SINGAPORE -- October 27, 2005 --At
a ceremonial opening of Lucasfilm Animation Singapore today, AMD (NYSE:
AMD) announced that the digital backbone of the new Lucasfilm Animation
Singapore digital animation center is powered by AMD64 processor
technology – the gold standard for 64-bit computing.
Lucasfilm Animation Singapore is Lucasfilm Ltd.’s first animation
studio in Asia and complements their new Letterman Digital Arts Center
combining Industrial Light & Magic and LucasArts at the Presidio in
San Francisco. All facilities rely on AMD64 processors for their
artist’s workstations and mission-critical render farms. Both
facilities are designed to produce state-of-the-art digital animated
content for movies, television programs and games for global audiences.
Asian cinema and animation has had a profound effect on the work of
George Lucas. Lucasfilm Animation Singapore hopes to blend animation
styles of east and west to offer audiences something never seen before.
“Integrating our new Singapore and San Francisco facilities into one
virtual studio and handling the massive amounts of data we push around
our network every day is an unprecedented feat in our industry and
requires the best technology available,” said Cliff Plumer, chief
technology officer for Lucasfilm. “Building on top of AMD64 processors
was an easy decision because they are the only processors to meet our
strict needs. AMD64’s cutting edge 32-bit performance for our existing
software, simple 64-bit upgrade path, low power consumption, world
class reliability and scalability, and clear roadmap to next-generation
performance with dual core technology are “must-haves” to continue our
steep trajectory up the visual effects innovation curve.”
The power of AMD64 technology with Direct Connect Architecture in the
hands of digital artists at Lucasfilm Animation Singapore increases
efficiencies in the production pipeline while raising the quality level
of finished work. One artist can now perform multiple tasks that in the
past would have required six to a dozen artists.
“We look for vendors like AMD who thrive on challenges, who like to be
innovative and who like to push the technology envelope,” continued
Plumer. “AMD has been right there beside us pushing the technology to
create things that haven’t been seen before by our audiences.”
“As the processor innovator setting new standards, it’s extremely
important for AMD to work with the very best like Lucasfilm, the
company that revolutionized the visual effects industry,” said Charlie
Boswell, director of Digital Media and Entertainment at AMD. “With
AMD64 technology, Lucasfilm and its IT department led by Cliff Plumer
have created possibly the most sophisticated collaborative IT
environment in the world. With the availability of AMD64 technology as
close as your local PC retailer, it’s exciting to know that
next-generation artists have access to the same AMD64 technology the
top pros are using.”
Source: AMD Press Release
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