Lenovo Deepens Collaboration with DreamWorks to Enhance Animation Production Performance

DreamWorks Animation has deepened its collaboration with Lenovo, appointing the company as its preferred provider of services, workstations, and computing solutions. This strategic move is aimed at meeting the growing demands of DreamWorks' artistic and technical teams, providing them with the necessary computing power to excel in an increasingly dynamic environment. By integrating Lenovo's devices, data center infrastructure, and services into a seamless ecosystem, DreamWorks can focus on creating world-class animated films without being hindered by technological limitations. The expanded partnership builds on a long-standing relationship between the two companies and highlights Lenovo's commitment to excellence in service and innovation. Key improvements brought by this collaboration include: Performance Boost: Lenovo's Neptune™ liquid cooling technology increased the performance of DreamWorks' rendering processes by 20%, allowing for faster rendering times and quicker iteration cycles. This is crucial for maintaining the high quality and ambitious production schedules of DreamWorks' films. Enhanced Workstations: The ThinkStation™ P620 workstations have seen a 25% performance improvement compared to previous models, resulting in faster load times and a better overall experience for artists. This boost in performance is essential for handling the complex tasks involved in animation and rendering. Scalable Infrastructure: During the production of "The Wild Robot," Lenovo's infrastructure achieved a utilization rate of 98% and managed over 300 million compute hours, demonstrating its ability to handle unprecedented creative demands. This scalability ensures that DreamWorks can meet its ambitious goals and continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in animation. Kate Swanborg, vice president of technology communications and strategic alliances at DreamWorks Animation, emphasized the natural progression of their collaboration: "Given our long-term relationship and Lenovo's consistent excellence, expanding our partnership was a logical step." She noted that this strengthened relationship provides DreamWorks with the flexibility and operational scale needed to fuel its business ambitions and produce world-class content. Ken Wong, executive vice president and president of Lenovo's Solutions and Services Group, added, "This expanded partnership underscores the critical role of advanced and scalable technologies in supporting complex creative workflows and modern content production requirements." He highlighted the strategic impact of a trusted technology partnership in delivering the performance, reliability, and innovation needed to break new ground in filmmaking and business operations. Lenovo's TruScale™ service enables DreamWorks to maintain control and security of its on-premises infrastructure while benefiting from continuous monitoring, managed services, and expert support around the clock. This service also aligns with DreamWorks' sustainability goals by helping to phase out obsolete systems and transition to more energy-efficient technologies. Premier Support Plus is another critical component of Lenovo's offerings, providing 24/7 assistance, rapid repairs, and minimal downtime. In a highly pressurized creative environment, reactive support and expert planning are essential for reducing complexity and ensuring that production goals are met efficiently. Beyond hardware, Lenovo's professional services have streamlined DreamWorks' operations. For example, a high-performance computing (HPC) deployment that would typically take a week was completed in just 1.5 days. Custom hardware integration, white-glove service, and proactive assistance ensure that each deployment is transparent and immediately operational. This robust foundation will support DreamWorks' upcoming projects, including "The Bad Guys 2" (August 2025), "Forgotten Island" (September 2026), and "Shrek 5" (December 2026). These films exemplify the impact of Lenovo's technology on some of the studio's most technically demanding productions. Looking ahead, Lenovo aims to harmonize DreamWorks' complex operational and infrastructure processes, as well as explore predictive analytics and intelligent workflows. Although DreamWorks does not currently use AI for image generation, they are investigating its potential to enhance the efficiency of their production pipeline, allowing artists to focus more on creativity. Bill Ballew, chief technology officer of DreamWorks Animation, stated, "This expansion of our partnership with Lenovo is a key element of our technology strategy. Lenovo's hardware solutions are incredibly powerful, and we look forward to collaborating with their AI teams to further optimize our computing infrastructure." Industry insiders view this partnership as a model for how businesses can leverage integrated technology to evolve smartly and meet the demands of creative and operational excellence. The synergy between Lenovo and DreamWorks demonstrates how a trusted technology partner can significantly enhance a company's capabilities, enabling it to stay at the forefront of innovation. Lenovo, a global technology leader with a revenue of $69 billion, ranks 248th on the Fortune Global 500 list and serves millions of customers across 180 markets. Committed to a vision of smarter technology for all, Lenovo offers a comprehensive portfolio of devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), AI-compatible and optimized infrastructure (servers, storage, edge computing, HPC, software-defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services. Lenovo's ongoing investment in groundbreaking innovations supports a more equitable, reliable, and intelligent future for everyone, everywhere. For more information, visit Lenovo's website or follow the latest news on their StoryHub. The expanded partnership between Lenovo and DreamWorks Animation is a testament to the power of technology in driving creative and operational success, setting a benchmark for collaboration in the tech and entertainment industries.