Animation Research Ltd

Animation Research Ltd (ARL) is a technology and animation company specializing in creating innovative visual experiences across a variety of industries. With a history spanning several decades, we have established ourselves as a leading player in the field of computer-generated imagery and virtual reality applications - for industries including Live broadcast, architectural visualisation, film production and television production.

We also build photo-realistic 3D dataset visualisation applications for clients in the project development, engineering, agricultural science, training and medical visualisation industries. We work closely with our satellite imagery, digital elevation map, data and architectural plan suppliers to provide accurate graphics with a quick turnaround. For instance, in 2005 ARL developed and installed the award-winning TotalControl Air Traffic Control Simulator, with ‘Full world’ modeling of airspace and operational jurisdictions, allowing simultaneous instruction across multiple suites - we continue to provide support for TotalControl to this day, with over 70 simulators installed by partner Airways International globally.

We build turn-key solutions for data visualisation, be it photo-real graphics of terrain and architecture, fly-overs of planned constructions for resource consent proposals, or animations of biology and mechanics for science and engineering. ARL has digital terrain modeling expertise in both photogrammetry and lidar. We create custom applications, excelling in real-time animation systems design, development, production and data management. ARL graphics can visualise aspects of the Natural World unseen by eye or camera, be it giants in battle kilometers below sea level or cellular activity in the human body. We also specialize in 3d Stereoscopics, using our 3D stereo-alignment and spatial adjustment software during post-production, and designing customized projection systems.

ARL has a long and distinguished history of providing standalone 3D Immersive experiences to the public and industry-trainers, for example the 3D Theatre experience of 'Aoraki, Mt Cook', the 'TotalControl' ATC training simulator, or our VR installation at MOTAT for 'The Innovators' permanent exhibition. We have created a wide range of VR and 360° Immersive applications for various industry training, education and tourism projects, such as 360° videos on the Shotover Jet thrill ride.

Not long after starting up Taylormade Productions with business partner Graham McArthur in 1989, Ian Taylor read a report about a University of Otago team that had won the 1989/1990 World Final of the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest ( the first university outside of North America to do so ), and went down to the Department of Computer Science to meet Emeritus Professor Geoff Wyvill - Head of the Computer Science graphics department, and see the work that he and his students were doing.

Animation Research Limited (ARL) began in 1989 as a joint venture between Taylormade Productions and the Computer Science Division of the University of Otago, exploring the commercial possibilities which might exist in harnessing a 3D ray-tracing renderer which had been developed by Professor Wyvill, who also identified four of his students who could help him develop the graphics business – three are still with the company today. In 1991 Taylormade bought out the University’s share in the venture.

Bluebird 'Penguin' - The Bluebird Penguin commercial aired on New Zealand TV from 1994 to 1996, picking up numerous awards along the way - the most notable being inclusion in the 1995 SIGGRAPH Electronic Theatre screenings (reserved for significant contributions to the art of computer animation).

Air New Zealand 'Gannets' - The custom procedural crowd simulation of gannets forming the koru emblem at the end of Air New Zealand's TV commercial is what garnered public attention, a CAANZ award and inclusion at the 1995 SIGGRAPH Screening Room.