DreamWorks Animation uses an AI and machine learning system to automatically monitor its animation production infrastructure, detect anomalies, and send alerts to engineers before problems disrupt film production. The system is powered by NetApp Active IQ and runs continuously across the studio's internal IT environment.

DreamWorks feeds metadata about compute jobs, scene complexity, hours invested in assets, and storage behavior into a big data pipeline. Machine learning algorithms then establish a baseline of normal behavior by running synthetic transactions that replicate artists' workflows, and flag anomalies — for example, unusual latency on a file endpoint — so engineers can intervene before artists are affected. DreamWorks CTO Jeff Wike has publicly described the system as directly tied to the studio's ability to make films on schedule.