DreamWorks Animation added IBRIX Fusion to work with its HP ProLiant DL385 servers and HP StorageWorks MSA70 disk shelves to streamline access to digital information and optimize the overall performance of production data storage. Data throughput enables lighting artists to work more efficiently, making it possible to add rendering detail and lighting nuances that contribute to the rich detail of the studio's animated films. This joint solution shortens the process of production lighting and significantly improves the visual detail and richness in each digitally rendered scene.
In the past, artists' editing cycles and ultimately the creative process as a whole were slowed by the need to wait overnight for high resolution renders. The HP-IBRIX solution provides high-performance, transient storage to the lighting process, allowing artists to work up to five times faster. As a result, higher quality scenes with more accurate lighting detail can be produced faster and with more artistic control than ever before.
"This storage solution not only allows artists to see their high resolution renders within minutes but helps us launch an entire generation of new, interactive tools that we hope will raise the bar on animated film quality," said Ed Leonard, Chief Technology Officer at DreamWorks Animation. "The HP-IBRIX storage solution provides DreamWorks Animation with outstanding performance and reliability, a winning combination for our demanding needs."
As DreamWorks Animation continues to increase its creative ambition, it relies heavily on back-end systems to run efficiently. The HP-IBRIX architecture is a key technology element in the studio's ongoing effort to pioneer a new animated film format, stereoscopic 3D. Monsters vs. Aliens, DreamWorks Animation's first-ever feature film produced natively in stereoscopic 3D technology, will open in U.S. theaters in March 2009.
"Angles, shadows, movement and intensity - lighting a CG scene is both art and science," said Bernard Gilbert, CEO of IBRIX. "Our technology supports DreamWorks Animation's artists as they balance computational calculations with creativity, speed and accuracy to illustrate the elements of a scene, making images more detailed and the contrast between characters more distinguishable. Storing and quickly serving the digital files necessary to render lighting effects requires an extremely high level of aggregate throughput scalability, which only IBRIX can provide."
In addition to improving its lighting process, DreamWorks Animation is using IBRIX technology to manage its bulk storage needs. A long-term reference library was created to archive previous films, enabling artists an easy, efficient way to reference previous films' production data.
About DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.
DreamWorks Animation is principally devoted to developing and producing computer generated, or CG, animated feature films. With world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced CG filmmaking technology and techniques, DreamWorks Animation makes high quality CG animated films meant for a broad movie-going audience. The Company has theatrically released a total of fifteen animated feature films, including Antz, Shrek, Shrek 2, Shark Tale, Madagascar, Over the Hedge, Shrek the Third and Bee Movie.
About IBRIX, Inc.
IBRIX(R) delivers increased application performance to enterprise computing environments utilizing a unique parallel file serving solution. IBRIX Fusion(TM) is comprised of a single namespace parallel file system, a scalable volume manager, high availability features, and a comprehensive management interface. IBRIX Fusion is the most scalable, economical, multipurpose file serving solution available for cluster computing, grid computing, and enterprise computing environments. Based on IBRIX's patented Segmented File System(TM), IBRIX Fusion increases application performance, simplifies administration, and reduces total cost of ownership. The IBRIX Fusion file serving solution is available through leading OEMs. For more information, visit www.ibrix.com.
IBRIX, IBRIX Fusion, and Segmented File System are trademarks of IBRIX, Inc. All other brands, products, or service names may be trademarks or service marks of the companies with which they are associated.
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