Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
DNEG
British-Indian visual effects company From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
DNEG (formerly known as Double Negative and pronounced D-NEG), is a British-Indian visual effects, computer animation and stereo conversion studio that was founded in 1998 in London, and rebranded as DNEG in 2014 after a merger with Indian visual effects company Prime Focus.[2]
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2019) |
DNEG has won eight Academy Awards for its work on the films Inception, Interstellar, Ex Machina, Blade Runner 2049, First Man, Tenet, Dune and Dune: Part Two.[3][4] The company has also won eight BAFTA awards for Inception, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Interstellar, Blade Runner 2049, Tenet, Dune, Dune: Part Two and the Black Mirror episode "Metalhead".[5][6][7] DNEG has received widespread acclaim, winning multiple Visual Effects Society (VES) awards for films includingThe Dark Knight Rises, Sherlock Holmes, Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk, Blade Runner 2049, First Man, Last Night In Soho, Nyad, Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two, and television shows such as Chernobyl, Foundation, The Last of Us and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.[8][9][10] DNEG has also garnered Primetime Emmy Awards for its work on Dreamkeeper, Chernobyl, Star Trek: Discovery (Season 3) and The Last of Us.[11][12][13]
DNEG is headquartered in Fitzrovia, London with additional locations in Vancouver, Mumbai, Los Angeles, Hyderabad, Montréal, Mohali, Bangalore, Chennai, Toronto, and Sydney.[14][15][16][17]
Remove ads
History
Summarize
Perspective
Double Negative first opened its doors in 1998 in London. Founded by a small group of industry professionals, including Peter Chiang (Senior VFX Supervisor), Matt Holben (Joint MD), Alex Hope (Joint MD) and Paul Franklin (Senior VFX Supervisor), it has grown from a small team to 9,000 members of staff worldwide.[18][19][20][21]
Over the years, DNEG has worked on over 250 movies and developed working relationships with a number of leading directors. Its first project was Pitch Black, released in 2000. Since then, DNEG's work can be seen in recurring franchises like Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, James Bond, Jason Bourne, Fast & Furious, Mission: Impossible, Dune and the DC Extended Universe.[22][23] DNEG has worked on award-winning projects such as Inception, Interstellar, Ex Machina, Dunkirk, Blade Runner 2049, Black Mirror "Metalhead", Altered Carbon, First Man, Chernobyl, Tenet, Star Trek: Discovery (Season 3), The Last of Us, Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two.[24][25][26]
DNEG's visual effects work has been honored with eight Academy Awards, eight British Academy Film Awards, twenty-six Visual Effects Society Awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards.[12]
Ownership
In July 2014, Indian visual effects company Prime Focus World merged with Double Negative;[27][28] the merged company was rebranded as DNEG.[29]
In August 2021, UK-based firm Novator Capital Advisors invested $250 million in Prime Focus Limited, DNEG's parent company. This deal boosted CEO and Prime Focus founder Namit Malhotra's stake in the parent to 70% from 35%, and as the owner of Novator, Icelandic billionaire Thor Björgólfsson received a 15% stake in DNEG.[30]
On January 25, 2022, DNEG announced its entry into a definitive business combination agreement with Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: AKIC). Subject to customary closing conditions, which were expected in the first half of 2022, the combined public company would be named DNEG.[31][32] DNEG called off the merger and public listing in June 2022, with CEO Malhotra vowing to expand further.[33]
International expansion
In 2009, Double Negative opened its Singapore office,[34][35] and subsequently closed it in March 2016.[36][37]
After merging with Prime Focus in 2014, DNEG established a branch in Mumbai branch and expanded its global presence with facilities in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Hyderabad, Chennai, Montréal, Mohali, Bangalore and Toronto.[38]
In November 2022, DNEG announced the opening of a new studio in Sydney, Australia, where its VFX and animation divisions will work. Located in Pyrmont, the studio is led by VFX supervisor Andrew Jackson, who spearheaded the visual effects for George Miller's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.[39][40]
On January 29, 2025, DNEG updated its logo and branding.[41]
Remove ads
Services and divisions
Summarize
Perspective
Visual effects
Originally established as a visual effects (VFX) studio specialised in VFX for feature films, DNEG has evolved to offer a broader range of services, including VFX and animation for feature films and episodic projects, along with stereo conversion.
In 2013, DNEG launched its Episodic VFX team, specifically dedicated to producing visual effects for television, OTT and streaming platforms. This initiative was designed to give content producers and networks access to DNEG's expertise and infrastructure for non-theatrical projects.[42][43]
Animation
DNEG Animation (formerly known as DNEG Feature Animation) was founded in April 2014 following a partnership between DNEG and Locksmith Animation.[44] The studio has collaborated with IP creators and filmmakers to deliver animation services for feature-length and episodic animated projects. In its early years, the studio produced a series of shorts in 2018 featuring a Queen's Guard soldier with a giant pencil. DNEG Animation’s first full-length animated feature, Ron's Gone Wrong, premiered in 2021 as a co-production with Locksmith Animation, 20th Century Animation and TSG Entertainment for 20th Century Studios. The film won a British Animation Award for "Best Long Form" in 2022.[45][46][47] That same year, the short film Mr. Spam Gets A New Hat in 2022, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker William Joyce, was released and won numerous awards, including "Best Animation" at the New York Shorts International Film Festival, "Best Animated Short" at the Cleveland International Film Festival, "Best Animation" at the LA Shorts Festival, "Best Animated Short" at the Cordillera International Film Festival and "Best 3D Narrative Short" at the SPARK Animation Festival. Later in 2022, DNEG Animation worked on the Netflix television special Entergalactic, created by Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi and Kenya Barris.[48][49]
In June 2023, the studio released Nimona, an adaptation of the webcomic of the same name by ND Stevenson for Netflix and Annapurna Pictures, released in June 2023. The project had initially begun at Blue Sky Studios, but after its closure by The Walt Disney Company, DNEG Animation took over to bring the film to completion.[50][51] A few months later, in October 2023, Under the Boardwalk premiered and produced for Paramount Animation.[52][53][54] In May 2024,The Garfield Movie was released, with DNEG co-producing alongside Alcon Entertainment for Sony Pictures.[55] Rounding out the year, That Christmas, a co-production with Netflix Animation and Locksmith Animation for Netflix, launched on Netflix.[56]
Projects currently in production include an adaptation of The Cat in the Hat (2026) with Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Bad Fairies (2027) with Locksmith Animation, Sketchshark Productions and WBPA, The Angry Birds Movie 3 with Rovio Entertainment and Sega Sammy Group.[57]
ReDefine
Launched in 2019, ReDefine delivers high-quality visual effects and animation services to growing international markets including studios, filmmakers, and streaming platforms.[58] As part of the DNEG Group, ReDefine draws on over 25 years of indusrry-leading innovation and cutting-edge technology. ReDefine has worked on major projects including The Penguin, William Tell, Sky Force, Plankton: The Movie and The Eternaut.[59][60][61][62] ReDefine won its first National Award for its work on Brahmastra - Part One: Shiva and its first Visual Effects Society award for its work on The Penguin.[63]
Stereo
DNEG Stereo (formerly known as Prime Focus World) was the first in the world to convert a full Hollywood film from 2D to 3D and has since become one of the largest stereo conversion companies in the motion picture industry.[64] DNEG Stereo has delivered immersive 3D experiences for major blockbusters including Dune: Part One, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Venom, Venom: Let There be Carnage, Venom: The Last Dance[65][66][67]. DNEG Stereo also worked on No Time To Die, the first James Bond film ever to be released in 3D.[68]
DNEG 360
DNEG 360 is a global, end-to-end virtual production service providing filmmakers and content creators with comprehensive real-time production support.[69] From script breakdown and development to final picture delivery, the team supports every stage of the creative process with cutting-edge real-time production tools.[70] DNEG's Virtual Production work has been featured in high-profile films including Andy Serkis' Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Keneth Branagh's Death on the Nile and David Leitch's Bullet Train.[71][72]
DNEG IXP
DNEG IXP, launched in 2024, specializes in delivering full service, AI-powered digital production services for the creation of high-end immersive experiences and content, partnering with leading brands, creative IP owners, and game publishers across advertising, gaming, music, theme park experiences, retail, location-based entertainment.[73] DNEG IXP counts amongst its toolsets the AI-driven technologies developed by Brahma, a DNEG Group company.[74] Notable collaborations include working with Moncler on renowned designer Sir Jony Ive's debut apparel collection under Lovefrom, Moncler. The Studio also partnered with VR firm Practical Magic to produce a cinematic 360-degree VR experience set in the world of Christopher Nolan's action thriller Dunkirk.[75]
Remove ads
Filmography
DNEG Visual Effects
Films
1990s and 2000s
2010s
2020s
Upcoming
TV series and miniseries
DNEG Animation
Films
2020s
Upcoming
Short films
TV specials
Remove ads
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads