Shrek goes Fourth, with Intel inside?
According to The Wall Street Journal, DreamWorks Animation SKG will side with Intel over AMD as the supplier of processor technology for systems used at its computer-animation studios.
A forthcoming announcement is expected, but early reports suggest the studio's 1,500 Hewlett-Packard servers and 1,000 workstations, all of which utilise AMD processors, will be replaced with Intel-powered HP systems.
AMD announced its three-year deal with DreamWorks back in April 2005, but the studio is said to have opted for Intel this time around due to the capabilities of two forthcoming chips. We're presuming the first is Nehalem and the second could be Larrabee.
Though financial details haven't been disclosed, DreamWorks is believed to have obtained a team of Intel programmers who will help its animators and developers get the most out of the new Intel systems.
DreamWorks plans to focus heavily on 3D animation in future titles, beginning with Monsters vs. Aliens in 2009, and it's betting on Intel's chips to speed up its operations.
*Update*
The official announcement has been made, and Intel's president and CEO, Paul Otellini, had this to say:
This alliance unites the best in computer-generated moviemaking and computing performance to deliver a new level of in-theater entertainment. The high level of inventiveness at DreamWorks Animation has positioned it as a leader in entertainment technology, and incorporating the Intel platform allows them to deliver incredibly rich digital 3-D content to the big screen – raising the bar for the industry as a whole.
Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation, adds:
Official press release: INTEL, DREAMWORKS ANIMATION FORM STRATEGIC ALLIANCE TO REVOLUTIONIZE 3-D FILMMAKING TECHNOLOGYOur objective is to significantly heighten the movie going experience using DreamWorks Animation’s ground-breaking 3-D filmmaking tools. Technology plays a significant role in enabling our artists to tell great stories. By utilizing Intel’s industry-leading computing products, we will create a new and innovative way for moviegoers to experience our films in 3-D.
