#USA #Los Angeles #DreamWorks #MoonRay #Academy Software

MoonRay Joins the Academy Software Foundation

DreamWorks Animation has taken a significant step in enhancing the animation production landscape by officially adding MoonRay, its open-source path-tracing renderer, to the Academy Software Foundation (ASWF). Released for public use under the Apache 2.0 license, MoonRay has already been instrumental in creating stunning visuals for all DreamWorks Animation feature films since 2019, including popular titles like The Wild Robot and The Bad Guys 2.

A New Era in Animation

MoonRay's transition to the ASWF marks a major milestone not only for DreamWorks but also for the broader motion picture and animation communities. This state-of-the-art renderer, developed with a focus on scalability and artistic expression, empowers creators with diverse looks—from photorealistic renders to stylized animations.

As David Morin, Executive Director of the ASWF, stated, “Some of the most beautiful animated movies of our time have been rendered with MoonRay. We are grateful to DreamWorks Animation for contributing MoonRay to the open-source community, and honored to provide the platform for its collaborative development moving forward.”

Features of MoonRay

Designed for modern visual production, MoonRay boasts high-performance capabilities that support distributed rendering and a unique XPU mode. This technological advantage allows it to harness both GPU and CPU processes for optimal performance, enhancing the overall rendering speed. Moreover, the inclusion of USD Hydra Render Delegate integrates seamlessly with content creation tools adhering to the OpenUSD standard, thus broadening its usability in various artistic domains.

Jeff Budsberg, a Visual Effects Supervisor at DreamWorks Animation, emphasized MoonRay's importance by stating, “By facilitating stylization directly out of the renderer, it provides filmmakers with the freedom to achieve diverse art styles without being limited to existing looks.” This capability is vital in an industry where creative boundaries are constantly being pushed.

Future Developments

As MoonRay continues its journey under the ASWF, DreamWorks Animation will maintain its support, providing ongoing engineering resources to enhance the project's development. The collaboration aims to inspire and invite contributions from global developers interested in advancing rendering technology. Those keen to get involved can find resources and participate via the project’s dedicated site.

Major Event on the Horizon

In a related development, Bill Ballew, the CTO of DreamWorks Animation, is set to deliver the keynote at the ASWF’s Open Source Days event on July 19-20, 2026, in Los Angeles. This event serves as a prime platform for discussions surrounding open-source software in animation and visual effects.

Ballew’s keynote, titled “How to Train Your Renderer: MoonRay's Journey from DreamWorks' Dragons to the ASWF,” will delve into the evolution of MoonRay, providing insights into the technical challenges faced during its transition from a proprietary tool to an open-source resource vital to the industry.

Call for Participation

Furthermore, the ASWF has opened a Call for Proposals for presentations at this year’s Open Source Days. Various stakeholders in the motion picture and digital content creation sectors are encouraged to submit their proposals for this significant event, aiming to advance open-source initiatives in the creative realm.

In summary, MoonRay's affiliation with the Academy Software Foundation signifies a promising future for open-source resources in animation, allowing for collaborative innovation that will undoubtedly shape the next generation of animated storytelling.

For more information, visit openmoonray.org to learn how to participate and contribute to this transformative project.