Tim Burton (Beetlejuice, Batman and The Nightmare Before Christmas) saw Acker's short film and, with Timur Bekmambetov (director of Wanted) from Focus Features, produced the feature film with Attitude Studios in Luxembourg and Starz Animation in Toronto.

[citation needed] From January 2009 to 2010[4] Acker worked as an instructor for an advanced animation class at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects.

[6] In June 2011, Acker was chosen to direct a new live-action adaptation of the children's book and TV series Thomas & Friends.

[7][8] In 2011, Acker formed Benthos Studio, an animation production company with partners Greg Little, Jack Mitchell and Brown Bag Films.

[citation needed] In 2012, Shane Acker confirmed that he planned to work with Valve to create his next film, Deep.