Animal Logic Converts Animation Pipeline to SOFTIMAGE/XSI.

Business Editors

Montreal, Quebec--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 28, 2003

World-renowned visual effects house switches to SOFTIMAGE/XSI to increase productivity and creativity on upcoming film project

Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID), today announced that Animal Logic, a world-leading animation and visual effects studio recognized for its recent work on The Matrix Reloaded, has selected SOFTIMAGE(R)/XSI(R), the industry's leading nonlinear 3-D production environment, for its animation production pipeline. The Australian-based studio is converting its pipeline from the Maya software to the SOFTIMAGE/XSI environment in order to meet the demanding production requirements of Happy Feet, a visual effects intensive, animated feature film directed by George Miller (Babe) and scheduled for delivery in 2005.

At the forefront of the international effects industry, creating visual media for film, television, computer games and the Internet, Animal Logic's credits include a wide range of projects, including The Matrix Reloaded, Moulin Rouge, Rabbit-Proof Fence, and Swimming Upstream. The company made the decision to switch products after an extensive technical and production evaluation, choosing the SOFTIMAGE/XSI software for its superior toolset, enhanced workflow features, and overall productivity advantages.

"Happy Feet is a very exciting project for Animal Logic. It's one of our biggest and most ambitious projects to date, giving us the opportunity to establish a high-end and innovative CGI feature production pipeline and break new ground, both technically and creatively," said Animal Logic's managing director and co-founder Zareh Nalbandian, who will also serve as an executive producer on the film. He also noted, "In creating a new cutting-edge CGI feature pipeline, it was critical that we carefully evaluate, in a very even-handed manner, the capabilities of our production tools."

"We decided to challenge the automatic assumption that we would use Maya, since we already owned it, and ran a very thorough comparative test process between version 5.0 of Maya and version 3.5 of SOFTIMAGE/XSI based on our requirements for Happy Feet," said Brett Feeney, digital supervisor at Animal Logic. "SOFTIMAGE/XSI was clearly a better choice, offering superior creative and technical flexibility to the artists, and ultimately, to the director."

"With the long production cycle associated with an animated feature film it was important for us to evaluate the company as well as the software," added Xavier Desdoigts, director of technical operations at Animal Logic. "Softimage's focus and understanding of the professional market as well as their demonstrated ability to responsively deliver the level of technical support required to deal with large productions was another important factor in making our decision."

"We're honored to have Animal Logic, one of the world's pre-eminent animation and effects studios, join the rapidly growing list of companies making SOFTIMAGE/XSI the centerpiece of their production pipeline for creating tomorrow's advanced films and games," said Michael Stojda, managing director of Softimage. "Their decision reaffirms that animators and companies can realize significant gains in creative power and productivity by making the switch to XSI, an important factor in meeting today's requirements for greater visual sophistication and realism while staying within tighter budgets and more stringent deadlines."

In addition to its revolutionary 3-D production pipeline software, Softimage offers a range of service options - from standard maintenance to customized production support for assistance during any phase of a project - that make it compelling for customers using competitive solutions to migrate to the SOFTIMAGE/XSI software. Free plug-in converters are also available that facilitate conversion from other software products such as Maya to the SOFTIMAGE/XSI environment - a capability that Animal Logic is using during its migration process.

Reflecting on their decision and the impact Nalbandian commented, "Despite the initial costs associated with switching to another software package, we expect to quickly recoup the investment in terms of our ability to achieve greater production efficiencies, creative flexibility and better overall results in a shorter amount of time."

About SOFTIMAGE/XSI

The SOFTIMAGE/XSI v.3.5 environment is available today with pricing starting at $6,750(a). For a limited time, until September 22, 2003, Softimage is offering attractive trade-in credits for older 3-D software towards the purchase of the SOFTIMAGE/XSI environment. By trading-in one of the following software packages, Alias Maya Complete and Maya Unlimited, discreet 3ds max, NewTek Lightwave, or Side Effects Houdini, companies can save up to $5,755(a) off the price of the SOFTIMAGE/XSI software, the industry's leading 3-D nonlinear production environment: Visit Softimage at www.softimage.com or call 1-800-576-3846 for more information on SOFTIMAGE/XSI software and other Softimage products, as well as all current promotions.

(a) All priced quoted are USMSRP quoted in U.S. dollars. International pricing may vary.

About Animal Logic

The Animal Logic

Group comprises four business units: Animal Logic Commercials, Animal Logic Film, Animal Logic Play and Animal Logic Research. Established in 1991, Animal Logic's core business has traditionally been the design and production of high-end visual effects for commercials and television series. The experience gained in these media were transferred to film and in 1997 Animal Logic Film was invited to join the establishment of Fox Studios Australia. In 2000, a design and interactive division was created, translating the skills amassed across these image industries to new media forms. At the base of each of these production units sits Animal Logic Research, an R&D division that provides a wealth of intellectual property and proprietary development to the entire Animal Logic Group.

About Softimage Co.

Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc., is an industry leader in 3-D animation, 2-D cel animation, compositing and special effects software, designed to address the demands of the film and commercial/broadcast and games/interactive industries. The SOFTIMAGE/XSI software, an integral player in Avid's Make, Manage and Move Media(TM) strategy, is the flagship product offering from Softimage. It is the industry's first 3-D nonlinear production environment providing animators and digital artists the freedom to make professional animation, visual effects and games - from major motion pictures, to cartoons and commercials, to animated content for video games and Web sites. Softimage is proud to count amongst its customers: R!OT, Valve, Capcom, Electronic Arts, Pandemic Studios, The Mill, Pixel Liberation Front, Blue Sky Studios, Hybride, Janimation, Quiet Man, PSYOP, Cinepix and Framestore CFC. The Softimage product family is designed to help users innovate, create and collaborate throughout the production process. For more information about Softimage visit www.softimage.com. For more information about Avid visit www.avid.com.

(C) 2003 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product specifications and availability are subject to change without notice. Avid, SOFTIMAGE, XSI and Make, Manage and Move Media are either registered trademarks or trademarks in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.