2 years after purchasing the VFX company’s tools, pipeline, technology and engineering talent pool, the company moves to refocus on video game development, with a goal to become a major player in the professional M&E market; it will also shutter 14 offices.
Company’s first dedicated VFX studio outside New Zealand kicks off with 75 artists, with more hires planned later this year; currently it has 12 unannounced projects in the pipeline, having recently completed work on ‘The Batman,’ Marvel’s ‘Moon Knight,’ and ‘Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.’
The real-time content development platform finalizes its US$1.625 billion purchase of the legendary VFX studio’s digital tools, pipeline and engineering talent; VFX teams now operating as standalone WetaFX under CEO Prem Akkaraju and majority owner Sir Peter Jackson.
Deal calls for purchase of leading VFX studio’s proprietary software systems, pipeline, and engineering talent; Oscar-winning VFX team will become WetaFX, remaining under Peter Jackson’s majority ownership and helmed by CEO Prem Akkaraju.
New WetaH collaboration marks leading VFX company’s second move to integrate top commercial and proprietary applications in a single cloud-based service.
Taking place August 10, Autodesk’s SIGGRAPH 2021 Vision Series includes six sessions with industry leaders who are pushing the boundaries to create new possibilities for film and TV digital artistry; programs include ‘Reimagining VFX Production in the Cloud,’ and ‘Marvel Studios: Adapting to Our New (Virtual) Normal.’
New subscription service productizes Weta’s Oscar-winning Maya-based proprietary VFX tools, providing artists access to one complete stage to screen Maya-based pipeline.
Former Disney executive to lead VFX company’s further global expansion into original content and animation.
Former Disney COO Tom Staggs, former Google executive Jeff Huber, and Peter Jackson’s longtime partner Ken Kamins appointed as part of company’s continuing expansion.
Veteran tech exec joins company from Carnegie Mellon University; will oversee technology initiatives for VFX work as well as at new animation division.
Pioneering visual effects company, known for ‘Avatar’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ has chosen Amazon Web Services to create a new, cloud-based visual effects workflow.
Fulfilling Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh’s long-time dream, leading VFX studio will for the first begin producing original animated feature and episodic content.
