Oscar Winner Jernej Barbič Brings Monsters to Life with His Simulation Software
Oscar Winner Brings Monsters to Life with His Simulation Software
IEEE Senior Member Jernej Barbič, a computer science professor at USC, won a 2025 technical achievement Academy Award for Ziva VFX, a physics-based simulation software that creates realistic muscle, fat, and skin for 3D characters. Used in over 60 films, including Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and Venom: Let There Be Carnage, the technology solves nonlinear elasticity equations to model internal anatomy, giving artists control over lifelike movement. Barbič's journey from a Slovenian village to Hollywood underscores his mission to bridge academic research and practical filmmaking tools.
The visual effects industry had reached a point where surface-level realism was not enough; a creature could have beautiful skin textures and detailed geometry, but if the bones, muscles, and fat underneath did not move correctly, the illusion would break.