When Sonic the Hedgehog got his redesign for the new movie, fans were quick to praise the animators for their work on fixing the cobalt speedster's look. Unfortunately, it seems like it might not have been enough to save the studio responsible, Moving Picture Company.

According to CBC, MPC closed its doors to the Vancouver studio. The announcement came in an email to staff, citing "external market pressures." As of right now, it's not yet known how many staff members lost their job just two weeks before the Christmas holiday. CBC reports that by 2013, however, at least 800 artists worked out of the Vancouver studio.

RELATED: REPORT: Sonic Redesign Cost Significantly Less Than Initially Reported

In addition to Sonic the Hedgehog, the Vancouver film animation and visual effects studio also worked on The Lion King, Watchmen and Call of the Wild. MPC also won an Academy Award for their visual effects work on the 2012 film, Life of Pi.

In response to the closure, Brenda Bailey of DigiBC said, "I think that there is a little bit of uncertainty right now in terms of the tax credits and business doesn't thrive in uncertainty," she said.

MPC's newly redesigned Sonic the Hedgehog trailer garnered support from fans and the filmmakers themselves. After a poor reception to the Sonic design shown in the April trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog, the studio stepped in for damage control. How this closure will affect the completion of the film's VFX touch-ups has yet to be reported.

MPC also has studios in Montreal, London, Los Angeles and Bangalore, India. It is unknown if the closure will affect these studios

Opening Feb. 14, director Jeff Fowler's Sonic the Hedgehog stars Ben Schwartz as Sonic and Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik, with James Marsden, Neal McDonald, Tika Sumpter, Adam Pally and Natasha Rothwell.

KEEP READING: New Sonic the Hedgehog Trailer Fixes the Problems of the First