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.
Weta Digital, one of the world’s premiere visual effects studios, has partnered with Autodesk to launch WetaM - a groundbreaking productization of tools designed and developed by Weta Digital, fully embedded in Autodesk Maya, built on the software’s open API. This new cloud-based service commercializes Weta’s proprietary VFX tools for artists built on Autodesk’s Maya 3D animation, modeling, rendering and simulation software. It marks the first time Autodesk has partnered with a third party to sell Maya in the cloud; it also marks Weta’s launch of their new SaaS business arm, enabling Autodesk to bring Weta Digital’s best-in-class toolsets, combined with Maya’s innovative platform, to artists and studios around the world. Weta intends to rollout WetaM in a private Q4 beta.
Weta Digital has won 13 Academy Sci-tech Awards for its tools, used to produce some of the most successful film and TV series in the world, including The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, Game of Thrones, and Planet of the Apes. Weta intends to rollout WetaM a private beta in Q4.
WetaM is the first product launched under Weta Digital’s newly formed Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) division, an integral part of the company’s expansion strategy to offer professional and prosumer tools to artists across the entertainment industry.
“WetaM is the first step in the democratization of VFX and animation production,” said Prem Akkaraju, Weta Digital CEO. “Weta Digital brings together the most creative minds in the world and has been a pioneering innovator in the visual effects and entertainment industry for decades. WetaM is a transformational move that will raise the bar for global creative production, redefining the industry in the process. At its core, this partnership with Autodesk will extend the reach of the Weta magic, making it more accessible for artists in pursuit of creating amazing characters and worlds across film and television.”
“We are longtime fans of Weta’s remarkable visual effects achievements, and they are constantly breaking new ground building immersive, imaginary worlds and unbelievably real and engaging digital characters,” said Diana Colella, senior vice president, Entertainment & Media Solutions, Autodesk. “The debut of WetaM is a gamechanger as it opens up years of Weta’s dedicated animation and VFX R&D resources to all creatives. It is exciting to be working with Weta to bring their magic to Maya artists, offering them powerful new effects tools and time-saving automation capabilities.”
Source: Autodesk M&E
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
