DNEG Animation
FormerlyDNEG Feature Animation (2014–2021)
Company typeDivision
IndustryCGI animation
FoundedApril 11, 2014; 10 years ago (2014-04-11)
Headquarters,
United Kingdom
ParentDNEG
Websitewww.dneg.com/dneg-animation/

DNEG Animation (formerly known as DNEG Feature Animation) is a British animation studio that is a division of visual effects company DNEG. 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.

History

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The studio was founded in April 2014 as DNEG Feature Animation after DNEG formed a deal with Locksmith Animation, with Tom Jacomb leading the studio.[1]

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).[2][3][4] 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. The studio then worked on the Netflix television special Entergalactic, created by Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi and Kenya Barris and released in September 2022.[5][6]

The studio's next feature film was Nimona, an adaptation of the webcomic of the same name by ND Stevenson for Netflix and Annapurna Pictures, released in June 2023; in the production of Nimona, 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.[7] It was followed by Under the Boardwalk for Paramount Animation, which was released in October later that year.[8][9][10] The Garfield Movie, for which DNEG is a producer alongside Alcon Entertainment for Sony Pictures, was released in May 2024.[11]

Projects currently in production include an adaptation of That Christmas (2024), a co-production with Locksmith Animation for Netflix, an adaptation of The Cat in the Hat (2026) with Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Bad Fairies (2027) for Locksmith Animation and WBPA, The Angry Birds Movie 3 with Rovio Entertainment and Sega Sammy Group, and an adaptation of The Great Gatsby.

Filmography

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Feature films

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Released

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Title Release date Director(s) Distributor Co-production with Budget Gross Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore
Ron's Gone Wrong October 22, 2021 Sarah Smith
Jean-Philippe Vine
20th Century Studios 20th Century Animation
Locksmith Animation
TSG Entertainment
$60.6 million 80% (98 reviews)[12] 65 (23 reviews)[13] A[14]
Nimona June 30, 2023[15] Nick Bruno
Troy Quane
Netflix Annapurna Animation
Vertigo Entertainment
94% (85 reviews)[16] 75 (17 reviews)[17]
Under the Boardwalk October 27, 2023[9][10] David Soren Paramount Pictures Paramount Animation
Big Kid Pictures
The Garfield Movie May 24, 2024 Mark Dindal Sony Pictures Releasing Columbia Pictures
Alcon Entertainment
Prime Focus
One Cool Group Limited
Wayfarer Studios
$60 million[18] $245.4 million 36% (131 reviews)[19] 31 (29 reviews)[20]

Upcoming

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Title Release date Director(s) Distributor Co-production with Ref.
That Christmas December 6, 2024[21][22] Simon Otto Netflix[23] Netflix Animation
Locksmith Animation
[24]
The Cat in the Hat March 6, 2026 Erica Rivinoja
Alessandro Carloni
Warner Bros. Pictures Warner Bros. Pictures Animation
Dr. Seuss Enterprises
A Stern Talking To
[25]
Bad Fairies July 23, 2027 Megan Nicole Dong Warner Bros. Pictures Animation
Locksmith Animation
[26]
The Angry Birds Movie 3 TBA John Rice TBA Rovio Entertainment
Sega Sammy Group
Prime Focus
One Cool Group Limited
Flywheel Media
Dentsu
[27]
The Great Gatsby William Joyce TBA [28]

Short films

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Title Release date Director(s) Co-production with
Mr. Spam Gets A New Hat July 2021 William Joyce HowdyBot Studios

Television specials

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Title Release date Director(s) Network Co-production with
Entergalactic September 30, 2022 Fletcher Moules Netflix Netflix Animation

References

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  1. ^ Barraclough, Leo (2014-04-10). "Elisabeth Murdoch, Double Negative Back Sarah Smith's New U.K. Animation House Locksmith (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  2. ^ "Welcome DNEG Feature Animation!". DNEG. 2014-04-04. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  3. ^ Macnab2021-09-16T12:33:00+01:00, Geoffrey. "DNEG exec explains decision by UK VFX company to introduce overtime pay". Screen. Retrieved 2022-03-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "'Ron's Gone Wrong' Wins Best Feature at British Animation Awards 2022". 10 March 2022.
  5. ^ "How DNEG Animation gave 'Entergalactic' its stylized look". befores & afters. 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  6. ^ "ANIMATING TO THE RHYTHM OF ENTERGALACTIC". VFX Voice Magazine. 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  7. ^ Lang, Jamie (April 11, 2022). "'Nimona' Lands at Netflix, Annapurna Producing, DNEG Animating". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  8. ^ "Under the Boardwalk and The Tiger's Apprentice Get Dated". Paramount Animation. Archived from the original on 7 April 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Under the Boardwalk". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Paramount Will Give 'Under The Boardwalk' A Limited Theatrical Release On October 27". Cartoon Brew. October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  11. ^ Welk, Brian (2021-11-01). "Chris Pratt to Voice Garfield in Animated Film". Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  12. ^ "Ron's Gone Wrong". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  13. ^ "Ron's Gone Wrong Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  14. ^ El-Mahmoud, Sarah (October 27, 2021). "Could Ron's Gone Wrong Get A Sequel? Here's What The Filmmakers Say". Cinemablend.
  15. ^ "'Nimona' Trailer: Netflix Teases Graphic Novel Adaptation Starring Chloë Grace Moretz and Riz Ahmed". Variety. May 18, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  16. ^ "Nimona". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  17. ^ "Nimona Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  18. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (May 21, 2024). "Box Office: 'Furiosa' Aims for $40 Million-Plus Debut, 'The Garfield Movie' Targets $30 Million Over Holiday Weekend". Variety. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  19. ^ "The Garfield Movie". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  20. ^ "The Garfield Movie". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  21. ^ Tasha Robinson (April 25, 2023). "Netflix reveals every original animated movie set for release in the next two years". Polygon. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  22. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (August 7, 2024). "Ed Sheeran Records Original Song for Netflix's Richard Curtis Film 'That Christmas' – Global Bulletin". Variety. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  23. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (2022-06-09). "Netflix Sets Bold Slate of Animation from Europe Ahead of Annecy". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  24. ^ Motayor, Rafael (June 14, 2021). "Simon Otto to Helm Animated 'That Christmas' Adaptation, Based on Books by 'Love Actually' Writer". Collider. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  25. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (18 March 2024). "Revamped Warner Bros Animation Sets 'Cat In The Hat' With Bill Hader, Quinta Brunson, Bowen Yang & More; Eyes Spring 2026 Release". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  26. ^ Gajewski, Ryan (July 16, 2024). "Warner Bros. Sets Animated Musical 'Bad Fairies' for 2027 Release". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  27. ^ "Rovio, SEGA, and Prime Focus Studios Announce The Angry Birds Movie 3 Is In Production At DNEG Animation". Rovio Entertainment Corporation. 6 June 2024.
  28. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (February 22, 2021). "'The Great Gatsby' Animated Feature in Development". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles, California. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
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