Pixar Animation Studios Releases RenderMan 27

The Most Significant RenderMan Release in a Decade is Here

EMERYVILLE, CA - 13 November 2025 - Pixar Animation Studios proudly announces the release of RenderMan® version 27. This latest version introduces RenderMan XPU™ as a final-frame renderer for feature animation and VFX, replacing Pixar’s current RIS architecture to deliver unmatched performance, interactivity, and creative freedom. This is the most significant RenderMan release in ten years and represents a complete rewrite to take full advantage of today’s modern hardware.

RenderMan 27 introduces key advancements to XPU, allowing artists to utilize both CPU and GPU resources for creating high-quality final frames. XPU now supports checkpointing, essential for production rendering, enabling improved farm management. In addition, XPU now features deep data workflows, support for an advanced Stylized Looks™ toolset, and compositing capabilities such as mattes, and additional AOV options. Artist workflows are accelerated further with interactive denoising powered by machine learning, reducing iteration times while maintaining image quality during live rendering sessions.

Additional XPU enhancements include multi-GPU rendering, full support for mesh lights, support for all physical lights, and the integration of ILM’s MaterialX Lama.
With improvements in final frame rendering with NVIDIA RTX PRO, Solaris workflows and expanded compatibility with the latest DCC tools, RenderMan 27 is fully aligned with the VFX Reference Platform 2024, ensuring stability and compatibility across industry pipelines.

“At Pixar, RenderMan XPU has already been put to work on Toy Story 5, giving our artists unprecedented interactivity for cinematic lighting. Faster feedback means our filmmakers can focus more on creativity and story, while still delivering the uncompromising quality audiences expect from Pixar.”
- Steve May, CTO at Pixar Animation Studios

“With XPU, Pixar is unlocking the power of NVIDIA RTX for artists and studios. By combining unmatched performance with interactive workflows, RenderMan 27 empowers artists to create at the speed of their imagination. At NVIDIA, we’re excited to see XPU redefine how studios approach final-frame rendering.” - Richard Kerris, VP of Media and Entertainment, NVIDIA

"Our lighting team has found XPU's performance incredibly impressive. With all the new production features, like display filter support, we're more than ready to move to XPU for final rendering."
- Dennis Rettkowski, Co-Founder Lumatic

RenderMan version 27 is available today at renderman.pixar.com for customers on maintenance. Individual licenses of RenderMan are available for $595, and $250 for yearly maintenance. Quantity discounts are available. Researchers, individual artists, and students creating non-commercial projects will have access to Non-Commercial RenderMan today, with full support for RenderMan XPU. Visit renderman.pixar.com for more information, and contact rendermansales@pixar.com for a quote today.

About RenderMan

RenderMan is Pixar’s production renderer, used on every Pixar film since “Toy Story”. Originally developed to bring cinematic imagery to life through cutting-edge technology, RenderMan has powered visual effects in landmark films such as “The Abyss”, “Terminator 2”, “Jurassic Park”, and “Avatar”.

Today, RenderMan features a modern hybrid CPU & GPU architecture called XPU, a complete rewrite that delivers interactive speed and high-quality final-frame rendering. Built for the demands of feature animation and visual effects, RenderMan continues to evolve at the intersection of art and science, supporting advanced workflows, stylization, and open standards. Used across the industry for over three decades, RenderMan remains a trusted renderer for studios, artists, and storytellers around the world.

About Pixar Animation Studios

Pixar Animation Studios, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is an Academy Award®-winning film studio with world-renowned technical, creative and production capabilities in the art of computer animation. The Northern California studio has created some of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time, including “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Cars,” “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “WALL•E,” “Up,” “Brave,” “Inside Out,” “Coco” and “Elemental.” Its movies and technology have won 40 Academy Awards® and the films have grossed more than $15 billion at the worldwide box office. “Elio,” Pixar’s 29th feature, is currently streaming on Disney+.

Pixar & RenderMan are registered trademarks of Pixar Animation Studios