Spire Animation Studios kicks off Epic Games’ new Unreal Shorts animated film program

Spire Animation Studios is one of the first recipients of a new Epic Games grant initiative and fellowship program called Unreal Shorts. It’s for companies that create animated films using Epic’s Unreal Engine, and Spire is one of 45 grant recipients so far.

Spire is a new studio created by animation producer Brad Lewis, who made movies such as Ratatouille and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, and entrepreneur P.J. Gunsagar (Prana Studios, Kidaptive). They’re working on a computer-animated film called Century Goddess, which has funding from Connect Ventures (started by CAA and New Enterprise Associates). The film is about freedom of expression in a dictatorship that suppresses artists. Spire also has a few other projects in development in Los Angeles.