Computer Graphics World

o c t o b e r • n o v e m b e r • d e c e m b e r 2 0 2 5 c g w 1 7 OUTLOOK 2026 t he VFX landscape is undergoing one of the most significant shis in its history. The rapid maturation of generative AI, cou- pled with the growth of virtual production (VP), is reshaping workflows, creative expectations, and the very definition of what the VFX artist's role entails. Generative AI is accelerating the pipeline by automating labor-in- tensive tasks—from roto and clean-up to ideation and previs—free- ing artists to focus on higher-value creative decision-making. Lead- ers across the sector have echoed that AI's role should enhance cra, not replace or diminish it. Meanwhile, VP, particularly the rise of LED volume work and realtime environments, is pulling VFX into the earliest stages of filmmaking. This deeper integration is transforming collaboration between departments and collapsing the tradition- al boundaries between production and post. Yet these innovations bring real concerns. Questions around intellectual property, dataset transparency, and algorithmic bias continue to challenge studios and policymakers. With anxieties around job displacement growing, the industry must reinforce the irreplaceable value of human judgment, hands-on experience and the artistry required to achieve emotional, believable imagery. Technology may accelerate what we can make, but people determine why we make it. Hybrid pipelines, globalized talent pools and increasingly modular studio structures are enabling new levels of flexibility. Smaller, agile teams equipped with realtime tools are emerging alongside tradi- tional large-scale pipelines. The skills required are expanding and so are the pathways into the industry. As new roles emerge, particularly across realtime, virtual art de- partments, technical direction, and AI-assisted production, we have a unique opportunity to redesign who gets access to these careers. The sector has long struggled with representation, oen described as lacking racial, gender, and socioeconomic diversity. Creativity thrives on varied perspectives. Our workforce must reflect the au- diences we serve. Building that future means addressing cracks in the talent pipe- line. This can be addressed via targeted outreach and mentoring to ensure underrepresented communities are inspired, supported and connected to industry networks. Recognizing transferable skills— from leadership to problem-solving, can help create mid-level and senior opportunities for people from non-traditional or adjacent industries. And equitable access to AI and realtime upskilling can ensure these fast-growing areas don't become exclusive or exclu- sionary. The challenge for VFX is not simply to keep pace with technologi- cal change, it is to ensure those shaping the future of visual storytell- ing are as diverse, skilled, and imaginative as the worlds they create. The next era of VFX will be defined not only by the tools we adopt, but by the breadth of voices empowered to use them. VFX: AN INDUSTRY AT A TURNING POINT BY SIMON DEVEREUX FOUNDER & DIRECTOR: ACCESS: VFX

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