Weta FX, TAICCA to Build Taiwan AI Production Hub

Weta FX, the visual effects studio responsible for the "Lord of the Rings" and "Avatar" franchises, is joining forces with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency, or TAICCA, to establish a center for artificial intelligence-driven screen production in Asia. The two organizations will formally unveil the partnership on Nov. 6 at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest in Taipei. The announcement will take place on the main stage immediately following the opening ceremony.

The agreement consists of three distinct components: joint investment, research and development in AI, and the training of new industry talent. Representatives from both sides are keeping specific details of the arrangement private until the public launch. TAICCA chair Sue Wang will appear at the event with Weta FX CEO Daniel Seah, chief technology officer Kimball Thurston, and VFX supervisor Sheldon Stopsack.

The collaboration seeks to combine Taiwan's advanced technological capabilities and creative workforce with Weta FX's experience in visual effects and its global distribution network. The stated goal is to integrate Taiwanese technologists and creators into the international screen production market. For Daniel Seah, the partnership holds a personal connection, as he grew up in Taiwan. The studio has also been strengthening ties on the island, having appeared at the Taoyuan International Film & Technology Forum in August.

This move aligns with TAICCA's mandate to support the use of new technologies in content creation. The agency recently concluded TTXC Innovations, a market platform designed to connect creators, developers, investors, and distributors. The goal of that initiative was to bring cultural content and technology to market by placing key industry players in the same room.

TAICCA was established by Taiwan's Ministry of Culture in 2019. The agency supports Taiwanese content across film, television, animation, publishing, comics, music, gaming, and performing arts. Its resources include investment funds, co-production schemes, and international partnerships. It assists projects from the development stage through to overseas marketing.

Weta FX operates out of Wellington, with additional offices in Vancouver and Melbourne. The studio has won eight Academy Awards for visual effects, 17 Academy Science & Technology Awards, and eight BAFTAs for special visual effects. Its most recent release was "Avatar: Fire and Ash" in 2025. Current projects in production include "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" and Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Doomsday".