Welsh Digital Animators Get Funding Boost

A new funding deal between the Welsh Assembly Government and the University of Glamorgan will allow the digital animators of Wales to fulfil their potential.
The Assembly Government has provided a £500,000 loan to ensure that the University’s ‘Render Farm’ facility can be used by both students and commercial companies across Wales. Render Farms provide the industrial-scale processing power for Computer Generated Imaginary (CGI) and computer animated cartoons such as Shrek and Toy Story. They provide the basic building blocks that allow life like images to be produced.
The facility will be based in the new Atrium building that houses the Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries.
Deputy First Minister and Minister for Economy & Transport, Ieuan Wyn Jones said:
"This school has industry standard technology that is central to computer animation and this new funding will mean this essential equipment will be used to its full potential. It will enable students from across Wales to build up their knowledge, skills and experience.
"Crucially, it will also mean creative commercial companies will be able to utilise the Render Farm for their own needs. Almost all advertising and film productions now use these techniques, and this facility will contribute to an all-Wales facility for our vital creative industries.”
Professor Peter Robertson, dean of the school said:
"This is the only Academic Render Farm in Wales. Animators and advertising companies are really interested in using it – currently they have to travel to London or Bristol to use the same technology.
"The support for this facility will allow the Render Farm to be available to any University and commercial company in Wales. We could soon see a number of commercial spin-offs for both students and the private sector. For Atrium, this is the first step in the creation of an animated Masters programme."
(DS)