20th Century Animation

**20th Century Fox Animation** (formerly **Fox Animation Studios**) is the animation division of the film studio 20th Century Fox, tasked for production feature-length animated film.

## History

Before 20th Century Fox started its animation division, Fox released its first six animated films, such as *Wizards*, *Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure* (both released in 1977), *Fire and Ice* (released in 1983), *FernGully: The Last Rainforest*, *Once Upon a Forest* and *The Pagemaster*.

The division initially started in 1994 as Fox Family Films, as one of four film divisions of Twentieth Century Fox. It produced live-action films such as *Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie* (1995), *Dunston Checks In* (1996), *Home Alone 3* (1997) and *Ever After* (1998). In 1998, following the success of *Anastasia*, the division was renamed to Fox Animation Studios, refocusing on animated feature films, including stop-motion, mixed media and digital production. Chris Meledandri remained as the president of the division, which was known by 1999 as 20th Century Fox Animation.

### Fox Animation era

In 1998, following the success of *Anastasia*, the division was renamed to Fox Animation Studios, refocusing on animated feature films, including stop-motion, mixed media and digital production. The division's live action films in development at the time included Marvel Comics' Silver Surfer, the disaster film spoof *Disaster Area*, and *Fantastic Voyage*. *Ever After* (1998), a Cinderella adaptation, was the division's last live action film. At this time, there were several animated films on the company's development slate: *Dark Town* with Henry Selick, Chris Columbus and Sam Hamm, Santa Calls at Blue Sky, Thalia Ward (Alaina Gleen), Matt Groening (The Simpsons) projects, Steve Oedekerk and Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer). The Phoenix studio at the time was producing Planet Ice expected in 1999 and directed by Art Vitello and Anastasia producer/directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman's then soon to be announced project. Chris Meledandri remained as the president of the division, which was known by 1999 as 20th Century Fox Animation.

20th Century Fox Animation vice president of physical production Chuck Richardson was sent in early December 1999 to Fox subsidiary Blue Sky Studios as general manager and senior vice president. Richardson was sent to prepare Blue Sky for feature animation production.

The Phoenix studio, which kept the Fox Animation Studios name, laid off 2/3 of its employee workforce in February 2000 before its closure in late June of that year. Fox Animation looked to produce films at Blue Sky and its Los Angeles headquarters.

On October 30, 2017, Morrison was named president of a new created 20th Century Fox division, Fox Family, which as a mandate similar to this company when it was called Fox Family Films. Andrea Miloro and Robert Baird were named co-president of Fox Animation the same day and would also have direct oversight of Blue Sky and over see the Locksmith Animation deal and grow Fox Animation with other partnerships and producer deals.

### Disney era

On October 18, 2018, it was announced that 20th Century Fox Animation would be added alongside 20th Century Fox to the Walt Disney Studios following their acquisition, with co-presidents Andrea Miloro and Robert Baird retaining leadership while reporting to Walt Disney Studios Chairman, Alan Horn and Twentieth Century Fox vice chairman Emma Watts. On March 21, 2019, Disney announced that the Fox Animation label (including Blue Sky Studios) would be integrated as new units within the Walt Disney Studios with Co-Presidents Andrea Miloro and Robert Baird continuing to lead the studio reporting directly to Alan Horn.

## List of movies

 Not produced, but released by Fox Animation under its label

 Combines live-action with animation

### Fox Animation Studios

*Main article(s): Fox Animation Studios*
From 1994–2000, Fox operated Fox Animation Studios, a traditional animation studio which was started to compete with Walt Disney Animation Studios, which was experiencing great success at the time with films such as *Beauty and the Beast*, *Aladdin* and *The Lion King*. The Fox studio, however, was not as successful. Their first feature *Anastasia* made nearly $140 million at the worldwide box office on a $53 million budget in 1997, but their third feature, *Titan A.E.*, was a large financial loss, losing $100 million for 20th Century Fox in 2000. The lack of box office success, coupled with the rise of computer animation, led Fox to shut down the Fox Animation Studios.

* *Anastasia* (1997)
* *Bartok the Magnificent* (1999, direct-to-video)
* *Titan A.E.* (2000)

### Blue Sky Studios

*Main article(s): Blue Sky Studios*
Since 1997, Fox owns Blue Sky Studios, a computer animation company known for the *Ice Age* franchise. Fox has had much more success with this studio, and the box office receipts of their films are competitive with those of Pixar and DreamWorks. On March 21, 2019, Blue Sky Studios was integrated as a separate unit within Walt Disney Studios, but they will still report to Fox Animation presidents Andrea Miloro and Robert Baird. They have released twelve feature films, numerous short films and television specials. Major feature films include:

### In development

* *Mutts* (TBA)
* *Mr. Men Little Miss*
* *The Littlest Bigfoot* (TBA)
* *Zita the Spacegirl* (TBA)
* *The Girl Who Drank the Moon* (TBA)
* *Momotaro* (TBA)
* *Puff, the Magic Dragon*[S] (TBA)
* *Untitled Family Guy film*[S] (TBA)
* *A Tale of Momentum & Inertia* (TBA)
* *Puppet Pals 5* (TBA)
* *With Kind Regards from Kindergarten* (TBA)
* *The Witch Boy* (TBA)
* *The Simpsons Movie 2* (TBA)
* *Bolivar* (TBA)

### Other

* *FernGully 2: The Magical Rescue* (1998)
* *Monkeybone*[S] (2001) (co-production by 1492 Pictures)
* *Kung Pow: Enter the Fist*[S] (2002) (co-production by O Entertainment)
* *Isle of Dogs* (2018)
> S Combines live-action with animation
>
>

## See also

* Fox Television Animation
* Fox Interactive