Princess Bento Studio animation boost for Melbourne

A new animation house joint venture has been announced by US animation studio Bento Box Entertainment and Victorian-based Princess Pictures.

Princess Bento Studio will create 150 full-time technical and creative jobs for Victoria’s animation sector.

FOX Entertainment-owned Bento Box, founded by Scott Greenberg and Joel Kuwahara (The Simpsons, King of the Hill) is home to Bob’s Burgers. It has studios in LA and Atlanta, with Melbourne becoming their first international outpost.

Princess Pictures, founded by producer Laura Waters in 2003, has produced How to Stay Married, Superwog, Summer Heights High. Recent animation projects include Yolo: Crystal Fantasy and the AACTA-nominated short, Koala Man.

Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson said, “With new screen players and a new super sound stage, Melbourne is stepping up to compete on the world arena.

“We’re proud to welcome Princess Bento Studio to our state and screen community, and the 150 new jobs it creates. We look forward to seeing more Victorian-made animation projects hitting the screen.”

Bento Box Entertainment Co-Founder Scott Greenberg said, “We are proud to partner with our close friends at Princess Pictures to set up this new animation studio in Victoria.

“Melbourne is home to a vibrant creative community, one of the best in the world, and we are excited to start working with the many talented animators, production and support staff in the region on a slate of exciting animation projects.”

In a further boost for Victoria’s screen industry, foundations have now been laid for the sixth sound stage at Docklands Studios Melbourne and work has begun on the main structure – backed by $46 million from the Labor Government. The 40,000 sqft stage will expand the capacity of the studios by 60%, so it can cater for more local and international screen projects.

The sound stage will feature a massive 900,000-litre water tank giving it flexibility to attract a greater range of productions. The sound stage project is on track for completion later this year.

In 2018-19 Victoria’s screen industry generated $2.2 billion and created 17,000 full-time jobs. Following the global COVID-19 hiatus, the local industry is powering back, with work on COVIDSafe films, television series, commercials and more now underway in Melbourne and regional Victoria.