Sector: Creative Industries – Screen Production

Award-winning animation and digital effects are synonymous with New Zealand as internationally-renowned filmmakers race to use locally-grown digital technology to create believable, original worlds and fantastic characters.

New Zealand visual effects companies have built an enviable reputation for services to feature films and television series such as The Frighteners, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess, The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Now advertisers are beginning to access the same world-class digital effects and computer-generated animation capabilities to create outstanding and powerful advertising.

Companies such as Sony, Nokia, Johnny Walker and Singapore Airlines are amongst those quick to benefit from this expertise in animation and digital effects.

New Zealand expertise outshone all others in a global review by Unilever, who chose Oktobor, a New Zealand company, to assist in creating a series of animated commercials known as Comfort Clothworld. Oktobor Business Manager Patrick McAteer explains, “The challenge was to create a 3D-animated world where the characters and backgrounds are formed completely from cloth. It was a huge challenge that included competing in a very competitive global market, and working with a company half way around the world”.

Bringing this complex world to life in 3D meant capturing the way cloth behaves and reacts when formed into objects: trees, cars, motorbikes, houses and even the kitchen sink. Once animated, scenes were broken down into numerous render passes for the 2D team to composite and finesse into the final product.

Increasing international demand for work on projects such as the Comfort Clothworld series of commercials is testament to the firstrate client service offered by New Zealand-based digital artists and production teams.

As the birthplace of sophisticated digital film creations, the technical expertise available in New Zealand is unparalleled. Digital effects companies covering all specialties are clustered around the film hubs of Wellington and Auckland to service local and international productions. In turn, they support a full range of digital production and post-production services including animation (3D / 2D), miniature stop motion footage, motion control sequencing, compositing, final colour grading and on-line finishing.

Filmmakers and advertisers value the inventive, problem-solving perspective taken by New Zealand companies, as well as the technical skills available from world-acclaimed visual effects houses.

Another major advantage is the 24 hour production cycle created by the Southern Hemisphere time zones, providing a seamless solution for clients based in the United States, Asia and Europe.

Reports & Publications

• More Reports & Publications