DNEG Group Expands AI Capabilities with Metaphysic Acquisition

DNEG Group, the parent company behind the acclaimed visual effects and animation studio known for its recent work on the Oscar-nominated Dune: Part Two, as well as animated features like The Garfield Movie and That Christmas, has made a significant move by acquiring the artificial intelligence software development company Metaphysic (formerly Metaphysic AI).

Enhancing the Brahma AI Division

This acquisition will bolster DNEG’s rapidly expanding AI division, Brahma, named after the Hindu god of creation. DNEG describes Brahma’s suite of tools as “AI-powered products for enterprise, IP rights-holders, and content creators across various industries, enabling them to produce high-quality content at scale.” The studio has set its sights on developing “the industry’s leading photorealistic AI video creator.”

Growing Workforce and Investment

Once the acquisition is finalized, DNEG’s Brahma division will boast a team of over 800 engineers and creative technologists. The company has been able to aggressively pursue AI initiatives since last year, thanks to a substantial $200 million investment from the Arab investment firm United Al Saqer Group.

Acknowledgment of Innovation

The announcement of Metaphysic’s acquisition comes just a week after the Visual Effects Society Awards honored Metaphysic’s team with the ’emerging technology award’ for their groundbreaking ‘neural performance tools’ used for de-aging effects in the upcoming 2024 Robert Zemeckis drama Here. These innovative tools have also contributed to the animation of actor Lee Perry in Mad Max: Fury Road and the robot Rook in Alien: Romulus.

Leadership Transition

Metaphysic CEO Thomas Graham will take on the role of president of Brahma, and following the integration of Metaphysic’s technology and team, he will transition to become CEO of Brahma. Graham emphasized the potential of this collaboration, stating:

Brahma offers every business a strategy for generative AI content creation, from owning their data to delivering amazing, user-customized AI content across video, image, and audio. By merging the incredible teams at Brahma and Metaphysic, we can create an operating system for generative AI content that starts with securing your IP and culminates in new revenue streams built on a suite of products delivering Hollywood-quality content and experiences at unprecedented scale.

Financial Insights

While the financial specifics of the deal remain undisclosed, an article in Variety provided some insights into the financial dynamics at play:

According to the announcement, UASG [United Al Saqer Group] and DNEG Group plan to invest an additional $25 million into Brahma. As part of the agreement, Metaphysic’s existing investors, including Liberty Global, S32, TO Ventures, and 8VC, will become shareholders in Brahma. Following the transaction, DNEG Group reported a post-transaction valuation of Brahma at $1.43 billion.

DNEG’s Broader AI Portfolio

DNEG Group also offers various other AI products, including Prime Focus’s Clear asset management tools and Ziva technology for digital human and character simulations. Notably, Ziva recently received a 2025 SciTech Academy Award for its simulation of “muscles, fat, fascia, and skin for digital characters,” showcased in The Garfield Movie, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and the streaming series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.