NEWARK, NJ - IDT Entertainment, a subsidiary of IDT Corporation, has acquired Toronto, Canada's DKP Effects, a 3D animation and special effects house known for its innovative movies and television work. The move follows a number of recent acquisitions by IDT. Last year, the company acquired a controlling interest in Film Roman; a minority equity interest in Vanguard Animation, LLC; a controlling interest in Mainframe Entertainment Inc.; Anchor Bay Entertainment Group; and a five percent equity interest in Archie Comics Entertainment, LLC.
Established in 1985 by Dan Krech and Jackie Lynette, DKP Effects, Inc. has gained reputation for excellence in high-end, digital visual effects. DKP has completed special effects for clients such as 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. and New Line/Alliance Films. The company is also responsible for effects and animation for over 3000 commercials, including award-winning spots for Suzuki, Ford, Pepsi, GMC, Polaroid, Michelin, Bose, PlayStation and Fisher Price. DKP also recently completed six episodes of "Game Over," a new primetime computer generated animated series for UPN.
"This acquisition brings that extra measure of pizzazz to the animation magic created by IDT Entertainment," says Jim Courter, IDT's CEO. "By adding DKP's cutting edge technology to its own world class computer generated animation capabilities, IDT Entertainment moves further ahead of the competition."
DKP provides IDT Entertainment with another production hub in its growing integrated global animation network that includes key facilities in Newark, Los Angeles, Vancouver, and Israel. In addition, DKP's powerful production tool, the Graphic Realtime Information Display (theGRID) will add depth to IDT Entertainment's considerable production capability. TheGRID, which DKP utilized on "Game Over," speeds up and simplifies the management and completion of complex animation projects by connecting all elements of production and accelerating realtime changes.
"DKP shares our passion for high-quality production that is both innovative and efficient," adds Morris Berger, IDT Entertainment's CEO. "This acquisition provides IDT Entertainment with additional production options and additional premium properties. By adding DKP's work on ‘GameOver' to the IDT production roster that includes ‘The Simpsons' and ‘King of the Hill,' IDT Entertainment becomes the largest and only production facility producing 2D and 3D primetime broadcast programming."
"We are thrilled to join the exceptionally talented group of companies at IDT Entertainment," says Dan Krech, president of DKP Effects, Inc. "Collaboration with this elite global team of industry icons provides DKP with infinite opportunities to develop and produce ground-breaking original animation."