Animation giant Pixar officially opened its Vancouver studio Tuesday morning, welcoming visitors with a video of famous characters visiting local landmarks.
Wall-E rolled past the Gastown clock and the Up! house lofted along Howe Street in the video celebrating the company's first office outside of California.
Pixar general manager Amir Nasrabadi said the decision to open the Vancouver studio was driven largely by the hiring possibilities here.
"Vancouver has a very mature, high-quality talent pool, driven primarily by the strength of the industry and great local universities and schools," he said at a press conference in Pixar's Gastown offices.
The company is currently has eight online job postings for the Vancouver office, and is planning to eventually have a staff of as many as 100 people.
For now, Pixar Canada will produce short format films for TV and the web, using characters from Cars and Toy Story.
BC Film Commissioner Susan Croome said she was excited by the studio's opening.
"I think this Pixar announcement's absolutely fantastic for all of us," she told CTV News.
Croome also dismissed concerns that the rising Canadian dollar would deter other film companies hoping to make the move to B.C.
"Exchange rates come and go, but they're making plans for the long term," she said.
Premier Gordon Campbell and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson both attended the opening ceremonies on Tuesday, and were presented with figurines of Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear.
