Wētā FX 2026 Global Update: Studio Strategy & Innovation

Town Hall

2026

All-Studio Update · March 2026

Wellington · Melbourne · Vancouver

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Where We Stand

Stronger Than 6 Months Ago

We've stabilised. Work is coming in and the pipeline is active across all three studios.

Margins Remain Tight

We took on work at lower margins to protect jobs and retain talent. That cost is still being felt.

Challenges Ahead

The next 12 months will require continued discipline, belt-tightening, and global efficiencies.

"We used tomorrow's money to get through yesterday — now we're at the crossroads."

— Daniel, CEO

GLOBAL OPERATIONS

Our Studios, One Team

We are one global studio. To stay competitive, we need to move talent where the work is – and we're building the pathways to make that happen.

Relocation and mobility programmes now being scoped for 2026.

WELLINGTON

Home base. Talent hub. Our heart.

MELBOURNE

Growing capacity. Priority hiring market.

VANCOUVER

Strategic talent. Relocation opportunities opening up.

TECHNOLOGY & PIPELINE

Working Smarter

Pipeline Efficiencies

Investing in tools and workflows to reduce shot costs and increase throughput.

AI & Innovation

Exploring intelligent automation — keeping Wētā FX at the frontier of VFX technology.

Sonic 4 & New Projects

New studio partnerships bringing next-gen pipeline requirements and collaboration.

Client Collaboration

Working with clients to co-develop tools that reduce expenditure on both sides.

Efficiency is not about doing less — it's about doing more with what we have.

Looking Ahead

2026 Is Our Year

Protect our people

Build for the future

Stay united

We've been through a difficult chapter. But we have the talent, the technology, and the will to come out stronger. This year is about momentum — together.

Thank you — Q&A