AQJRO PROJECT Update: OpenUSD Pipeline Modernization Planned for This Autumn

This autumn, AQJRO PROJECT will enter its next stage of development. As the OpenUSD ecosystem continues to evolve and Autodesk Maya 2027 and Arnold Renderer introduce new capabilities, we are planning a major modernization of the project's production pipeline and asset library.

The planned update includes:

• Migrating OpenUSD assets to a modern production-ready architecture aligned with current industry standards.

• Updating look development and shading workflows to take advantage of the latest MaterialX and Arnold features.

• Improving asset organization for more efficient large-scale scene assembly.

• A complete visual redesign of the environments with enhanced quality and detail.

• Modernizing the character rigs using more flexible and advanced rigging techniques.

• Refining the overall pipeline to improve long-term compatibility with modern production workflows.

One of the primary goals of this development phase is to make AQJRO PROJECT a valuable educational resource. As the work progresses, updated OpenUSD assets, production scenes, MaterialX examples, scripts, and workflow resources will be published on the website and made available for free download and study.

As always, we will continue documenting the production process, sharing technical insights, discussing pipeline decisions, and publishing practical resources for artists, technical directors, and anyone interested in modern CG production and OpenUSD workflows.

Stay tuned—an exciting new chapter of AQJRO PROJECT begins this autumn.