The London studio was set up in 2004 and features five Flame systems, along with Autodesk Maya 3D workstations. New York also features a Flame suite that is being manned by a rotation of the VFX team. Combustion is on-site as well.
Since opening last month, Absolute's American arm completed its first job, a Samsung commercial for Leo Burnett/Chicago, directed by Phil Joanou of MJZ LA. The project tapped Flame work, executed in the New York location, and 3D work created through the London headquarters.
Absolute's On Tap review and approval system allows the two locations to collaborate and make frame-by-frame visual annotations.
According to Absolute managing director/senior VFX artist David Smith, as much as 70 percent of the studio's business comes from American clients, so it was natural for the studio to open an office in New York City. And inn May, the company's 3D department will expand, with the addition of Maria Ocantos. She will join the London post house, having spent three year's at Smoke & Mirrors, also in London.