Fleet Science Center Exhibit Showcases the Future of Animation

Real-time tools and collaborative spaces are transforming the animation industry

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The animation industry is undergoing a dramatic shift, moving away from traditional, lengthy production pipelines towards real-time collaboration and immersive experiences. Recent experiments conducted by Immersive Enterprise Laboratories (IEL) at the Fleet Science Center in San Diego are demonstrating the potential of this new approach, where animation can now be built collaboratively in a single weekend rather than years.

Why it matters

This transformation in the animation industry has broad implications beyond just entertainment. The adoption of real-time tools and collaborative spaces can benefit a wide range of industries, from architecture and medicine to engineering, by enabling rapid prototyping and iteration on visual concepts.

The details

The key to this transformation lies in the adoption of real-time tools, such as motion capture technology, virtual cameras, and game engine environments like Unreal Engine. These tools allow animators to see their creations come to life almost instantly, eliminating the traditional sequential workflow of animation, lighting, rendering, and review. The IEL exhibit at the Fleet Science Center also highlighted the benefits of bringing story development, performance capture, and environment building together in a shared physical location, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas and accelerating the creative process.

  • The IEL exhibit at the Fleet Science Center in San Diego took place in 2026.

The players

Immersive Enterprise Laboratories (IEL)

A research group that conducted experiments at the Fleet Science Center, demonstrating the potential of real-time collaboration and immersive experiences in the animation industry.

Fleet Science Center

A science museum in San Diego that hosted the IEL exhibit, transforming its space into a functioning animation workspace.

Unreal Engine

A game engine environment that is enabling animators to see their creations come to life almost instantly, as part of the real-time tools revolutionizing the animation industry.

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What’s next

The documentary examining IEL's work at the Fleet Science Center is now available on YouTube, providing a deeper look into the transformation of the animation industry.

The takeaway

The animation industry is on the cusp of a major shift, moving away from traditional production pipelines towards real-time collaboration and immersive experiences. This transformation, driven by the adoption of real-time tools and the creation of collaborative animation spaces, has the potential to benefit a wide range of industries beyond just entertainment.