In a groundbreaking move, DNEG, a leading provider of visual effects and animation solutions, has announced its acquisition of the exclusive license to Ziva from Unity. Ziva, a renowned toolset for crafting digital characters and creatures, has become a standard software for visual effects, animation, and gaming companies.

As part of this deal, DNEG will also bring aboard a significant portion of the Ziva team, further strengthening their expertise in this field. Boasting advanced simulation features and real-time character creation powered by machine learning, Ziva empowers artists to develop highly accurate and scalable digital characters with improved efficiency and control.

DNEG's VFX and Animation teams are no strangers to Ziva, having utilized the toolset on multiple past projects. Notably, Ziva played a pivotal role in delivering captivating performances by digital characters in renowned shows such as Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Fast X, Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Meg 2: The Trench, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, as well as the forthcoming co-productions Animal Friends and The Garfield Movie.

By investing in the Ziva toolset and its ongoing development, DNEG aims to enhance their creature pipeline. This strategic move will provide valuable support to their artists in the creation of mesmerizing digital characters and creatures across an array of projects.

Moreover, this cutting-edge technology will also fortify DNEG's new division, DNEG IXP, enabling the creation of real-time interactive digital beings for gaming, virtual concerts, theme park ride experiences, and next-generation headsets like the Apple Vision Pro.

Commenting on the acquisition, a spokesperson from DNEG highlighted the comprehensive investment in technology as an essential component of their growth strategy. Integrating the Ziva toolset into their technology stack will enable DNEG to deliver extraordinary cinematic performances and experiences, captivating movie enthusiasts worldwide. Furthermore, it supports their strategic foray into immersive experiences, as demonstrated by the launch of DNEG IXP.

Bringing the Ziva toolset in-house, along with a significant portion of the talented team behind it, is seen as a perfect fit by DNEG. The move provides the company with a substantial competitive advantage in developing sophisticated and truly convincing digital characters and creatures. This development aligns with DNEG's objective of enhancing their digital character and creature work for diverse applications, including film, episodic work, real-time projects, and immersive environments.

With this acquisition, DNEG is poised to pave the way for new and exciting opportunities in the world of digital character creation. Collaborating with the Ziva team, they look forward to guiding the product's further development and leading it into innovative new directions.

The acquisition of Ziva by DNEG marks a significant milestone in the industry, promising groundbreaking advancements in the realm of digital character and creature creation. As movie-goers and enthusiasts eagerly await the next generation of immersive experiences, the partnership between DNEG and Ziva guarantees an exceptional visual journey unlike anything before.