In a nutshell
- Autodesk, Inc. has announced its acquisition of Wonder Dynamics (with a Serbian co-founder at the helm), the creators of Wonder Studio, a cloud-based 3D animation and VFX platform that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) with traditional tools.
- Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Behind the Scenes: Hollywood Tech Enthusiast
Wonder Dynamics, founded in Los Angeles in 2016, develops and combines AI technology with storytelling. The media-tech startup is developing an AI production tool, Wonder Studio, with the aim to allow indie filmmakers to produce blockbuster-level VFX on a lower budget.
Nikola Todorovic, a Serbian filmmaker, entrepreneur, and visual effects supervisor, co-founded Wonder Dynamics with Tye Sheridan, an actor known for his roles in X-Men: Apocalypse, Ready Player One, Mud, and more. By collaborating with industry producers and working on both low-budget and high-concept action films, Sheridan identified the challenges faced by smaller production, specifically in the state of art visual effects.
The Board of Advisors of Wonder Dynamics includes some of the most recognizable and admired names in the film industry over the years – the film director, producer, and screenwriter Steven Spielberg, the TV and movie producer and financier Terry Douglas, and Joe Russo.
Wonder Dynamics was previously backed by Horizon Ventures, Founders Fund and MaC Venture Capital.
Still bonded with the Balkans, Wonder Dynamics has an office in Novi Sad. Todorovic describes their team there as a combination between ML, deep learning, a VFX startup and a film studio.
Why it matters
Autodesk’s acquisition of Wonder Dynamics is intended to enable more creators to incorporate 3D animated characters into their projects and stories. The goal is to reduce the learning curve and automate traditionally complex and time-consuming tasks.
Wonder Studio integrates with other 3D tools, such as Autodesk Maya, to assist artists in animating, lighting, and composing 3D characters.
According to the co-founders of Wonder Dynamics, advancements in AI will have the same effect on the movie industry as did the emergence of digital cameras – it will create new and more efficient methods for filmmaking and will open up opportunities for more industry innovation.
In their own words
Nikola Todorovic, Co-Founder and CEO of Wonder Dynamics, commented: “The current misconception is that AI is a one-click solution, and that’s why we are excited to join a company that, at its core, supports the iterative nature of 3D and storytelling. We put a lot of effort into building an AI tool that does not replace artists, but rather speeds up creative workflows, makes things more efficient, and helps productions save costs. We firmly believe that our alignment with Autodesk will only amplify that vision and further push the boundaries of ethical AI and emerging technology in Media & Entertainment.”
“As an artist myself, I’m extremely grateful to make movies for a living, and we’ve always wanted to help other artists realize the same dream – regardless of their location, social status, or budget,” said Tye Sheridan, Co-Founder and President of Wonder Dynamics. “With Autodesk’s support and commitment to innovation, we now have the perfect partnership to continue this mission and redefine the narrative of what’s achievable in the realm of storytelling.”
