Winnipeg’s film industry just got a lot more colourful.

Opus Visual Effects and Buffalo Gal Pictures announced the opening of an animation studio on Tuesday called Opus Animation.

Opus Animation has already started hiring animators for its first project — a feature film called Emma’s Wings: A Bella Sara Tale.

A co-production between Winnipeg’s Buffalo Gal Pictures Inc., Winnipeg’s Opus Visual Effects, and Entremedia Digital Films Inc. from Toronto, Emma’s Wings: A Bella Sara Tale is the first movie based on Bella Sara, the popular brand and virtual fantasy world of horses that originated in Denmark.

The 3D-feature movie will be released in 2013. It is the first animated feature being produced in Winnipeg.

“We’re thrilled to be teaming up with Entremedia to make this movie in Manitoba, and be able to expand our animation industry,” said Phyllis Laing, president of Buffalo Gal Pictures and Opus Visual Effects. “The entire world of Bella Sara is not only magical and engaging, but empowering for young girls.

“We could not be more excited to part of the team bringing this universe to life.”

Production of Emma’s Wings: A Bella Sara Tale will begin this fall at Opus Animation — a commercial animation studio being established in the city’s Exchange District. The project has hired eight people and will be adding another 16 in coming weeks.

In total, 45 positions will be created over the 44-week duration of the project. It’s anticipated that 80% of the present jobs will be filled by Manitobans this year, with a goal of 100% within two years.

Manitoba has a long tradition of animation, boasting renowned animation filmmakers such as Cordell Barker (The Cat Came Back) and Anita Lebeau (Big Drive).