Editing SimEx-Iwerks (section)

==History==

Iwerks Entertainment Inc. is an American [[film studio]] founded in 1985 in [[Burbank, California]], by [[Academy Award|Oscar]] winner and [[Disney Legend]] [[Don Iwerks]] and [[Stan Kinsey]], both former [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] Executives. The company was named to honor Don's father, [[Ub Iwerks]], who was [[Walt Disney]]'s first business partner and co-creator of [[Mickey Mouse]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/3119274/mickey-mouse-ub-iwerks-cartoon/|title=Making Mickey: Ub Iwerks Cartoon Creations|magazine=Time|accessdate=11 June 2019}}</ref>

SimEx's origins lie with the creation by Michael Needham and Moses Znaimer of Tour of the Universe (1984) at the CN Tower, Toronto. In the 1980s SimEx and Iwerks developed their own separate visions for motion ride attractions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/services/business/research/directoriescanadiancompanies.html|title=Directories of Canadian companies|first=Science and Economic Development Canada|last=Innovation|date=27 August 2015|website=aem|accessdate=11 June 2019}}</ref>

Los Angeles–based Iwerks developed innovative 8/70 projection technologies for Extreme Screen Theaters and two-seat motion systems (TurboRide).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Judith |date=July 9, 2013 |title=Inventing Themed Entertainment |url=https://www.inparkmagazine.com/inventing-themed-entertainment/ |website=In Park Magazine}}</ref> In 1998, Iwerks Co-founder Don Iwerks was awarded the Gordon E. Sawyer Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in recognition of his lifetime of contribution to the science and technology of motion pictures.<ref>http://www.iwerks.com/Default.asp?id=8&l=1 {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

In late 1999, Iwerks Entertainment acquired the assets of McFadden Systems, which had been approached by [[Warner Bros. Movie World]] to develop a motion simulator for ''[[Batman Adventure – The Ride]]'' in 1992.<ref name="Virtual Rides Take Off">{{cite news|last=Huffstutter|first=P.J.|title=Virtual Rides Take Off|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-04-fi-19217-story.html|access-date=24 November 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=4 August 1997}}</ref>

In 2024, SimEx-Iwerks' parent company dissolved in Toronto as part of the Canadian CCAA. A group of management purchased the company assets continuing its legacy and operation. The new company trades as "SimEx Iwerks" as of June 1, 2024 and has operations headquartered in California.