TransPerfect Acquires The Mill‘s International Assets, Revitalizing VFX studio
Following the collapse of Technicolor, TransPerfect has acquired the assets of The Mill outside of the United States, securing the future of the acclaimed visual effects and production studio. The acquisition provides TransPerfect with a comprehensive creative solution, spanning ideation, production, and delivery on a global scale.
The Mill, founded in London in 1990, rose to prominence as a leading VFX studio, delivering award-winning work for brands like Coca-Cola and Nike, and contributing to blockbuster films including Gladiator (for which it won an Academy Award) and the first two Harry Potter movies. Technicolor purchased The Mill in 2015, integrating it into a portfolio alongside MPC, Mikros Animation, and Technicolor Games.
However, financial difficulties exacerbated by the pandemic and Hollywood strikes led Technicolor to seek a sale in 2024, ultimately failing to find a buyer for the entire company.The sudden shutdown in February resulted in an estimated 6,000 job losses worldwide.
“Owning The Mill gives TransPerfect a unique global capability: a solution that spans from ideation to production to delivery,” saeid Phil Wass, TransPerfect’s executive director of strategic initiatives. ”We’re having them focus on what thay do best-creative-and we do the rest.”
TransPerfect intends to integrate artificial intelligence into The Mill’s workflows, emphasizing a balance between AI and human creativity. “AI will have a presence in every part of our workflow,” Wass stated. “But AI on its own cannot work. We’re very excited to have both an AI capability and human capability.”
Liz Shawe, TransPerfect’s COO, affirmed the company’s commitment to preserving The Mill’s workforce. “We didn’t purchase The Mill with the intent to merge it with other companies and lay off people,” Shawe said. “We acquired The Mill to keep people at the center and bring technology,support,and global scale to the business.”
In the wake of Technicolor’s closure, former U.S. leadership from The Mill established Arc Creative in February, onboarding nearly 100 of the studio’s 350 U.S.-based employees. Additionally, Vancouver’s Thinkingbox hired 30 former U.S. Mill staffers in April.
