Freepik Rebrands to Magnific
Magnific, formerly known as Freepik, has officially rebranded itself to focus more on AI-powered creative tools. The platform is expanding beyond stock images into AI image generation, upscaling, 3D tools, and AI video workflows. Existing users can still use the same accounts and services.
This shows how fast creative platforms are changing because of AI. Freepik was once known mainly for stock assets, but now companies want to become full AI creative ecosystems. It also shows that AI image and video generation is becoming a major business direction for the design and VFX industry.
AI Video to HDR EXR Breakthrough
LTX-2.3 introduced a new workflow that can generate AI video directly into HDR-ready 16-bit scene-linear EXR files using LogC3 color space. This gives artists much higher color precision compared to normal video formats and allows professional-level grading and compositing without heavy clipping or artifacts.
This is a very important step for AI video in VFX. Most AI-generated videos still look compressed and difficult to use in production pipelines. Moving toward HDR EXR workflows means AI content may slowly become usable for real compositing, relighting, and film finishing instead of only previs or concept testing.
FMX 2026 Focuses on AI + VFX Workflows
FMX 2026 discussions this year heavily focused on AI-assisted compositing, Gaussian splats, machine learning workflows in Foundry Nuke, realtime VFX pipelines, Unreal Engine integration, and generative previs workflows. Many artists also discussed the future direction of Nuke 17.
FMX 2026 made one thing very clear: AI is no longer a side topic in VFX. It is becoming part of everyday production workflows. The biggest change is that compositors and VFX artists are now expected to understand realtime tools, machine learning, and hybrid 2D/3D workflows together.
BAFTA 2026 Animation and VFX Winners Announced
British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced its 2026 winners, with Zootopia 2 and “Two Black Boys In Paradise” taking major animation awards. Industrial Light & Magic also won the BAFTA TV Craft Award for visual effects work on Andor.
The success of Andor again highlights how audiences still strongly appreciate grounded and cinematic VFX work. Even with AI becoming popular, high-quality storytelling and invisible effects continue to earn the most industry respect.
Rokoko Create Launches AI Animation Tool
Rokoko Create is a new AI-powered animation tool that generates body animation from simple text prompts like “slow confident walk” or “nervous idle stance.” Artists can quickly export animations into DCC applications for previs and prototyping.
This could significantly speed up early animation workflows, especially for indie creators and small teams. At the same time, many artists are discussing how tools like this may reduce repetitive junior animation tasks in the future.
Ayon Continues Growing in VFX Studios
Ayon, formerly known as OpenPype, continues gaining adoption across VFX and animation studios. The open-source pipeline platform supports asset tracking, publishing automation, and integration between multiple DCC applications.
Many smaller studios are moving toward open-source pipeline tools because commercial pipeline systems can be very expensive. Ayon’s growth also shows how modern VFX pipelines are becoming more connected, automated, and workflow-focused.
VES Releases On-Set VFX Data Collection Guide
Visual Effects Society released its new “On-Set VFX Data Collection and Usage Guide.” The guide helps productions and VFX teams better organize on-set data capture workflows and creates a shared standard for communication between departments.
This may sound technical, but it is actually very important for modern VFX production. As virtual production, realtime workflows, and AI tools grow, accurate on-set data becomes more valuable than ever. Better data collection can save studios huge amounts of time during post-production.
Mother’s Day and VFX
In this Mother’s Day VFX commentary video, we talk about the invisible struggles of VFX mothers this video explores why the VFX industry was never truly built for parents and why conversations about motherhood in VFX matter more than ever.
