Weta FX plans to invest in Taiwan’s Moonshine Studio as part of a partnership with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency, known as TAICCA, intended to develop Taiwan into an Asian hub for artificial intelligence in the content industries. The New Zealand visual effects company’s credits include “The Lord of the Rings” and “Avatar.”
Weta FX chief executive Daniel Seah and TAICCA chair Sue Wang signed a memorandum of understanding at Taiwan Creative Content Fest in Taipei on Friday, November 6. Taiwan’s Minister of Culture Li Yuan attended the ceremony. The parties did not disclose the size of the planned investment in the Taiwanese animation and visual effects company.
Seah outlined three elements of the agreement, beginning with the investment in Moonshine, which was founded by Lin Chia-chi. He said that component had been in development for about six months. A technology platform forms the second element, with plans to invest in Taiwanese film and television projects and draw on Weta FX’s international reach to help those productions find broader audiences.
The third element focuses on talent, which Seah described as the part he values most. Taiwanese filmmakers, especially younger participants, will be able to visit Weta FX through exchanges and internships, with the possibility of future employment. Seah said the development of AI required a shared effort: “On the AI road, nobody is really far, far ahead.”
Seah has worked as a visual effects chief executive for nearly 16 years, including 14 leading Digital Domain, the company co-founded by James Cameron. He joined Peter Jackson’s Weta FX almost two years ago. Li noted that Seah was born in Malaysia, grew up in New Taipei’s Yonghe district and subsequently worked in China and Hong Kong.
Describing Weta FX’s role in its home city, Seah said the company’s employees account for roughly 2% of Wellington’s population. He credited its work over three decades with helping New Zealand’s political capital become a major global production base and said Taiwan had an even greater opportunity.
Wang ranked Moonshine’s team first among Taiwanese visual effects houses, while recalling concerns about whether its work could generate enough money to sustain the business. She said the team merited greater opportunities and visibility. Wang also acknowledged support from Taiwan’s National Development Fund.
Li marked the occasion with an eight-character Chinese phrase about Seah coming home and dreams being fulfilled, playing on Moonshine’s Chinese name, which means “dream.” He said AI and cultural technology would be Ministry of Culture priorities over the next four years. Recalling his own ambitions, Li said he joined Wang Film Productions at 37 to pursue original animation but gave up after two to three years. After a long wait, he said, he was able to witness that dream being realized.
Other attendees included TAICCA president Erica Wang and Weta FX executives Kimball Thurston, its chief technology officer, Sean Noel Walker, a visual effects supervisor, and Andrew Moffat, head of research and development.
