Editing SimEx-Iwerks

{{Short description|Canadian entertainment technology company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Simex-Iwerks Entertainment
| logo = SimEx Iwerks logo.jpg
| logo_size = 250px
| type = 
| genre = 
| foundation = 
| founder = Michael Needham
| location_city = [[Santa Clarita, CA]]
| location_country = USA
| location = 
| key_people = Michael Needham, Shiori Sudo, Mike Frueh, Sean McAllister, Milan Ghosh
| area_served = 
| industry = [[Entertainment]]
| products = Cinematic Attractions, 3D, 4D and VR Attractions; Motion Simulation Rides; and FlyRide Theaters.
| services = 
| revenue = 
| operating_income = 
| net_income = 
| num_employees = 
| parent = 
| divisions = 
| subsid = 
| owner = 
| homepage = {{URL|www.simex-iwerks.com}}
| dissolved = 2024 (resumed operation 2024 new ownership) 
| footnotes = 
}}

'''SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment''' specializes in high-tech entertainment systems, films, film technologies, film-based software, Simulation Hardware Systems and services.<ref name="bloomberg.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=124317|website=www.bloomberg.com|accessdate=11 June 2019|title=Stocks}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/Members/Member-Directory/index.cfm?membercode=1118&membersection=about&redirect=y|title=Member Directory|website=teaconnect.org|accessdate=11 June 2019}}</ref> The company has partnerships with various institutions, parks, and destinations.

The company has been serving the amusement industry for 30 years, through three operating divisions: Attractions Development; Content Licensing, Production & Distribution; and Technology/Engineering.<ref name="attractionsmanagement.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.attractionsmanagement.com/|title=Attractions news, jobs and magazine - attractionsmanagement.com|website=www.attractionsmanagement.com/|accessdate=11 June 2019}}</ref>

SimEx Inc. is the former parent company of SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment. The company was based in Toronto, Canada with additional locations in Baltimore, Maryland; and Santa Clarita, California.<ref name="bloomberg.com"/>

==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. 

==Academy Awards==

Iwerks Entertainment has received two [[Academy Awards]] by the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] for Scientific and Technical Achievement.

The first occurred in 1998 at the [[70th Academy Awards]] show, where founder Don Iwerks was awarded the [[Gordon E. Sawyer Award]], given each year to "an individual in the motion picture industry whose technological contributions have brought credit to the industry."<ref>{{cite web|last=NNDB|title=Oscar, Gordon E. Sawyer Award|url=http://www.nndb.com/honors/648/000063459/|publisher=Soylent Communications}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Fact for the Day|title=This Day in Disney History|url=http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/mar23.html|publisher=The Walt Disney Company}}</ref>

The second occurred in 2000 at the [[72nd Academy Awards]] show, where Iwerks' L. Ron Schmidt was awarded an [[Academy Award]] for the “concept, design and engineering of the Linear Loop Film Projector”.

==Product range==
SimEx-Iwerks Experiences include 3-D, 4-D and VR attractions, motion simulation rides, and flying theaters. Over 350 attractions have been built by the SimEx-Iwerks group in over 40 countries.<ref name="attractionsmanagement.com"/>

==Film library==
SimEx-Iwerks active film library consists of over 125 films.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.simexdesign.com/content/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714163806/http://www.simexdesign.com/content |archive-date=2016-07-14 |title=SimEx-Iwerks – Featured Shows {{!}}}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.simex-iwerks.com/}}

{{Cinema chains in Canada}}

[[Category:Virtual reality companies]]
[[Category:Canadian companies established in 1985]]
[[Category:Movie theatre chains in Canada]]