Katana’s [Foundry 2025a] strength is its procedural node graph architecture which provides dynamic and scalable workflows - studios are no strangers to reaching scenes containing tens of thousands of nodes. The layer-based nature of Universal Scene Description (USD) [Pixar Anmation Studios 2025] presents a challenge for the node-based procedural approach. At large scales, the current procedural method of creating a USD layer per node is inadvisable because modifying an early node could trigger a full USD Stage recomposition and reprocessing of USD layer generating functions. In this extended abstract, an insight into the journey towards our solution is presented: the UsdSuperLayer node type. Providing a “procedural on-demand” approach, enabling efficient management of thousands of primitives and extensive shading graphs represented as nodes.
We present a hybrid approach to managing software runtime environments at Netflix Animation Studios (NAS), designed to address the common VFX and Animation industry challenge of balancing stability with the rapid adoption of innovative technologies. We combine containerization technology, Apptainer [Apptainer 2025], with a dynamic software environment management, Rez [Rez 2025], to effectively run multiple distinct VFX Reference Platform [Platform 2025] software stacks concurrently on a single host. This approach significantly streamlines the transition between Linux distributions and accelerates the adoption of new software, allowing studios to efficiently manage diverse production needs without compromising stability or performance.
This paper presents an overview of the Workflow Analysis initiative conducted by DNEG Animation in the Spring of 2023. The primary objective of this strategic effort was to identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks across the production process and pipeline data flow. The insights informed a range of development projects focusing on quality control checks, which collectively led to measurable gains in production efficiency, tool reliability, and overall workflow consistency. This paper details the key findings, implemented solutions, and the positive impact these changes have had on the animation production pipeline.
We introduce Pseudo-Collisions (PC), a numerical and time independent method to reduce the collisions between short fur and the skin of an asset as it deforms during animation. Typically, solving these intersections in a standard workflow would require a lot of time to set up and simulate each strand or their guide curves. With our solution, this can be achieved with a light post-process on top of the applied fur. This is achieved by adjusting the transformation matrix used to place the strands on the animated skin so that its rotation component smoothly lifts the hair where necessary. The algorithm dynamically adjusts the orientation of the animated strands to reduce the intersections using different pieces of information including the direction of the strands, the placement matrices for each strand on the rest and the animated skin meshes, as well as the change in the surface’s curvature due to the deformation. Pseudo-Collisions was successfully used during the production of Mufasa: The Lion King [Disney© 2024] and the set of parameters made available to the users to modulate the results of the correction is also presented.
We present Rumba Rig, a new rigging framework that enables riggers to work directly on the final rig graph in a modular and non-linear way, without the need of auto-rig script or abstraction layer. By reducing complexity, the framework makes rigging more accessible and easier to maintain. We demonstrate through practical examples that Rumba Rig is able to express complex rig constructions and delivers professional-quality rigs.
