TAICCA and New Zealand’s Wētā FX agree to build AI content hub in Taiwan

Taicca chair Sue Wang and Wētā FX CEO Daniel Seah sign the MoU

TCCF: The Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) and New Zealand visual effects house Wētā FX have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop Taiwan as a hub for AI-enabled content production in Asia.

The agreement is also intended to support AI technology development at Wētā FX. It was signed by TAICCA chair Sue Wang and Wētā FX CEO Daniel Seah at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF), which started on Friday and wraps up today.

Seah said there are three parts to the deal. Wētā FX will work in cross-border technical collaboration with Taiwanese studio Moonshine Studio; Wētā FX and TAICCA will also explore opportunities to invest in AI research and development; and the partners will launch an international talent exchange and training programme for young Taiwanese film and television internships.

Wang said: “This collaboration will push the boundaries of imagination, not only showcasing Taiwan’s visual effects capabilities to the world but also opening up opportunities for young Taiwanese talent to work internationally.”

She described Wētā FX as possessing a “magic wand” and said the pact will give emerging Taiwanese visual effects professionals hands-on experience on international productions and film sets.

Seah said Wētā FX’s achievements have helped establish Wellington as a global centre for visual effects. He said Taiwan has world-leading semiconductor and high-tech industries as well as deep artistic and creative talent and argued that it is well placed to succeed in an AI-driven era in which technology and artistry are equally essential.

Wētā FX, which has won eight Oscars for visual effects and 17 Academy Sci-Tech Awards, is integrating AI into its production workflows and working with technology partners including AWS and AMD. Moonshine Studio, meanwhile, has received investment from the National Development Fund through TAICCA, and supplied award-winning visual effects for movie 96 Minutes and drama series Black Tide Island.