire The Autocrats, 60 episodes of a local hit series Jefferson Anderson, around 300 high-end commercials and a large animation installation for Finnish Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo 2010.[6] At the moment Anima Vitae is developing a feature animation film called Fleak. The Finnish Film Foundation supports the development of the film.
Currently Anima is working on the new Moominvalley (TV series).
Filmography
Feature films
| Release | Title | Director(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Composer(s) | Co-production with | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 8, 2006 | The Emperor's Secret | Riina Hyytiä | Aleksi Bardy Mika Ripatti Seppo Vesiluoma |
Aleksi Bardy Olli Haikka Riina Hyytiä |
Tauri Oksala | Helsinki-filmi Oy | Finnkino |
| October 10, 2008 | The Flight Before Christmas | Kari Juusonen Michael Hegner |
Mark Hodkinson Marteinn Thorisson Hannu Tuomainen |
Hannu Tuomainen Petteri Pasanen |
Stephen McKeon | Cinemaker Oy A. Film A/S Ulysses Filmproduktion Magma Films |
Nordisk Film |
| November 18, 2011 | The Magic Crystal | Antti Haikala | Antti Haikala Bob Swain Dan Wicksman Nuria Wicksman Alessandro Liggieri |
Mikael Wahlforss | Menno Van Riet | Epidem ZOT Aranéo Belgium Skyline Animation |
Future Film |
| October 12, 2012 | Little Brother, Big Trouble: A Christmas Adventure | Kari Juusonen Jorgen Lerdam |
Marteinn Thorisson Hannu Tuomainen |
Hannu Tuomainen Petteri Pasanen Antti Haikala |
Stephen McKeon | Cinemaker A. Film A/S Ulysses Magma Films |
Nordisk Film |
| October 11, 2024 | Niko: Beyond the Northern Lights | Kari Juusonen Hannu Tuomainen Marteinn Thorisson |
Hannu Tuomainen Antti Haikala |
Eímear Noone | Animaker Oy A. Film Production Moetion Films |
Upcoming films
| Release | Title | Director(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Composer(s) | Co-production with | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2025 | Fleak | Jens Møller | Antti Haikala Melli Maikkula Ilja Rautsi Teemu Auersalo |
Antti Haikala Jani Kuronen Shieh Yuin Pang Shaun Redick |
Lukasz Targosz | Impossible Dream Entertainment Anima Point Animoon Godo Films |
SF Studios |
| October 10, 2025 | Rufus: The Sea Serpent Who Couldn't Swim | Endre Skandfer | Karsten Fullu | TBA | Anima Point Atmosphere Media Maipo Film NeXtFrames Media |
Sola Media | |
| TBA | Trash Monsters | TBA | Antti Haikala Teemu Auersalo Markus Laitinen |
Emely Christians Timo Suomi |
TBA | Ulysses Filmproduktion Seeding Pictures Nusa Film |
TBA |
Short films
| Release | Title | Director(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Composer | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 25, 2005 | The Last Knit | Laura Neuvonen | Christer Nuutinen | |||
| October 27, 2006 | The Next Move | Petteri Pasanen | ||||
| December 24, 2022 | The Best Gift for Santa | Leevi Lemmetty | Leo Viirret | Antti Haikala | Jarmo Saari Samuli Kosminen |
Yle TV2 |
Television series
Released
| Release | Season | Title | Director | Producer | Composer | Network | Co-Production |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 14, 2001 | 1 | The Autocrats | Riina Hyytiä Rike Jokela Juha Kukkonen |
Riina Hyytiä | Tauri Oksala | Yle TV1 | Filmiteollisuus Fine |
| August 11, 2001 | 2 | ||||||
| January 5, 2002 | 3 | ||||||
| September 7, 2002 | 4 | ||||||
| January 18, 2003 | 5 | ||||||
| September 13, 2003 | 6 | ||||||
| January 10, 2004 | 7 | ||||||
| September 4, 2004 | 8 | ||||||
| January 15, 2005 | 9 | ||||||
| September 3, 2005 | 10 | ||||||
| January 14, 2006 | 11 | ||||||
| September 9, 2006 | 12 | ||||||
| January 6, 2007 | 13 | ||||||
| October 20, 2007 | 14 | ||||||
| February 17, 2007 | 1 | Jefferson Anderson | Atte Järvinen | Julia Jokinen | Kari Huikuri | Yle TV2 | |
| January 19, 2009 | 2 | ||||||
| January 17, 2011 | 3 | ||||||
| November 7, 2011 | 4 | ||||||
| January 23, 2012 | 5 | ||||||
| December 27, 2012 | 6 | ||||||
| January 7, 2012 | 1 | Apinatasavalta | Petri Hanttu | Petteri Pasanen | Yle TV1 | ||
| November 1, 2014 | Angry Birds Stella | Kari Juusonen | Ulla Junell | David Schweitzer | Toons.TV | Rovio Animation Cube Creative | |
| February 25, 2019 | Moominvalley | Steve Box (S1–2) Sara Barbas (S3–4) Nigel Davies (S3–4) Jay Grace (S3) Darren Robbie (S3) |
Jani Kuronen Stephen Dorrance Antti Haikala Nasser Al Kuwari John Woolley |
Samuli Kosminen Jarmo Saari (S2–3) Pekka Kuusisto |
Yle TV2 / Yle Teema & Fem Sky One (series 1–2) Sky Showcase (series 3–4) |
Gutsy Animations | |
| March 2, 2020 | 2 | ||||||
| October 3, 2022 | 3 | ||||||
| January 6, 2025 | 4 |
References
- ^ Meza, Ed (7 December 2007). "Weinsteins rein in 'Niko'". Variety.
- ^ Zahed, Ramin (25 August 2013). "Anima Vitae's 'Niko 2' Takes Top Prize in Tokyo". Animation Magazine.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (7 October 2013). "New Joint Venture Anima Point Aims for Co-Pros". Animation Magazine.
- ^ "Jussi Award nominations 2013". Finnish Film Foundation. 11 January 2013. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ^ "Production Companies". Finnanimation. Archived from the original on 2 April 2014.
- ^ Wildau, Bjarne (10 July 2010). "The Daily Ape Show Presents Finland". ScandAsia.