We’re excited to bring you the standout moments from SIGGRAPH Asia 2024! Fox Renderfarm, the industry's leading cloud rendering provider and render farm, is proud to sponsor this amazing event again. We look forward to continuing our support for innovation in the CG industry! In this article, we will share some key highlights from days 1-4 of the event.
Highlights from Day 1
Image from SIGGRAPH Asia 2024
Image from SIGGRAPH Asia 2024
Highlights from Day 2
The day began with a warm welcome from Tomasz Bednarz, Chair of the SIGGRAPH Asia Conference Advisory Group, who also presented appreciation awards. This was followed by an inspiring keynote delivered by Yoshiyuki Miyamae, Design Director at A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE. His talk focused on the fusion of textiles and technology, concluding with a live demonstration showcasing innovative clothing creation.
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A significant press conference offered an exclusive glimpse into this year’s program, led by SIGGRAPH Asia 2024 Conference Chair Takeo Igarashi and his team of Program Chairs.
Image from SIGGRAPH Asia 2024
The press conference was well-attended by numerous media outlets. Professor Takeo Igarashi shared key highlights and features of their respective programs. Additionally, Taku Komura, the Chair of the upcoming 2025 event, enthusiastically revealed the theme for next year and showcased some of Hong Kong's attractions.
Takeo Igarashi expressed his appreciation for the successful opening day and elaborated on this year’s theme, "Curious Minds." He praised the outstanding contributions of the Program Chairs from around the world and expressed gratitude to the exceptional speakers, committed attendees, and the Student Volunteers. He also acknowledged the beautiful city of Tokyo, which is proudly hosting the conference for the first time in three years.
The Exhibition and Experience Hall officially opened its doors, featuring over 80 exhibitors, including global brands and industry leaders.
The Autodesk Technology Summit featured three engaging sessions that delved into advancements in cloud-based production workflows, procedural environment generation, and specific case studies from notable films like "Godzilla Minus One" and "The Wild Robot".
Featured Sessions Included:
- Ultraman: Rising: ILM discussed their work bringing Netflix and Tsuburaya’s iconic hero to life.
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: Wētā FX shared innovative techniques for creating realistic facial animations.
- Pixar’s RenderMan XPU: A look at the AI-driven advancements in digital art and VFX.
Highlights from Day 3
Keynote: Hiroaki Kitano, CTO of Sony Group, discussed how game designers, animators, and filmmakers use technology to create immersive worlds, highlighting PlayStation's 30-year evolution and Sony Pictures' cutting-edge techniques.
Courses: Unlock the Future of AI in the Metaverse
Participants explored the intersection of AI and the metaverse, gaining hands-on experience with NVIDIA Omniverse to enhance AI performance.
Featured Sessions:
- Wētā FX shared their techniques for "Alien: Romulus," blending practical effects with VFX.
- Megalis revealed insights into the intense VFX of "Yu Yu Hakusho" Episode 4.
- Important Looking Pirates discussed their work on large-scale simulations for "Shogun."
- Wētā FX demonstrated their use of Unreal Engine for the Oscar-winning animated short "WAR IS OVER!"
Exhibitor Talks:
- Netflix and Eyeline Studios: highlighting the importance of VFX supervision with case studies and expert panels.
- Amazon Web Services: explored the future of production with AWS cloud technology.
- ANIMINS Project (IMAGICA Group): showcased AI tools for anime production, including character drawing and image search.
Trade Exhibition: Over 80 exhibitors, including major brands like Sony, Netflix, and Pixar, displayed their latest innovations.
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Experience Hall: Attendees engaged with emerging technologies, XR, and art exhibits, featuring live drawing sessions by renowned "Silent Hill" illustrator Masahiro Ito.
The day concluded with Yoichiro Kawaguchi’s CG Show and the annual Sake Party, fostering camaraderie and celebration among attendees.
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Highlights from Day 4
Hall E-Trade Exhibition & Experience Hall:
The last day featured innovative work from industry leaders, hands-on workshops, and live demos. The Production Meetup successfully connected students and professionals, while the Experience Hall buzzed with visitors exploring art and immersive technologies.
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Keynote:
Jinko Gotoh, Producer and VP of Women in Animation, reflected on her 30-year career and the evolution of CGI. She emphasized the importance of diversity in production teams and its impact on storytelling.
Featured Sessions:
- Philippe Lierena (Fortiche Production CTO) discussed visual storytelling in "Arcane" Season 2.
- LVM Inc. and SOLA DIGITAL ARTS explored generative AI in CG Anime Production.
- Konyoshi Co., Ltd. showcased techniques for blending real-time rendering with miniatures.
- Waseda University’s Takeshi Okuya presented solutions for integrating Western 3D workflows with Japanese anime production.
Exhibitor Talks:
- Ubitus
- Lighting Up the Future: From Pixels to 3D and Beyond by Pixel Light Effects
- Real-time sensor analysis with Machine Learning, AI, and Computer Vision by IMAGICA Group
Real-Time Live!
This highlight featured 11 groundbreaking live demos, showcasing the latest in real-time graphics and interactive techniques.
Awards:
Numerous awards were presented to recognize outstanding contributions, with details to follow in the post-event press release.
Image from SIGGRAPH Asia 2024
As we conclude four days of insightful discussions and exhibitions, Conference Chair Takeo Igarashi thanked everyone involved and passed the Happi to Taku Komura, the Chair for SIGGRAPH Asia 2025 in Hong Kong. Taku expressed excitement about returning to Hong Kong, emphasizing its vibrant environment and strong support for the conference.
For more information, visit: SIGGRAPH Asia 2025
Source: SIGGRAPH Asia 2024
