Film News

Dallas-based Reel FX Animation Studios opens new office in Canada

Reel FX film The Book of Life was nominated for a Golden Globe.

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox and Reel FX

Dallas' Reel FX Creative Studios, the animation and film studio based in Deep Ellum, is expanding its reach all the way to Canada. The studio, whose work includes both commercial projects as well as films such as the award-winning The Book of Life, is opening a satellite office in the beautiful metropolis of Montreal.

CEO Steve O'Brien confirms that the Montreal office is opening and staffing is underway.

"We're just hoping to diversify and to tap into different talent pools," O'Brien says. "Montreal has a thriving community of artists, animators, and visual effects people. The city has a big filmmaking industry, as well as incentives to do business there."

Among the studio's new projects include an animated feature called Ugly Dolls, directed by Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Desperado, Spy Kids). Some of the production on that film will take place at the new Montreal location.

Based in Dallas for more than 20 years, Reel FX has collaborated with Warner Bros., Disney, Fox, Paramount, Sony, Universal, and Google, among others, on short films, music videos, branded content, and full-length animated features.

20th Century Fox released The Book of Life in 2014. Its success has spawned more original production for Reel FX, including a Book of Life sequel that was announced in June. Reel FX will reunite with original director Jorge R. Gutierrez to make a sequel in stereoscopic 3D.

The studio is also in development on another animated film titled Kung Fu Space Punch, that's being planned as a movie but which could also become a mini-series.

Montreal is not the only office move underway; the company recently relocated its California office from Santa Monica to Hollywood. "With most of the studios there or in Burbank, we just want to be closer to our customers," O'Brien says.

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State of innovation

Texas ranks among 5 best states to start a business in 2025

Photo by Mykyta Kravčenko on Unsplash

Texas' friendly business climate has allowed the state to regain its rightful position among the top five best states to start a new business.

As one of the largest states in the U.S., it's no surprise Texas is big on business and entrepreneurship. Now the state is earning new praise among WalletHub's 2025 list of "Best & Worst States to Start a Business."

The Lone Star State claimed the No. 4 spot in the report's rankings — putting Texas in a better shape than it was last year when it earned No. 8 in WalletHub's 2024 report.

The study compared all 50 states across 25 metrics to determine the best places to start, grow, and find success with a new business. Factors that were considered include the number of startups per capita, job growth rates, financing accessibility measures, labor costs, and corporate tax rates.

The three states to outperform Texas are Florida (No. 1), Georgia (No. 2), and Utah (No. 3). Idaho rounded out the top five.

Across the study's three main categories, Texas performed the best in the "business environment" rank, earning No. 1 nationally. This section compared the states based on its five-year business survival rates, average business revenues growth, and more.

Texas ranked No. 12 in the nationwide comparison of "access to resources" – which covers working age population growth, venture investment amounts per capita, and other means – and earned a fair No. 34 in the report's "business costs" ranking.

But Texas can still do better with its business friendliness to reclaim a top-three overall ranking, which the state last earned in 2023.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in the report that it is imperative for potential new business owners to establish their enterprise in a place that can maximize their ability to succeed.

"Around half of all new businesses don’t survive five years, so the idea of becoming a business owner can be daunting, especially with the current high cost of living," Lupo said. "The best states have low corporate tax rates, strong economies, an abundance of reliable workers, easy access to financing and affordable real estate. On top of that, you’ll need to make sure you start in a place with an engaged customer base, if you’re operating locally."

Dallas has also proven to be at the top of the destination list for entrepreneurs who are looking for their next venture.

The top 10 best states to start a new business in 2025 are:

No. 1 – Florida
No. 2 – Georgia
No. 3 – Utah
No. 4 – Texas
No. 5 – Idaho
No. 6 – Oklahoma
No. 7 – Nevada
No. 8 – Colorado
No. 9 – Arizona
No. 10 – Kentucky

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