CGI & 3D Animation

Here is how this works in practice. We connect productions with NZ's top-tier CGI and 3D animation pipeline anchored on Weta FX (formerly Weta Digital — the VFX division Peter Jackson sold to Unity Technologies in 2021), the deepest VFX house in the world by Oscar count. Weta runs Houdini for FX, simulation, and procedural assets, Maya for character rigging and layout, Nuke for compositing, Mari for texture authoring, and proprietary tools including the Wig fur system and the Manuka spectral renderer.

Here is how this works in practice. Alongside Weta, Cinesite Auckland delivers VFX and animation, Weta Workshop (Peter Jackson's retained physical-effects and creature-design arm) provides design-led integration with CGI shows, Pixomondo partners with Weta on Rings of Power, and DNEG (Vancouver/London/Mumbai) regularly partners on NZ-routed productions. Animation-led houses include BluBlu Studios Auckland, Mukpuddy Animation, and Plot Point Productions for short-form, advertising, and broadcast animation. Render pipelines route to AWS Auckland Region (opened 2024) for Privacy Act 2020-compliant burst capacity.

Here is the short of it. NZ CGI heritage holds six-plus Best VFX Oscars through Weta — Lord of the Rings Return of the King (2003). King Kong (2005), Avatar (2009), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) — plus VFX nominations for Lord of the Rings Fellowship (2001) and Two Towers (2002), Avatar Way of Water's HFR 48 fps stereoscopic 3D work, and District 9 (2009). Rings of Power (Amazon Prime Video) sits as the largest streaming production ever made and routes through Weta. Avatar: The Way of Water pioneered virtual production with motion-capture under James Cameron's direction in Wellington. Iwi consultation on culturally referenced digital assets follows tikanga. Te reo Māori onscreen graphics rendering follows the 1987 Language Act with macron-correct typesetting. GST 15 percent, NZD invoicing, ACC accident cover.