Autodesk set for Oscar glory

No matter which captivating film wins the Oscar for visual effects at next month's Academy Awards ceremony, software savants at Autodesk will be taking a bow.

And if blockbuster Avatar or the compelling District 9 take top honour as Best Picture, engineers at the Northern California firm will be able to bask in knowing that their technology helped make it possible.

The two films are among 10 nominated for Best Picture at the 82nd Academy Awards taking place on March 7 in Los Angeles. The movies join Star Trek to make up the three nominees vying in a Visual Effects category at the Oscars.

Software built by Autodesk was used by studios behind each of the films, which seamlessly blend live acting and computer imagery to immerse viewers in enthralling fictional worlds complete with aliens and adventure.

"All three films are state-of-the-art in terms of technology used to create visual effects," Maurice Patel of Autodesk media and entertainment division said Friday while providing a behind-the-scenes look at parts the firm's software played. "We want to provide technology that allows artists around the world to express their creativity in different ways."

Founded in 1982, Autodesk has grown into a multinational firm specialising in 2-D and 3-D software for designing nearly everything from skyscrapers and cars to Lego sets and granite sculptures.

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