Weta FX and TAICCA sign deal to make Taiwan an AI hub

New Zealand visual effects studio Weta FX signed a memorandum of understanding with Taiwan's government-backed Taiwan Creative Content Agency to make Taiwan a hub for AI-driven screen production in Asia, including an investment in Taiwanese animation and VFX house Moonshine Studio.

Weta FX CEO Daniel Seah signed the MOU with TAICCA chair Sue Wang at the opening of the Taiwan Creative Content Fest in Taipei. Taiwan's culture minister, Li Yuan, attended. Variety dated the signing to Friday, November 6, in Taipei. Deadline filed at 7:44pm on November 5 and described the signing as happening at the festival's opening; the dates differ by time zone. No financial terms were disclosed, and neither outlet gave a figure for the Moonshine investment.

Seah said the partnership has three components, according to Variety. The partnership involves an investment in Moonshine, founded in 2012 by Chia Chi Lin, and will set up a joint-venture platform to invest in Taiwanese film and TV projects and bring them wider audiences through Weta FX's global reach. A third component is a talent program that brings Taiwanese filmmakers, particularly young ones, to Weta FX for exchanges and internships and potentially jobs. Deadline reported the MOU also covers developing AI technology and training new talent to use it.

"On the AI road, nobody is really far, far ahead," Seah said. He also said: "We know that the AI revolution is an indistinguishable driving force for the content industry." On the choice of Taiwan, he said "Taiwan is the home of creative talent and a semiconductor industry, so we need to utilise these strengths and that's why this cooperation project came into being." Wang described the deal as "one of our sons coming home."

Weta FX is based in Wellington, New Zealand. It has won eight Oscars for visual effects, 17 Academy Science & Technology Awards and five Emmys, and its recent credits include 2025's "Avatar: Fire and Ash." Seah grew up in Taiwan, has spent close to 16 years as a VFX CEO including 14 years running Digital Domain, and moved to Peter Jackson's Weta FX nearly two years ago.

Moonshine Studio has worked on Taiwanese ads, movies and drama series, including the action film "96 Minutes" and the drama series "Gold Leaf," Deadline reported. TAICCA was set up by Taiwan's Ministry of Culture in 2019 and backs Taiwanese content from development through production, distribution and overseas marketing across film, TV, animation, publishing, comics, music, gaming and the performing arts, Variety reported. Seah said the Moonshine investment had been about six months in the making, and Wang said the studio's team ranked first among Taiwan's VFX houses, Variety reported.

For creators, the commitment is still unpriced. The components describe what the two sides intend. If the talent exchanges and the AI research take shape, Taiwan's animation and VFX crews would gain a route into Weta FX's pipeline, but the announcement names no figure or schedule.

Variety reported the partnership was set to launch on the festival's main stage on November 6, right after the opening ceremony; the investment and platform terms have yet to be detailed.