For those who don’t know the event: FMX is an annual conference in Stuttgart focused on animation, VFX and digital media production. It connects studios, software vendors and production teams across features, commercials and games. Details and tickets are available via FMX.
FMX 2026 has confirmed new sessions covering large-scale feature VFX, stylised feature animation and high-end commercial character work. The programme additions include speakers from Wētā FX, Pixar and Illogic Studios, alongside new Premium Partners AMCRS, Accenture Song VFX and AYON. The event will take place on site from May 5 to 7, followed by online and on-campus sessions on May 8, with on-demand access running from May 9 to June 9. Early Bird ticket options are available until March 20 via the FMX ticket shop.
Pandora, fire and 3,100 shots
Senior VFX Supervisor Eric Saindon and VFX Supervisor Sam Cole from Wētā FX will present work from Avatar: Fire and Ash. According to FMX, the studio delivered more than 3,100 shots for the film.
The presentation will cover the integration of extensive native stereo photography with CG environments, fully digital performance captured characters and physics based coupled effects simulations. Native stereo photography refers to imagery captured simultaneously for left and right eye views, rather than converted in post. Coupled effects simulations describe interdependent simulations, for example fire interacting with wind and character motion, solved together to maintain physical consistency.
Saindon and Cole will also discuss a new tool called Kora, developed to provide more art directable fire. FMX states that Kora was created to allow greater control over flame behaviour while retaining physically based characteristics. No further technical specifications have been released at press time.
Stylisation as pipeline logic
In the Feature Animation track, Visual Effects Supervisor Beth Albright from Pixar will present Hoppers. The session is titled Stylization as a System.
The session will address how the team preserved physical realism to maintain emotional stakes while shaping surfaces for clarity and appeal. This includes coordination across modelling, animation, simulation and lighting.
A wolf, a supermarket and feature grade craft
The Shorts track will include a presentation by animation director Benoit Bargeton from Illogic Studios on the Intermarché commercial Le mal aimé. The campaign features a wolf attempting to gain the trust of other animals in the forrest by becoming vegetarian. The film went viral globally, and you propaly have already seen it.
Bargeton’s talk will focus on how feature film animation was achieved in a commercial context. This includes artistic and acting choices, as well as technical decisions supporting those directions. Cross department collaboration between modelling, rigging and animation will be addressed.
Commercial schedules typically impose tighter timelines and smaller teams than feature productions. FMX states that Illogic Studios adapted its workflow and resources to deliver a project of this scale. Specific software, renderers or proprietary systems used have not been disclosed in the announcement.
Premium Partners on the floor
FMX has also announced three Premium Partners.
AMCRS, the Animation Media Creators Region Stuttgart network, represents more than 30 VFX providers, animation studios, game developers and interactive media companies, along with six colleges. The network was initiated by MFG, the regional media and film society.
Accenture Song VFX is an award winning team guiding projects from script and concept art to final delivery. FMX states that the team has earned nine Emmy nominations over the past six years and secured an Emmy Award last year for work on HBO’s The Penguin. No additional production credits are listed in the announcement.
AYON is presented as a production backbone for animation and VFX, combining pipeline and production tracking with review, planning, scheduling and resource management. Producers, supervisors, pipeline TDs and developers use AYON to unify creative data and automate handoffs. At FMX, AYON will host talks, demos, panels and Q&As in its dedicated room. The focus will include review, scheduling and resource planning updates, roadmap insights and practical studio case studies.
Many additional sessions are still to be announced!
