Dreamworks Animation Technology

For its latest animated feature, Dreamworks relied on an impressive array of technology. First off, the rendering for the movie reportedly took 11 million CPU hours, running on a 2,500-CPU Linux cluster distributed at three sites, managed by HP and costing about US$45 million. Dreamworks three animation sites are linked by a gigabit network, allowing real time collaboration -- the sharing of data and video conferencing. Unlike Dreamworks rival, Pixar, Dreamworks relies on in-house developed technology to produce its films -- everything from the collaboration technology to its e-motion software for animation, was built in-house. Impressive when compared to Pixar, who uses commercial technology. Dreamworks is counting on their technology to enable them to hit the pace of releasing two feature animated movies per year -- compared with the one release every 18-months from Pixar.