Previous managing director will now oversee the studio’s worldwide expansion efforts; five new senior hires include VFX supervisors Freddy Chaleur and Yancy Lindquist, animation director Jay Boose, head of look development Sonja Burchard, and producer Audrey Ford.
Animation and VFX studio DNEG has promoted London-based Tom Jacomb to president, DNEG Animation. Previously serving as managing director, Jacomb helped launch the studio’s feature animation division in 2014, growing the team to more than 500 employees across locations in London, Los Angeles, Montréal, and Mumbai. In his new role he will oversee further worldwide investment and growth of DNEG Animation, including the creation of up to 100 new animation roles in Vancouver.
DNEG has also appointed five new senior team members in response to the studio’s expanding slate of new feature film and episodic animation productions. The new hires are VFX supervisors Freddy Chaleur (Sherlock Gnomes, Gnomeo and Juliet) and Yancy Lindquist (The Boss Baby, Trolls); animation director Jay Boose (The Little Prince, Up); head of look development Sonja Burchard (Rise of the Guardians, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button); and producer Audrey Ford (Turbo, Tangled).
“It gives me great pleasure to announce that Tom Jacomb, whose vision has guided our feature animation team since its inception in 2014, has been promoted to president, DNEG Animation,” remarked DNEG CEO Namit Malhotra. “This promotion, and the onboarding of five new senior members of his team, supports our ambition for DNEG Animation to become one of the best and most highly regarded animation studios in the world. Tom is continuing to build a superlative global team that is delivering fantastic work, delighting our clients, and winning some fantastic film and episodic projects; and we will continue to build upon these great successes.”
“DNEG has long been known for its creative pedigree in visual effects, and I am incredibly proud of the opportunity to lead our amazing team and prove that DNEG can also excel in delivering the highest-quality animation projects,” shared Jacomb. “The team’s talents and hard work get the credit for our growth and the incredible projects that we are embarking on with our new feature film and episodic partners, including some very exciting co-production opportunities that will be announced in the months ahead. Looking to the future, I am very pleased to welcome our new senior crew members, who will bolster DNEG Animation’s global capabilities with even more creativity, experience and expertise.”
DNEG Animation’s recent projects include Ron’s Gone Wrong, the studio’s first feature animation project (Locksmith Animation/20th Century Studios). The production slate also includes Under the Boardwalk for Paramount Animation, animated short Mr. Spam Gets a New Hat with Academy Award-winning director William Joyce, and four yet-to-be-announced projects. Also in development with Joyce is the first feature-length animated adaptation of “The Great Gatsby.”
The DNEG Animation’s original animated short Mr. Spam Gets a New Hat will receive its North American premiere at Spark Animation Festival in Vancouver, which runs from October 28 to November 7, 2021. The film’s creative team was headed by SVP creative production David Prescott and VFX supervisor Taylor Moll, who worked closely with Joyce. The animated short was developed within Unreal Engine.
Source: DNEG
