Happy Feet 2 to be Made in Sydney

The Age is reporting that Warner Bros. Pictures will make Happy Feet 2 at a new digital production facility in Sydney, Australia.

NSW Minister of State Development Ian Macdonald revealed on Sunday that the George Miller-directed sequel will employ an average of 438 people over three years. They will include some 230 computer-generated imaging artists. 

Miller praised the government's assistance package and the "Dr D" facility, which he said had already attracted a number of big budget international film projects in the planning or pre-production stage. 

"This incentive by the NSW government is a significant step. It allows us to make 'Happy Feet 2' in Sydney and it will be the first of many productions from our new digital studio, Dr D," he said in a statement. 

"It helps us in our attempts to attract substantial foreign investment which will create hundreds of high-end, highly skilled jobs as well as nurture the careers of many people coming out of our educational institutions who would otherwise have no place to grow their talents."