Legend3D
| Private | |
| Industry | Film and television |
| Founded | August 2001 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, USA |
Key people |
Brian Robertson, CEO Mark Steffler, CFO Anthony Lopez, CIO Matt Akey, EVP of Production, CMO |
| Products | High-quality stereoscopic 3D conversion and visual effects, virtual reality |
| Website | http://www.legend3d.com |
Founded in 2001, Legend3D, Inc. is an innovative virtual reality, 3D visual effects and conversion company committed to advancing the 3D medium globally. Legend’s technology enables the conversion of new and historically produced 2D movies, TV shows, advertisements and other video entertainment assets into 3D. The company has quickly developed a reputation as the industry leader in 3D conversion and visual effects work among motion picture studios such as Disney, Sony, Warner Bros., Paramount and DreamWorks, and among content producers such as Zack Snyder, Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay, Martin Scorsese, and Jerry Bruckheimer.
The company recently partnered with Walt Disney Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Marvel Studios, Warner Bros., MGM, Lionsgate and BBC Films on many high-profile features, including Insurgent and Poltergeist, with a number of 2015 and 2016 tentpole projects completed and premiering soon.
Legend is viewed by filmmakers and content producers as a creative partner, as the company provides flexibility, comfort and creative freedom for directors looking to optimize their 3D vision while still being able to shoot their films in the native 2D format they are accustomed to. Legend's tools and methodology can significantly reduce the time and money required to convert, and can produce results of equal or superior quality as compared to shooting in 3D.
The company has also worked on 3D commercials with advertising agencies such as TBWA\Chiat\Day, Ogilvy & Mather, Y&R, McGarryBowen, 72andSunny, and Disney’s Yellow Shoes group.
In Q1 2014, Legend3D opened its new Hollywood hub, which features a RealD review theater, editorial suites and a technology lab with real-time interactive depth grading capability. To ensure project workflow between studios, a 10 gigabit pipe connects the 3D LA hub to Legend3D’s Toronto facility, allowing for secure, real-time transfer of stereo data.
Company history
Barry Sandrew, Ph.D., founded Legend Films in 2001, four years after leaving his position as staff neuroscientist at Harvard and Mass General Hospital and inventing the first all-digital technology and process for colorizing black. The company produced colorized product for Fox Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Paramount, Sony, Japan’s Tsuburaya, BBC and several other major global media and distribution companies. After being introduced to digital 3D in 2007, Dr. Sandrew created a conversion process and pipeline that eventually became the gold standard of 3D conversion, an accomplishment that stands today. In 2010, following the release of Alice in Wonderland, he changed the name of Legend Films to Legend3D, and colorization took on a low priority in order for the company to focus entirely on the stereoscopic conversion of feature films and commercials.
Notable releases
Films
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015) - theatrical release
- Goosebumps (2015) - theatrical release
- The Walk (2015) - theatrical release
- Enchanted Kingdom (2015) - theatrical release
- Ant-Man (2015) - theatrical release
- Poltergeist (2015) - theatrical release
- Insurgent (2015) - theatrical release
- Jupiter Ascending (2015) - theatrical release
- Maleficent (2014) - theatrical release
- Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) - theatrical release
- The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) - theatrical release
- The Lego Movie (2014) - theatrical release
- Metallica Through the Never (2013) - theatrical release
- Man of Steel (2013) - theatrical release
- The Smurfs 2 (2013) - theatrical release
- The Little Mermaid 3D (2013) - theatrical release
- Oz: The Great and Powerful (2013) - theatrical release
- Top Gun 3D (2013) - theatrical 3D re-release and Blu-ray 3D release
- Life of Pi (2012) - theatrical release
- The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) - theatrical release
- Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012) - theatrical release
- Hugo (2011) - theatrical release
- The Smurfs (2011) - theatrical release
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) - theatrical release
- Green Lantern (2011) - theatrical release
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) - theatrical release
- Priest (2011) - theatrical release
- The Green Hornet (2011) - theatrical release
- Shrek, Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third (2010) - Blu-ray 3D release
- Alice in Wonderland (2010) - theatrical release
Commercials
In 2008, Legend converted a commercial for Skittles candy for the M&M/Mars Company; this was the world’s first 3D theatrically presented commercial. Subsequently, Legend3D has worked on award-winning 3D commercials with global advertising agencies including TBWA/Chiat/Day, Ogilvy & Mather, Y&R, McGarryBowen and Disney’s Yellow Shoes Creative Group, for brands such as Target, Coke Zero, Chase, Disney, Verizon, Qatar Foundation Radio and Hampton Inn.
Special events
Legend performed 3D conversion of large-screen video material for the This Is It concerts.
Virtual reality
Legend has launched a Virtual Reality division, and is currently partnering with feature film studios, ad agencies and global retail partners to create immersive VR experiences in both 2D and 3D formats. Legend’s first project, released at CES 2015, was the much-acclaimed short The Recruit: R U In.