Shrek: he's mean, he's green and HP technology is in his genes

HP and DreamWorks give innovation a starring role

Beginning at ground level, it was necessary for the animation teams to rethink their working environments in order to reach new heights in animation rendering as well as to bring together producers, directors and animators working in different locations around the world.

A very real and expensive problem in creating digital animation is in managing the enormous amount of computational power that is needed to render high-quality film animation. HP's Utility Rendering Service (URS), developed by HP in close collaboration with DreamWorks, addressed the need for peak computing power at crucial stages in the production process.

HP also partnered with DreamWorks to launch Virtual Studio Conferencing (VSC), which creates a virtual collaboration center for producers, directors, and animators working in different locations around the world. Using HP Remote 3D software and DreamWorks' high-resolution imaging technology, VSC links all creative elements together, enabling real-time communication and the efficient exchange of storyboarding, content review, editing, creative consulting and other vital production information.

The technology power-house behind Shrek 2 also combined the latest state-of-the-art workstations and servers. More than 330 units of HP Workstation xw8000 with dual processors and the fastest available memory allowed animators to see complex details interactively on their desktops and enabled DreamWorks to scale the complexity of the environments in which Shrek lives to give a richer, more believable world.

"We are excited to see that HP workstations meet the needs of premier Hollywood animation studios like DreamWorks by enabling them to explore new digital animation possibilities," said Li Li Chung, Vice President, Workstations, HP Personal Systems Group, Asia Pacific and Japan. "The power and speed of HP workstations provide DreamWorks with the kind of platform they need to focus on one thing: making blockbuster animated features."

More than 347 units of HP LP-1000 Netservers and 433 units of HP ProLiant DL360 servers made up a render farm to provide Shrek 2 production staff the computing resources to apply DreamWorks' market-leading computer graphics research techniques. This included subsurface scattering for more realistic skin, global illumination for more realistic lighting, better looking hair, more complex clothing and wardrobes than in the original Shrek.

Capturing Shrek moments with HP Photosmart R707 Digital Camera

The alliance between HP and DreamWorks also has been extended to include co-branding and joint consumer marketing initiatives around the premiere of "Shrek 2". As the world's largest consumer IT company, HP brings a new dimension to DreamWorks' business by opening up new channels to reach consumers for cross-marketing promotions and merchandising opportunities.

So, join HP in the magic of "Shrek 2", as Shrek, Donkey and Princess Fiona embark on a new whirlwind of adventure and challenges as they visit Fiona's parents in the Kingdom of Far, Far Away.