The evolutionary disruption: A paradigm shift in film and animation industry driven by real-time rendering and virtual production
Xuguang Jia, Adam Berry, Andrew Johnston · Convergence The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies · 2025
This paper explores the paradigm shift in the film and animation industry driven by the advent of real-time rendering technology. Through an approach combining qualitative interviews with industry practitioners and quantitative analysis of survey data, the study delves into the multifaceted impact of this technology. The research highlights the technology’s potential to enhance creativity, speed, and efficiency in production, while also emphasizing the challenges it poses, including technical complexities and the need for specialized knowledge. A notable theme of democratization emerges, with participants indicating that real-time rendering can help make high-quality production tools more accessible and enable a broader range of creators to participate in the industry. This study also reflects on the complexities of technological democratization, emphasizing that access to real-time tools remains uneven and shaped by broader structural factors.