As the General Manager for Image Engine and Group Chief Operating Officer VFX for Cinesite, Shawn Walsh’s expertise supports our global family of studios in many areas.
Originating as a 3D Character Animator in 1996, Shawn brings many years of experience in the visual effects and animation industry, including several years abroad, where he honed his skills as a Senior Lighting Technical Director and Compositor at Rhythm and Hues, The Moving Picture Company, and ESC Entertainment. During this time, his credits include The Matrix: Revolutions, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Kingdom of Heaven, and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
In 2005, Shawn joined Image Engine, commencing his extensive tenure with the studio. He soon became Visual Effects Executive Producer (EP) contributing to an impressive roster of credits, including Alien: Ore, Kin, O.I., The Meg, Skyscraper, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Thor: Ragarok, Power Rangers, Logan, Deadpool, Chappie, The Incredible Hulk, District 9, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, White House Down, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and more.
His highlights as an EP, include managing Game of Thrones seasons 5-8, for which Image Engine won a 2019 Emmy Award for ‘Outstanding Special Visual Effects”. Shawn was also the production side visual effects producer for Neill Blomkamp’s Elysium, which won the 2014 Leo Award for ‘Best Visual Effects in a Motion Picture’.
More recently, Shawn’s projects include The Three-Body Problem, Lift, Mandalorian seasons 1-3, Willow, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Fantastic Beasts 1, 2 & 3, The Book of Boba Fett, which won the 2022 Emmy Award for ‘Outstanding Special Visual Effects In A Season Or A Movie’, Moon Knight, Swan Song, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Project Power, Mulan, Underwater, Lost in Space, Carnival Row, Spiderman: Far From Home, and the list goes on.
Shawn plays an instrumental role in leading new business opportunities in feature films and streaming content, developing new production methodologies, and managing the global marketing of Image Engine. Shawn has had a crucial role in securing projects from a diverse range of clientele, including Netflix, HBO, Amazon, Walt Disney Pictures, Lucasfilm, Marvel Entertainment, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Studios, Lionsgate Entertainment, Apple Original Films, and MRC Studios.
Following the studio’s merger with Cinesite in 2015, Shawn took on the role of General Manager at Image Engine. In 2023, he further expanded his responsibilities, becoming the Cinesite Group Chief Operating Officer VFX, overseeing the visual effects divisions across Cinesite, Image Engine and Trixter. Based in Vancouver, Shawn plays a pivotal role in driving all facets of Cinesite group VFX production, fostering client relations, and spearheading business development. He collaborates closely with the Group General Managers as well as Liz Roberts, Group Head of Production VFX; Holger Voss, Group Head of CG VFX; Matthew Maycock, Group Head of Finance VFX; and Drew Jones, Group Chief Business Development Officer VFX.
Outside of work, Shawn is an avid cyclist and skier. Previously, he has contributed to the industry as a member of the DigiBC Board of Directors, a mentor at Vancouver Film School, and a member of the Steering Committee for the Animation & Visual Effects Alliance of BC.