DreamWorks Animation is deepening its collaboration with Lenovo as a preferred technology provider. The partnership will include advanced Lenovo solutions.
Lenovo’s comprehensive technology portfolio, which includes high-performance workstations, high-performance computing infrastructure, and digital transformation tools, will enable DreamWorks to implement even more creative innovations without sacrificing speed and quality of processes.
Lenovo has become the preferred provider of computing services, workstations, and technology solutions for DreamWorks Animation. This marks a new achievement in a long-standing and reliable partnership that has already allowed the studio to increase its process productivity by 25%. The computing power DreamWorks gains through the Lenovo ecosystem — from devices to data centers and services — is fully adaptable to the growing demands of artistic and technical teams.
By the Numbers
How Lenovo’s Strategic Services and Solutions Impacted DreamWorks’ Production Processes and Business Infrastructure:
- 20% productivity increase thanks to Lenovo Neptune liquid cooling, which improves render speed and allows for faster iterations.
- 25% performance improvement in animation applications on ThinkStation P620 compared to previous workstations, leading to faster rendering and an overall improved artist experience.
- 98% data center utilization and 300 million compute hours for “The Wild Robot” film, demonstrating Lenovo’s infrastructure’s ability to meet unprecedented creative demands.
“Based on our long-standing relationship and Lenovo’s consistent excellence in delivering solutions, expanding this collaboration was a logical next step,” said Kate Swanborg, Senior Vice President of Technology Communications and Strategic Alliances, DreamWorks Animation.
“This deepens our collaboration and provides DreamWorks with the operational flexibility and scale needed to achieve business ambitions and create world-class films.”
“This expanded partnership underscores the vital role of advanced, scalable technologies and services in supporting complex creative processes and meeting the demands of modern content production,” added Ken Wong, Executive Vice President and President of Lenovo’s Solutions and Services Group. “It demonstrates the strategic impact of a trusted technology partnership in achieving the productivity, reliability, and innovation required to push the boundaries of what’s possible in filmmaking and business.”
Combined Innovations
From strategy to 24/7 operations, Lenovo offers more than just powerful hardware — the company provides a service-oriented ecosystem that allows DreamWorks’ technical teams to focus on core activities. Lenovo’s scalable service model covers everything from daily support to deploying critical computing power for artists, providing tools, flexibility, and responsiveness at every stage of production.
- ThinkStation™ and ThinkPad™ P Series workstations – built to deliver the performance needed in any environment, including modern filmmaking, ideal for artists, technical directors, and other professionals.
- ThinkSystem servers and HPC infrastructure – provide the power for resource-intensive rendering and animation processes.
- NEW: TruScale Infrastructure as a Service – allows DreamWorks to scale computing resources on demand without large capital expenditures. The offering covers the full ThinkSystem and ThinkAgile portfolio, customized to production timelines.
- Lenovo TruScale allows DreamWorks to maintain the control and security of on-premise infrastructure while benefiting from 24/7 monitoring, managed services, and expert support. As part of its service portfolio, Lenovo also supports DreamWorks’ sustainability goals — helping to decommission legacy systems and transition to more energy-efficient technologies.
Infrastructure is only part of the story. DreamWorks relies on Lenovo’s Premier Support Plus for round-the-clock support, rapid troubleshooting, and minimized downtime. In a high-pressure creative environment, quick response and expert planning are key to reducing complexity and meeting production deadlines.
Proven Efficiency: Technology Moving at the Speed of Imagination
DreamWorks’ partnership with Lenovo is a story of creative ambitions brought to life through cutting-edge technology. During their most technically demanding productions, DreamWorks has relied on Lenovo’s high-performance computing solutions with Neptune liquid cooling to accelerate workflows and scale rendering. Neptune has boosted performance in their existing data center, improved energy efficiency and system stability, allowing the studio to do more with less. Equally important has been the ability to iterate in real-time. Thanks to Lenovo’s infrastructure, artists can explore, refine, and bring complex digital environments to life with greater speed and precision.
Lenovo Professional Services also enabled DreamWorks to scale quickly and seamlessly. A high-performance computing deployment that was planned for a week was completed in just 1.5 days. From customized hardware integration to premium service and proactive support, every deployment is designed for seamless implementation and immediate production readiness.
This powerful foundation of technology and services now supports DreamWorks’ new slate of films, including “The Bad Guys 2” (August 2025), the new project “The Forgotten Island” (September 2026), and “Shrek 5” (December 2026) — further highlighting Lenovo’s impact on the studio’s most iconic and technically demanding projects.
Looking ahead, Lenovo is helping DreamWorks optimize complex operational processes and infrastructure, as well as implementing predictive analytics and intelligent workflows — thanks to Lenovo’s AI-optimized infrastructure, which spans workstations, data center systems, and TruScale services. While DreamWorks doesn’t use AI for image creation, the studio is exploring its potential to enhance production process efficiency to free up time for creativity.
This integrated ecosystem aims to combine individual creativity with full studio process orchestration — helping DreamWorks move from idea to screen faster, with greater flexibility and innovation.
“The expanded partnership with Lenovo is a key element of our technology strategy,” said Bill Ballew, CTO of DreamWorks Animation. “Lenovo’s hardware is incredibly powerful, and we now look forward to collaborating with their AI teams to further optimize our computing infrastructure.”
“As production strategies evolve, the Lenovo–DreamWorks partnership serves as a model for how companies can leverage integrated technologies to intelligently scale and achieve creative and operational excellence,” added Wong.
