20th Century Animation

20th Century Animation is the animation-film division and label of 20th Century Studios, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios and ultimately The Walt Disney Company. The unit was formed in February 1994 as Fox Family Films, during 20th Century Fox’s attempt to build a substantial family-film and feature-animation business. It was later renamed 20th Century Fox Animation and became associated with Fox Animation Studios in Phoenix, Arizona, and Blue Sky Studios, initially a visual-effects company that developed into Fox’s principal internal feature-animation studio. The division’s operating model has differed from that of Disney’s two dedicated animation studios, Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Rather than maintaining one consistently recognizable in-house production pipeline, 20th Century Animation has functioned as a development, production, co-production, and distribution label. Some films were animated by affiliated studios, particularly Fox Animation Studios and Blue Sky Studios, while others were made by external partners and released or co-produced under the 20th Century banner. This model allowed the group to work across computer animation, traditionally animated projects, stop-motion, mixed media, adult animation, adaptations, sequels, and franchise films. The first feature associated with the original Fox family-film unit was Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie in 1995, while Anastasia, released in 1997, was the first major animated feature produced through the new animation operation. Fox Animation Studios was founded by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman under an agreement with Fox and produced Anastasia and Titan A.E. before closing in 2000. Blue Sky Studios then became the central internal animation unit. Its first feature, Ice Age, opened in 2002 and became a major commercial and franchise success, establishing characters and a series that remained among the most valuable properties associated with Fox’s animation business. Other notable projects connected with the brand include Rio and Rio 2, Horton Hears a Who!, Robots, The Simpsons Movie, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Book of Life, The Peanuts Movie, Spies in Disguise, Ron’s Gone Wrong, the animated Diary of a Wimpy Kid films, and The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild. The label has also participated in films made by outside companies, including The Book of Life and Ron’s Gone Wrong. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures handles theatrical distribution and marketing for the studio’s releases, while some later projects have been developed primarily for Disney+ or Hulu. Disney’s acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets in 2019 brought the Fox film businesses into Walt Disney Studios. The Fox animation operation was incorporated under the 20th Century Animation name in January 2020 after Disney removed the Fox name from the principal film-studio brands. Blue Sky Studios, the division’s main internal animation unit, was closed in April 2021. Since then, 20th Century Animation has continued as a label and production division using internal development and outside animation partners. The studio announced a return to theatrical animation with Ice Age: Boiling Point, while also expanding into adult animated features with Predator: Killer of Killers. Its activities now span theatrical films, streaming originals, franchise continuations, and animated adaptations of established 20th Century properties.

Before establishing a dedicated animation division, 20th Century Fox primarily distributed animated films made by independent producers and occasionally released animated projects produced or licensed from outside companies. In 1993, Fox also reached a first-look arrangement with Nickelodeon for family films, although the arrangement did not produce a substantial film slate before changes in Nickelodeon’s corporate ownership. Fox created Fox Family Films in February 1994 as one of the company’s film divisions. The unit initially covered family-oriented live-action and animated projects. Executive Chris Meledandri joined the division in 1994, and Fox announced an agreement with Don Bluth and Gary Goldman to establish a large animation studio in Phoenix, Arizona. The resulting Fox Animation Studios produced feature projects including Anastasia and Titan A.E. The division’s live-action family output included Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, Dunston Checks In, and Home Alone 3, but its strategic direction increasingly shifted toward animation. Following the success of Anastasia, the division was renamed 20th Century Fox Animation in 1998. Fox also became involved with Blue Sky Studios. The studio had initially specialized in visual effects and character animation, but Fox’s interest in developing an internal feature-animation capability led to preparations for Blue Sky to produce animated films. Fox Animation Studios suffered major workforce reductions in early 2000 and closed in June of that year. Blue Sky then became the central internal production unit for Fox’s animation business. Blue Sky’s first feature was Ice Age, released in 2002. Despite reservations within Fox during production, the film performed strongly and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature. It launched a successful franchise and established Blue Sky as a prominent feature-animation studio. Blue Sky subsequently produced or animated films including Robots, Ice Age sequels, Horton Hears a Who!, Rio, Rio 2, Epic, The Peanuts Movie, Ferdinand, and Spies in Disguise. At the same time, 20th Century Fox Animation worked with external producers and animation companies on projects such as Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Book of Life, The Simpsons Movie, and later Ron’s Gone Wrong. In 2017, Fox Animation arranged a multi-year production and distribution agreement with Locksmith Animation. The arrangement was intended to broaden Fox’s animation output, but the deal moved to Warner Bros. after Disney’s acquisition of Fox, apart from Ron’s Gone Wrong. In 2019, Disney completed its acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets. The animation operation was integrated into Walt Disney Studios, with leadership retained during the transition. In January 2020, the division adopted the 20th Century Animation name to distinguish it from Fox Corporation. Disney announced the closure of Blue Sky Studios in February 2021, citing the economic circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the strategic effects of Disney’s existing animation portfolio. Blue Sky closed on April 10, 2021. The 20th Century Animation label nevertheless remained active, increasingly relying on external animation partners and streaming-oriented projects. Animated versions of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild were released through Disney platforms, while later projects continued to draw on 20th Century franchises. The studio announced a renewed theatrical focus in 2024 with Ice Age: Boiling Point. In 2025, it also entered adult animated feature filmmaking with Predator: Killer of Killers, distributed through Hulu. The same period brought a physical relocation: Disney planned to vacate the Fox Studio Lot in Century City at the end of 2025 after declining to renew its lease, moving 20th Century Animation to the Walt Disney Studios campus in Burbank. The label therefore continues as a flexible Disney-owned animation division rather than as a standalone studio with a single permanent production facility.

1. 2025Predator: Killer of Killers is announced

   The studio announces an adult animated Predator feature for Hulu.

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2. 2024The studio announces Ice Age: Boiling Point

   20th Century Animation announces a theatrical Ice Age continuation scheduled for 2027.

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3. 2021Blue Sky Studios closes

   Disney closes Blue Sky Studios, ending the label’s principal internal animation facility while retaining 20th Century Animation as a division and brand.

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4. 202020th Century Animation is incorporated

   The former Fox animation operation adopts its current name after Disney removes the Fox name from the acquired film brands.

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5. 2019The animation operation enters the Disney organization

   Disney completes the acquisition of most 21st Century Fox entertainment assets, including the Fox film and animation businesses.

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6. 2017Locksmith Animation agreement is announced

   Fox announces a multi-year production and distribution arrangement with Locksmith Animation.

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7. 2002Ice Age launches Blue Sky’s feature-film era

   Blue Sky’s first feature, Ice Age, becomes a commercial and critical success and starts a major franchise.

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8. 2000Fox Animation Studios closes

   Fox’s Phoenix-based animation studio closes after major staff reductions, shifting the company’s internal feature-animation emphasis to Blue Sky Studios.

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9. 1998The division is renamed 20th Century Fox Animation

   After Anastasia, Fox refocuses the unit on animated feature films and adopts the 20th Century Fox Animation name.

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10. 1997Anastasia is released

    Anastasia becomes the first major animated feature from Fox’s newly established animation operation.

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11. 1994Fox Family Films is formed

    20th Century Fox creates Fox Family Films as a film division covering family-oriented projects and the development of a feature-animation capability.

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12. 1994Fox announces the Phoenix animation studio

    Fox announces a new $100 million animation studio associated with Don Bluth and Gary Goldman in Phoenix, Arizona.

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A globally oriented commercial animation label that combines 20th Century Studios’ film franchises, Disney distribution, affiliated production resources, and partnerships with external animation studios.

• AnastasiaAnimated feature film1997

  A traditionally animated musical adventure inspired by the historical legend surrounding Grand Duchess Anastasia. Released in 1997, it was the first major animated feature from Fox’s dedicated animation operation and helped establish the commercial rationale for the division.

• Ice Age franchiseAnimated film franchise2002

  A computer-animated comedy franchise centered on prehistoric mammals navigating migration, family, friendship, and survival. The first film, released in 2002, was Blue Sky Studios’ feature debut and became the most durable commercial franchise associated with Fox’s animation business.

• Rio franchiseAnimated film franchise2011

  A colorful adventure series set largely in Brazil and built around Blu, a domesticated blue macaw, and Jewel, a wild macaw. The films combine ecological themes, music, comedy, and international settings and were produced by Blue Sky for Fox.

• Horton Hears a Who!Animated feature film2008

  A computer-animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s book about Horton, an elephant who discovers a miniature civilization and defends its existence. The 2008 film expanded Fox’s portfolio of literary and family-oriented animation.

• The Simpsons MovieAnimated feature film2007

  A theatrical extension of the long-running animated television series The Simpsons. Animation was produced through external facilities, illustrating 20th Century Animation’s role as a production and distribution label rather than solely as an in-house animation studio.

• Fantastic Mr. FoxStop-motion animated feature2009

  A stop-motion adaptation of Roald Dahl’s children’s novel, directed by Wes Anderson. The film broadened the division’s profile beyond computer animation and was recognized for its distinctive visual design, writing, and performance.

• The Book of LifeComputer-animated feature film2014

  A visually distinctive animated fantasy inspired by Mexican cultural traditions and the Día de los Muertos period. Developed by Reel FX and later co-produced with 20th Century Fox, it demonstrates the label’s use of external production partnerships.

• The Peanuts MovieComputer-animated feature film2015

  A theatrical adaptation of Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts characters, including Charlie Brown and Snoopy. The film translated the comic strip’s familiar personalities and visual language into a contemporary computer-animated feature.

• Spies in DisguiseComputer-animated feature film2019

  A science-fiction spy comedy in which an agent is transformed into a pigeon and must work with a young inventor. Released in 2019, it was one of Blue Sky’s final theatrical features.

• Ron's Gone WrongComputer-animated feature film2021

  A science-fiction family comedy about a socially isolated boy and a malfunctioning connected robot. Produced by Locksmith Animation and distributed under the 20th Century banner, it was the first and only completed film associated with the Fox–Locksmith arrangement.

• Diary of a Wimpy KidStreaming animated film series2021

  A series of animated adaptations of Jeff Kinney’s middle-grade novels, developed for Disney’s streaming service after Disney’s acquisition of Fox. The projects extended 20th Century’s family properties into direct-to-streaming animation.

• Predator: Killer of KillersAdult animated feature film2025

  An animated entry in the Predator science-fiction action franchise and the studio’s first adult animated feature not based on an animated television sitcom. It was announced for release through Hulu in 2025.

• Ice Age: Boiling PointAnimated feature film

  A planned theatrical continuation of the Ice Age franchise, announced as part of 20th Century Animation’s return to theatrical feature releases after the closure of Blue Sky Studios.

• 2024Return to theatrical animation with Ice Age: Boiling PointProduct launch

  After Blue Sky’s closure and a period emphasizing streaming releases, Disney and 20th Century Animation announced a new theatrical Ice Age feature.

  What changed. The studio announced Ice Age: Boiling Point for a February 2027 theatrical release.

  Aftermath. The announcement signaled a renewed theatrical role for the label while continuing its established franchise strategy.

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• 2021Close Blue Sky StudiosStrategy

  Disney reviewed its animation portfolio after acquiring Fox while facing the business effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  What changed. Disney announced and completed the closure of Blue Sky Studios in April 2021.

  Aftermath. 20th Century Animation remained active but relied more heavily on outside animation partners and streaming projects.

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• 2019Integrate the Fox animation business into Walt Disney StudiosM&A

  Disney’s acquisition of most 21st Century Fox entertainment assets brought Fox Animation and Blue Sky into Disney’s filmed-entertainment organization.

  What changed. Disney retained the animation leadership during the integration and organized the operation alongside its other studio units.

  Aftermath. The Fox name was removed from the animation brand, Blue Sky was later closed, and 20th Century Animation continued as a flexible label within Disney.

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• 2017Enter a production and distribution agreement with Locksmith AnimationOther

  Fox sought to expand its animation pipeline and compensate for the loss of DreamWorks Animation distribution following DreamWorks’ acquisition by NBCUniversal.

  What changed. Fox agreed to distribute Locksmith Animation films and tasked Fox Animation with overseeing the relationship.

  Aftermath. The arrangement moved to Warner Bros. after Disney acquired Fox, with Ron’s Gone Wrong remaining the only completed film from the agreement.

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• 2000Close Fox Animation Studios and emphasize Blue SkyStrategy

  Fox Animation Studios experienced major staff reductions amid pressure on the visual-effects and animation businesses.

  What changed. The Phoenix studio was closed, and Fox directed its feature-animation ambitions toward Blue Sky Studios and the company’s Los Angeles-based development operations.

  Aftermath. Blue Sky’s Ice Age became a major success and the studio served as Fox’s primary internal feature-animation producer for the following two decades.

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• 1998Refocus on animated featuresStrategy

  Following the release and reception of Anastasia, Fox reassessed the family-film unit’s direction.

  What changed. The division was renamed 20th Century Fox Animation and shifted its emphasis toward animated feature films, including computer animation, stop-motion, and mixed-media projects.

  Aftermath. The change established the organizational identity that preceded the later 20th Century Animation label.

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• 2025Predator: Killer of Killers expands the studio into adult animation

  The studio announced Predator: Killer of Killers as an adult animated feature released through Hulu.

  Product launchOther
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• 202520th Century Animation relocates to Walt Disney Studios

  After Disney decided not to renew its Fox Studio Lot lease, the animation operation was relocated from Century City to the Walt Disney Studios campus in Burbank.

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• 202420th Century Animation announces a return to theatrical releases

  The studio announced Ice Age: Boiling Point as part of a return to theatrical animated features.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2021Disney announces closure of Blue Sky Studios

  Disney announced that Blue Sky Studios, the principal internal unit associated with 20th Century Animation, would close in April 2021.

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• 2020Fox Animation adopts the 20th Century Animation name

  Disney removed the Fox name from the acquired film brands, and the animation division was incorporated under its current name.

  Leadership change
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• 2019Fox Animation is integrated into Walt Disney Studios

  Following Disney’s acquisition of most 21st Century Fox entertainment assets, the Fox animation operation was incorporated into Walt Disney Studios.

  M&A
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1. 20th Century Animation
2. Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney