Ron’s Gone Wrong

'Ron’s Gone Wrong' (2021) is DNEG Animation’s first major release in collaboration with Locksmith Animation and Twentieth Century Studios, co-produced by DNEG Animation President Tom Jacomb. This fun-filled and charming coming-of-age movie follows Barney, a socially awkward middle schooler, and his malfunctioning, robot companion, Ron. Though Ron isn't quite like the ones his friends have - Barney’s brand new “Best Friend out of the Box. (B*Bot)” hilariously malfunctions straight out of the box, and kicks off the duo's adventure to finding real friendship. Set in a world dominated by social media and technology, the film explores Barney and Ron’s action-packed journey as they navigate the messiness of true friendship.

To deliver the filmmakers’ vision, the DNEG Animation team adapted our mature VFX pipeline to create a new, robust animation pipeline capable of handling a full-length feature. As the sole digital production partner, DNEG Animation brought the film to life, crafting over 1,600 final shots, all in dynamic, beautifully stylized environments. Collaborating closely with DNEG’s Motion Graphics team, the animation team also developed a motion graphics-driven character performance system, especially for the B*Bot robots, whose emotive (inter)faces needed to convey complex emotions across 168 robot variants.

Other key highlights of DNEG Animation’s contributions include the creation of a sequence-based workflow, the development of advanced character rigs and performance tools, and innovations in USD for pipeline sustainability. Additionally, our team employed procedurally generated vector graphics for facial and costume rigs, further enhancing the film’s unique visual style.

'Ron’s Gone Wrong' blends fast-paced, family-friendly animation with cutting-edge technology, resulting in a visually striking and emotionally engaging film. The film was recognised with the ‘Best Longform’ award at the 2022 British Animation Awards in London and is now a beloved fan-favourite on Disney+. We are so proud of how DNEG Animation’s work on the film pushed the boundaries of animation technology while staying true to the heart of the story, ensuring a memorable cinematic experience for audiences of all ages.

THE STORY OF AN 11-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO FINDS THAT HIS ROBOT BUDDY DOESN’T QUITE WORK

DeepDive - From VFX to Feature Animation: How DNEG Got It Right With ‘Ron’s Gone Wrong’

Ron’s Gone Wrong | Trailer

Friendship and Connection.

Get Your Bots 

in Theaters.

Ron’s Gone Wrong - Still (Ron and Barney high five)

Ron’s Gone Wrong - VFX Breakdown video

How the ‘Ron’s Gone Wrong’ VFX Team Brought the B*Bots to Life

‘Ron’s Gone Wrong’ Trailer: Animating Tech Frustration and a Defective Robot with an All-Star Cast

‘Ron’s Gone Wrong’ Review

‘Ron’s Gone Wrong’: Animating a Social Media Twist on a Boy-and-His-Dog Story