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AMD and DreamWorks Animation SKG Announce Strategic Alliance Enabling Unprecedented CG Filmaking Advantages.


LAS VEGAS Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States.  -- DreamWorks Animation Selects AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, www.amd.com) A major manufacturer of semiconductor devices including x86-compatible CPUs, embedded processors, flash memories, programmable logic devices and networking chips.  as its Preferred Processor Provider of Enterprise-Class Hardware

At NAB today, AMD (NYSE NYSE

See: New York Stock Exchange
:AMD) and DreamWorks Animation SKG SKG Stichting Kwaliteit Gevelbouw (Dutch)
SKG Spielberg, Katzenberg,and Geffen (DreamWorks Studios)
SKG Thessaloniki, Greece - Thessaloniki (Airport Code)
SKG Smith and Kraus Global
 Inc. (DWA DWA DreamWorks Animation (stock symbol)
DWA Domino Web Access
DWA Desert Water Agency (US)
DWA Data Warehouse Administrator
DWA Designated Waiting Area
DWA Dynamic Wavelength Allocation
.N) announced a three-year strategic alliance naming AMD the Preferred Processor Provider for DreamWorks Animation and enabling the company to experience significant advantages in their computer-generated ("CG") filmmaking film·mak·ing  
n.
The making of movies.
 process.

As the Preferred Processor Provider for DreamWorks Animation, AMD will provide the AMD Opteron(TM) processor with Direct Connect Architecture for DreamWorks Animation's next-generation enterprise servers, workstations, render farm nodes, enterprise desktops and enterprise laptops. The new agreement with DreamWorks Animation also includes marketing opportunities for AMD to utilize characters from DreamWorks Animation motion pictures as well as work with DreamWorks Animation to promote upcoming film and home video releases.

"The benefits of working with AMD have already had a substantial impact on our business, which is why selecting them as our preferred processor provider and building a strong partnership makes sense," said Jeffrey Katzenberg, co-founder of DreamWorks SKG and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , DreamWorks Animation SKG. "AMD technology will bring new levels of detail and new capabilities to our animated feature films. We're also very excited about the future of AMD's technology and products."

"Innovators like DreamWorks Animation are discovering that AMD helps them break free of the limitations of today's computing solutions," said Hector Ruiz, AMD chairman of the board, president and CEO. "They choose AMD because of our clear leadership in both 64-bit computing and dual-core technology. AMD64 technology-based solutions will enable DreamWorks Animation's artists to expand their creative capabilities and continually push the boundaries of today's state-of-the-art digital animation process."

The AMD Opteron processor provides breakthrough performance that enables artists to create images never before realized, and as a result, create some of the most technologically advanced CG animation movies. For example, DreamWorks Animation's May 27, 2005 release "Madagascar" will include the largest crowd of furry fur·ry  
adj. fur·ri·er, fur·ri·est
1. Consisting of or similar to fur.

2.
a. Covered with, wearing, or trimmed with fur.

b. Covered with a furlike substance.

3.
 characters in a CG film to date, with more than 900 moving creatures in a single scene. Prior to this movie, animal characters were often heralded as one of "the holy grails Holy Grail: see Grail, Holy.


A very desired object or outcome that borders on a sacred quest. There are several Holy Grails in the computer business.
" of animation because of the complexity of animating an·i·mate  
tr.v. an·i·mat·ed, an·i·mat·ing, an·i·mates
1. To give life to; fill with life.

2. To impart interest or zest to; enliven:
 fur in the CG world. As a result, utilizing furry characters in movies was limited to a handful per scene due to the complexity of the geometry. The faster rendering times and increased memory bandwidth Memory bandwidth is the rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by a processor. Memory bandwidth is usually expressed in units of bytes/second, though this can vary for systems with natural data sizes that are not a multiple of the commonly used  made possible by the AMD Opteron processor have allowed DreamWorks Animation to meet this enormous challenge, and became an important creative component of "Madagascar."

The AMD Opteron processor has already made significant contributions at DreamWorks Animation. This includes providing new levels of computation power enabling in the production of its hit motion picture "Shark Tale," the contribution to new animated innovations in the upcoming film "Madagascar," and the overall benefits to the operations of the company's complex data centers.

AMD and HP have jointly created systems for animation studios Animation studio can refer to:
  • a studio where animation is created—see the List of animation studios.
  • Any three dimensional software animation package such as 3ds Max, Blender 3D, Cinema 4D, Lightwave, Maya, Houdini, or XSI.
 and plan to continue this successful collaboration with DreamWorks Animation. In addition to expanding its AMD and HP-based render farms, DreamWorks Animation is also utilizing the AMD Opteron processor-based HP xw9300 Workstation, a system that is enabled for the upcoming AMD64 dual core technology. The use of these workstations builds on the unique technology partnership HP and DreamWorks Animation formed in 2001 to explore new, creative frontiers and redefine Verb 1. redefine - give a new or different definition to; "She redefined his duties"
define, delimit, delimitate, delineate, specify - determine the essential quality of

2.
 the art of filmmaking.

Rendering is the process of completing one scene by adding detailed texture, lighting, shading See Phong shading, Gouraud shading, flat shading and programmable shading. , etc. The significant performance improvement delivered by the AMD Opteron processor can dramatically reduce render times, allowing artists to see the finished product much more quickly, further explore their creativity and maintain their creative rhythm and tempo. Faster rendering drives productivity and reduces the creative hurdles to animation, ultimately delivering unique and more visually stunning animation.

About AMD

AMD (NYSE:AMD) designs and produces innovative microprocessors, Flash memory devices and low-power processor solutions for the computer, communications and consumer electronics industries. AMD is dedicated to delivering standards-based, customer-focused solutions for technology users, ranging from enterprises and governments to individual consumers. For more information visit www.amd.com.

About DreamWorks Animation SKG

DreamWorks Animation is principally devoted to developing and producing computer generated, or CG, animated feature films. With world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced CG filmmaking technology and techniques, DreamWorks Animation makes high-quality CG animated films meant for a broad movie-going audience. The company has theatrically released a total of eight animated feature films, including Antz, Shrek, Shrek 2 and Shark Tale. DreamWorks Animation's next release will be Madagascar, scheduled to open on May 27, 2005.

AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, AMD Opteron, and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

NOTE TO EDITOR: Event-specific photo will be available to media shortly.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Business Wire
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2005, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Publication:Business Wire
Geographic Code:1USA
Date:Apr 18, 2005
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