Leading VFX and animation studio DNEG has officially opened its previously announced outpost in the King West district of Toronto today (Friday). With more than 150 employees already hired for its fourth location, the company is enjoying significant progress in its aggressive Canadian expansion efforts.
“I am thrilled with the progress DNEG has made over the past six months in establishing a strong presence in Ontario, with exciting career opportunities in visual effects work for film and episodic projects, feature animation, and technology,” said DNEG General Manager Gavin Graham. “The welcome we have received from local trade associations, Toronto Mayor John Tory and his team, and of course the incredible talent pool in Toronto, has been overwhelming.”
Mayor John Tory commented, “Toronto’s film and television production industry is second to none in the world, and I am delighted to welcome DNEG to be a part of this dynamic and thriving sector. DNEG will join industry leaders and our locally-based, globally-minded talent, to further grow and diversify the sector. We welcome DNEG to the Toronto Region and embrace its enhanced presence and partnership in original content production.”
DNEG is in the midst of increasing its Canada-based VFX and animation operations and talent pool to meet surging worldwide multiplatform demand for its award- winning VFX, animation and leading-edge virtual production services across film, television and multiplatform content.
The company remains on track to hire 200 employees for its Toronto studio in year one, including many new technology positions, and is planning to scale the studio even further in year two in response to demand from clients. The company has embraced a flexible, hybrid in-office workforce approach to address ongoing COVID-19 precautions and to maximize the company’s appeal in securing the premier talent in the competitive VFX and animation labor marketplaces.
Fresh off another year of prestigious industry honors and recognition for its work at the Academy Awards, BAFTAs and VES Awards, DNEG also reported ongoing progress in its Canadian hiring efforts, with more than 1,500 employed nationwide. Current headcount in Canada now includes approximately 850 in Montreal and 520 in Vancouver, which includes the company’s new DNEG Animation location in Vancouver and its ReDefine brand, which has employees in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto.
“DNEG is proud to invest in its Canadian studios, providing the local VFX, animation and high-tech talent pool in the area with opportunities to work on some of the world’s biggest films as we experience increasing demand from the entertainment industry for our premium quality work,” said DNEG Chairman & CEO Namit Malhotra. “We remain committed to our long-term growth strategy as DNEG expands from feature film and episodic TV content to take advantage of opportunities in adjacent markets, including gaming and the metaverse.”
DNEG has been working closely with Toronto Global, a team of experienced business advisors assisting global businesses to expand into the Toronto Region, to launch the new studio.
“Toronto Global was pleased to work with DNEG to help establish its new studio in the Toronto Region, bringing hundreds of jobs and significant economic benefits to our world-class television and film production sector,” said Stephen Lund, CEO, Toronto Global. “DNEG’s investment is yet another signal that the spotlight continues to shine brightly on the Toronto Region.”
Current DNEG career opportunities worldwide are posted at DNEG.com.
DNEG’s work has won dozens of awards, including seven Best Visual Effects Oscars (Dune, Tenet, First Man, Blade Runner 2049, Ex Machina, Interstellar, Inception), seven BAFTAs, 18 VES Awards and three Primetime Emmy Awards. The studio toasted a record number of nomations for the 2022 awards season, recognized for its work on Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Dune, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, The Matrix Resurrections and No Time to Die.
On January 25, DNEG announced its entry into a definitive business combination agreement with Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: AKIC). Upon the closing of the business combination, which is expected in the first half of 2022, the combined public company will be named DNEG.
