By HILLARY COPSEY

Want to know what Digital Domain, the animation company that received local incentives to open studios in Port St. Lucie, is up to?

Check out “Tron: Legacy” starting at midnight Thursday.

Digital Domain’s California studio had a major role in creating Disney’s $200 million, 3-D sequel to “Tron,” a 1982 sci-fi film. In addition to the final product, which opens across the Treasure Coast this weekend, the visual effects company worked on the environments and characters that helped persuade Disney executives to greenlight the movie, Digital Domain Holdings CEO John Textor said.

“It gave us a whole lot of confidence in our skills as we move into creating original animation content,” Textor said. “It was a great warm-up for what we’re doing in Port St. Lucie.”

Some of the people who worked on “Tron: Legacy” now are in Port St. Lucie, including the director of training and the visual effects supervisor.

“You have Oscar-nominated people shopping in local grocery stores,” Textor said.

Digital Domain has 156 employees, many of them Floridians. Textor said strong animation programs at the University of Central Florida and the Ringling School of Art & Design in Sarasota made Port St. Lucie an attractive place for studios, and the company has found local talent as well.

At a recent job fair, Textor said, some of the most talented applicants were students from St. Lucie County high schools.

Digital Domain is hosting a private screening of “Tron: Legacy” on Dec. 17 in Port St. Lucie for 500 employees and friends of the company. In the future, with other films the company works on, Textor said he hopes to host large outdoor screenings at Digital Domain Park.