StaticVFX raises the bar with AYON pipeline workflows
Founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 2014, StaticVFX has steadily grown into a powerhouse of creativity and innovation. With a collective experience spanning projects for clients such as HBO, Netflix, and Marvel, the studio has built a reputation for delivering high-quality visual effects and animation for film, television, and commercials. Today, its core team of 25 artists can scale up to 40, depending on the scope of projects, consistently blending artistry with technical excellence. The beating drum of this coordination is orchestrated by AYON, the studio’s indispensable pipeline management platform.”
We spoke to Liviu Dinu, co-founder and technical visionary at StaticVFX, about the studio’s creative journey, its adoption of AYON, and how the platform has transformed their workflows, from managing 170 subtle yet complex shots for Netflix’s Troll to preparing for an ambitious future.
Read on to learn more about how AYON helped to streamline production, improve collaboration, and empower StaticVFX to deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines.
Building a flexible and creative studio
StaticVFX was founded by Liviu Dinu and Alin Dumitru with a shared passion for storytelling through visual effects. “We’re a small but nimble team,” says Liviu. “Our size allows us to adapt quickly and seamlessly transition between styles, from cartoon-like animation to life-like photorealistic effects. This flexibility and our close communication with clients set us apart in a competitive industry.”
Despite its size, StaticVFX delivers on par with much larger studios, thanks to its scalable pipeline and efficient workflows. The studio’s ability to scale with AYON has enabled it to contribute to acclaimed productions like The Swarm, Troll, and The World to Come.
“We are passionate about nurturing creativity and pushing boundaries,” Liviu adds. “This approach has not only allowed us to work on amazing projects but has also helped us foster a strong, united team that thrives on challenges.”
The progression of a pipeline
In its early days, StaticVFX relied on manual processes for scene and task management, inspired by Renee Dunlop’s Production Pipeline Fundamentals for Film and Games. While effective for a five-person team, this method quickly showed its limitations as the studio grew.
“Before AYON, we relied on written rules for scene management, rendering and task management. We had a big document that explained all the abbreviations, the folder structure and scene structure for every project, because it involved a lot of manual saving and attention to organising,” recalls Liviu. “It worked for a while with a handful of artists, but as projects became larger and more complex, we needed a pipeline that could minimise errors, save time, and scale with us.”
The solution came through a friend’s recommendation of OpenPype, which later evolved into AYON. “AYON was suggested by a friend, and it got us excited about the possibilities and potential. We now use AYON for every single task. We can’t imagine the studio running without it,” Liviu explains.
Enhancing workflows on Troll
One of StaticVFX’s proudest achievements with AYON was its work on Netflix’s Troll. The studio delivered 170 shots involving intricate face cleanup and enhancements. “Our work was subtle but critical,” says Liviu. “Invisible effects like these require frame-by-frame attention and seamless integration into the narrative.”
AYON’s centralised server setup played a key role in streamlining the project. By connecting tools like Maya, Houdini, and Nuke, the platform allowed artists to share assets, cameras, and scripts effortlessly. Additionally, the studio integrated Ken Tools for Nuke via AYON, eliminating the need for individual installations. “This saved us significant time and ensured consistency across the team,” explains Liviu.
Every project comes with unique challenges, and AYON’s adaptability has been instrumental in overcoming them. For Troll, StaticVFX relied on AYON’s support team to address specific issues, from managing ACES/OCIO color configurations to meeting varying client specifications. “Their support was exceptional,” says Liviu. “They worked closely with us to ensure every aspect of the project ran smoothly. We had to produce a lot of shots in a short timespan, and we couldn’t have done it without AYON. Artists felt very comfortable iterating new versions quickly, which allowed us to converge faster on the client’s needs. The 3D and comp artists could easily share assets, cameras, tracks, and scripts with each other, and it was simple to keep track of changes, renders, and versions. After warming up with a couple of shots, we were amazed at how much time we were saving, even on straightforward tasks like setups, precomps, or reviews.”
Looking ahead
As StaticVFX gears up for 2025, Liviu is optimistic about the studio’s future with AYON. “We’re excited about exploring new features like the USD asset resolver,” he says. “It has the potential to significantly speed up iterations on shots, allowing us to see changes almost in real time without relying on manual updates, an essential advantage in today’s fast-paced workflows.”
The team also values its partnership with Ynput, the developers of AYON, and looks forward to further collaboration. “Working with Ynput has been one of the best collaborations we’ve had so far with a service provider,” says Liviu. “The team is incredibly helpful throughout the entire process. There were times when we worked together to set up the project to meet the client’s specifications regarding naming conventions, codecs, exports, and more. Every project is different and comes with its own challenges, but that’s not a problem Ynput’s team is always available when we encounter a bump in the road. I can confidently rely on Ynput to guide me in finding the right path to solve any issue, and that’s invaluable.”
From its modest beginnings to becoming a trusted partner for major global productions for the likes of HBO and Netflix, StaticVFX demonstrates how smart technology and collaboration can transform a studio’s potential to scale. With AYON powering its pipeline, the studio is well-equipped to reach new heights. “We’re eager to deepen our collaboration and take on exciting opportunities ahead, one challenge at a time.”
