Cyber Group Awarded Epic MegaGrant

Cyber Group Studios has been selected as an Epic MegaGrant recipient by Epic Games, bolstering its ability to create immersive entertainment experiences and further its mission to deliver film-quality content and interactive games.

The MegaGrant will also support the company’s effort to launch a new virtual production pipeline, which includes an Unreal Engine-powered real-time rendering and motion capture studio, located in Roubaix, France. Cyber Group Studios’ virtual production pipeline will accelerate and optimize creative workflows, enabling simultaneous production of linear animated programming, social media short-form, video game content and interactive digital experiences.

The new studio will host a state-of-the-art virtual production, real-time rendering, and hybrid magnetic/optical motion capture studio. Currently under construction, the studio will be fully operational by the end of March 2021 and will combine its operations with the existing Cyber Group Studios 11,000 square foot facility.

Pierre Sissmann, chairman and CEO of Cyber Group Studios, said “We decided to create this advanced virtual production studio in the Hauts de France, as the region is developing as a center of production excellence gathering a few leading industry players, and among the best animation and video game schools in the world. We are humbled to have received an Epic MegaGrant from Epic Games and are thrilled to benefit from their invaluable technology and support in the crafting of our Unreal Engine-powered virtual production pipeline.”

The president of the Hauts-de-France Region said: “Thanks to Cyber Group Studios for choosing Roubaix and Hauts-de-France to set up the first major French real-time animation studio! The innovation and new techniques developed by Cyber Group Studios contribute to make Hauts-de-France a great creative region in France, recognized for its animation programs, series, games, talents, and continue to write the history of the audiovisual industry in Hauts-de-France. Alongside leading companies and schools, international festivals, this large studio strengthens the particularly dynamic audiovisual ecosystem of the region.”

Godefroy Vujicic, managing director of Picatanovo, added: “By facilitating the set up of Cyber Group Studios in Roubaix in 2017, we already knew that real development opportunities would soon open up, both for the Plaine Images innovation park and for the whole animation ecosystem in the region. The creation of a real-time studio, powered with the Unreal Engine technology, is a great example. Our goal to make the Hauts-de-France region a reference in the global animation industry is more than ever a reality and we congratulate Pierre Sissmann and his team for their unwavering involvement in favor of employment and regional dynamism.”

“We are honored to benefit from Epic Games’ support through the Epic MegaGrants program as we realize our real-time and virtual production vision to create more immersive entertainment for kids and families around the world. We are thrilled to do it in the Haut-de-France region where we have already established a strong base with talent, schools, and regional technical hub Pictanovo,” said Sissmann.

Olivier Lelardoux, senior VP of studio and associate producer, added, “Gathering most of the animation tasks directly in Unreal Engine enables us to produce high-quality content for any digital platform, such as YouTube, and optimize the quality and budget of a traditional series.”