DNEG (formerly known as Double Negative and stylized as D N E G) is a British 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 VFX company Prime Focus, it was named after the letters "D" and "Neg" from their former name.[1]
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),[10][11][12] it has grown from a small team to 8,000 members of staff worldwide.
DNEG's visual effects work has been honored with seven Academy Awards, seven BAFTAs, eighteen Visual Effects Society Awards and three Primetime Emmy Awards.[5]
International expansion
In 2009, Double Negative opened its Singapore office,[17][18] and closed it in March 2016.[19][20]
In July 2014, Prime Focus World merged with Double Negative;[21][22] the merged company was rebranded as DNEG.[23] The two companies announced the upcoming opening of a Mumbai branch following the merger.[24]
In August 2021, UK-based firm Novator Capital Advisors invested $250 million in Prime Focus Limited, DNEG's parent company.[25]
On January 25, 2022, DNEG announced its entry into a definitive business combination agreement with Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: AKIC). Upon the closing of the business combination, subject to customary closing conditions including the approval of the stockholders of Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp., which was expected in the first half of 2022, the combined public company would be named DNEG.[26][27] The merger was called off in June 2022.[28]
In November 2022, DNEG announced plans to open a location in Sydney, Australia, where its VFX and animation divisions will work. The new studio will open in 2023 in Pyrmont and be headed by VFX supervisor Andrew Jackson. It will lead the visual effects for George Miller's Furiosa.[29][30]
Services and divisions
Visual effects
DNEG started as a visual effects (VFX) studio specialised in VFX for feature films. Over the years its offering expanded to include VFX and animation for feature film and television, and stereo conversion.
In 2013 the company launched its Episodic VFX team dedicated to the creation of VFX for television, OTT and streaming providers and designed to allow content producers and networks access to DNEG's team and infrastructure for non-theatrical projects.[31][32]
DNEG Animation (formerly known as DNEG Feature Animation) was founded in April 2014 as DNEG Feature Animation after DNEG formed a deal with Locksmith Animation, with Tom Jacomb leading the studio.[33] It provides animation services alongside IP creators and filmmakers for both feature and episodic animated projects. A Queen's Guard soldier with a giant pencil sometimes alongside a short six-leg robot guard are the mascots of the studio. Its first project was the short film Mr. Spam Gets A New Hat, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker William Joyce and released in 2021, which won 'Best Animation' at 2021 New York Shorts International Film Festival, ‘Best Animated Short‘ at Cleveland International Film Festival, ‘Best Animation‘ at LA Shorts Festival, ‘Best Animated Short‘ at Cordillera International Film Festival and ‘Best 3D Narrative Short‘ at SPARK ANIMATION 2021. Its first feature film was Ron's Gone Wrong, co-produced with Locksmith Animation for 20th Century Studios, also released in 2021, which won for 'Best Longform' at the British Animation Awards (BAA).[34][35][36] With the trailer release of Mr. Spam Gets A New Hat in October 2021, and by early 2022, the studio was renamed to DNEG Animation. Most recently, they worked on Nimona, an adaptation of the webcomic of the same name by ND Stevenson for Netflix and Annapurna Pictures; in the production of that film, DNEG would take over animation from Blue Sky Studios after the company was shut down by then-owner The Walt Disney Company before their production was completed.[37] Projects currently in production include Under the Boardwalk for Paramount Animation, an adaptation of The Great Gatsby, Garfield, for which DNEG is a producer alongside Alcon Entertainment for Sony Pictures,[38] and That Christmas, a co-production with Locksmith Animation.
ReDefine
DNEG ReDefine was launched in 2019 to provide creative visual effects and animation services both to expanding international markets and to filmmakers and streaming companies.[39][40][41]
Stereo
DNEG Stereo (formerly known as Prime Focus World) was the first in the world to convert a full Hollywood film from 2-D to 3-D and has since become one of the largest stereo conversion companies in the motion picture industry.[42]
Virtual Production
DNEG Virtual Production is a global, end-to-end virtual production service. It offers filmmakers and content creators access to a full range of real-time production services – from script breakdown, through development / pre-production, production and post-production, to final picture delivery. DNEG Virtual Production has delivered virtual production services for Andy Serkis’ Venom: Let There Be Carnage,Keneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile and David Leitch’s Bullet Train.[43][44]
