The Walt Disney Company is shutting down Robert Zemeckis’ digital film studio in the San Francisco Bay area. The studio specializes in motion capture film-making and most recently released “A Christmas Carol” starring Jim Carrey.

The company said the closure will be completed by January and result in the loss of 450 jobs. Disney said the move is designed to cut costs.

“Given today’s economic realities, we need to find alternative ways to bring creative content to audiences and [Zemeckis’ studio, ImageMovers Digital] no longer fits into our business model,” Disney Studios President Alan Bergman told the Los Angeles Times.

Before the studio closes, Zemeckis and his team will complete production of “Mars Needs Moms!,” a 3-D movie set for release in March 2011.

Robert Zemeckis is an Academy Award-winning director and a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. In 1999, Zemeckis donated $5 million to create a digital arts facility for the school.

The Zemeckis Center is the home of Trojan Vision, which Annenberg TV News is affiliated with.