ANAHEIM, CA — Computer graphics and visual effects software developer The Foundry has extended its growing collection of software to include FLIX, a Web-based visual story development tool.
FLIX is designed to enable directors, editors, cinematographers, and storyboard and previs artists to work together to hone and perfect ideas and concepts in the development of the visual story of a film or project.
Before The Foundry took over commercial development earlier this year, FLIX was developed as an in-house solution at Sony Pictures Imageworks. This new venture is a continuation of the strong relationship between the two companies following the development of KATANA, the advanced framework for lighting and look development, which was commercialized by The Foundry in October 2011.
FLIX has been in use at Sony Pictures Imageworks since 2008 and has been used on more than 15 projects, including: Sony Pictures Animation's The Smurfs,
Hotel Transylvania, and the upcoming animated features
The Smurfs 2 (July 31) and
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (September 27).
"Working with FLIX on the film Hotel Transylvania was crucial to the production workflow of the film. Having a tool like FLIX was extremely helpful as it allowed me to quickly convey my creative vision to all of the key departments," says Genndy Tartakovsky, director of Sony Pictures Animation's
Hotel Transylvania and the upcoming animated feature
Popeye, comments:
"Bringing FLIX into The Foundry's portfolio is another step forward and gives us a tool that services another key area of the production pipeline. It's really exciting for us because it brings in new types of users outside of the VFX sphere such as directors and producers. We are pleased to have been able to take innovative technology developed at a studio and once again work on the product to make it accessible to a much wider audience. We are only just getting started with FLIX, but we expect to see great things from this highly creative tool," saysThe Foundry CEO Bill Collis.
FLIX has been adopted by Warner Bros Animation and is being trialed at a variety of other studios and facilities.
Collaboration is achieved through a common web-based tool suite that also plays well with other leading packages such as The Foundry's Nuke, Modo, and Katana, as well as third-party applications, such as Maya, Photoshop, and Avid software.
FLIX is not currently available to buy off-the-shelf, but interested facilities can contact The Foundry to find out more and inquire about adoption.