Locksmith Animation
Locksmith Animation is a British animation studio and feature-film production company owned by Sister.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Locksmith Animation is a British animation studio and film production company established in London in 2014. The company was founded by media executive Elisabeth Murdoch together with Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart, two former Aardman Animations collaborators. Its name combines the surnames of Lockhart and Smith. Locksmith was created to develop and produce computer-animated feature films, with an emphasis on original stories and adaptations rather than serving primarily as a service studio for outside productions. The company’s early strategy relied on partnerships with established visual-effects and distribution businesses. In 2014, Locksmith entered into an arrangement with Double Negative, now known as DNEG, under which the visual-effects company would provide computer-animation capabilities for Locksmith’s films. DNEG subsequently developed its own in-house animation operation. Locksmith later signed a production arrangement with Paramount Pictures in 2016, but that relationship ended after a change in Paramount’s senior leadership. In 2017, Locksmith entered a multi-year distribution and production deal with 20th Century Fox, with 20th Century Fox Animation involved in overseeing the relationship. The arrangement was intended to support a regular pipeline of animated features. Locksmith’s first released feature was Ron’s Gone Wrong, a computer-animated science-fiction comedy about a socially isolated schoolboy and a malfunctioning digitally connected companion robot. The film was released internationally on 22 October 2021 by 20th Century Studios, following Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox. It represented Locksmith’s first completed theatrical production and received generally positive critical notices, although the company’s subsequent business development moved toward a mixture of theatrical and streaming distribution. In October 2019, Locksmith announced a new multi-year production relationship with Warner Bros. Pictures. Under the arrangement, Warner Bros. would distribute three films associated with the Warner Animation Group label after Ron’s Gone Wrong. The partnership was later aligned with Warner Bros. Pictures Animation following that division’s rebranding. In 2023, the relationship was described as a first-look arrangement covering Bad Fairies and The Lunar Chronicles. Leadership also changed as the studio expanded. Natalie Fischer, whose previous senior operating roles included work at Illumination Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation, and Pixar, became Locksmith’s chief executive officer in 2021. Co-founder Sarah Smith left the company around the same period to pursue independent creative work. Locksmith remained based in London and opened a Los Angeles office in 2023, reflecting its relationships with major American distributors and the international nature of feature animation production. The studio’s second released feature, That Christmas, is a holiday animation based on the children’s book trilogy That Christmas and Other Stories by Richard Curtis and Rebecca Cobb. Netflix released the film on 4 December 2024. Locksmith’s announced development slate includes Bad Fairies, described as an original musical comedy set in contemporary London; The Lunar Chronicles, adapted from Marissa Meyer’s young-adult book series; and Wed Wabbit, based on Lissa Evans’s children’s book. Bad Fairies is scheduled for Warner Bros. Pictures release in 2027, while The Lunar Chronicles is scheduled for 2028. Wed Wabbit has been described as Locksmith’s first independently funded and released feature. The studio therefore combines studio-partnered projects with a longer-term ambition to finance and release selected films independently.
History
Locksmith Animation was founded in London on 31 January 2014 by Elisabeth Murdoch, Sarah Smith, and Julie Lockhart. Smith and Lockhart had previously worked with Aardman Animations, and the company name was formed from their surnames. The studio was established to develop and produce computer-animated feature films, positioning itself as a British-originated competitor and partner within the international feature-animation business. In April 2014, Locksmith reached an arrangement with Double Negative, the visual-effects company later known as DNEG, to provide computer-animation production for its films. DNEG subsequently created its own internal animation studio. Locksmith’s first major distribution arrangement was announced with Paramount Pictures in May 2016. Paramount was expected to distribute Locksmith productions through Paramount Animation, but the agreement was abandoned the following year after Brad Grey was replaced as Paramount’s chairman and chief executive by Jim Gianopulos. In September 2017, Locksmith entered a multi-year production and distribution arrangement with 20th Century Fox. The deal involved 20th Century Fox Animation and was intended to help create a recurring feature pipeline, with an ambition of releasing films at intervals of roughly 12 to 18 months. The agreement also reflected changes in the animation-distribution market following Universal’s acquisition of DreamWorks Animation and the resulting shift of DreamWorks releases away from 20th Century Fox. Locksmith’s first feature, Ron’s Gone Wrong, entered production as the studio’s debut film and was released on 22 October 2021 by 20th Century Studios. The release occurred after Disney had acquired 21st Century Fox and its entertainment assets, meaning that the original Fox relationship was ultimately completed under the 20th Century Studios identity. The film received generally positive reviews and established Locksmith as a released feature-film studio. During the company’s early development, Locksmith also worked on projects beyond conventional computer-animated features. In 2018, it was reported to be developing Wed Wabbit, based on Lissa Evans’s children’s book, as a live-action/animated hybrid. The project later became associated with Locksmith’s ambition to finance and release a feature independently rather than relying entirely on a major distributor. In October 2019, Locksmith announced a new multi-year relationship with Warner Bros. Pictures. Warner Bros. was set to distribute three Locksmith films through Warner Animation Group after Ron’s Gone Wrong. In 2021, the company’s leadership changed when Natalie Fischer became chief executive. Fischer had held senior operating roles at Illumination Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation, and Pixar. Co-founder Sarah Smith left Locksmith around the same period to pursue her own creative projects. Sister was identified as Locksmith’s parent company after the release of Ron’s Gone Wrong. Locksmith’s next completed film was That Christmas, based on the children’s Christmas book trilogy That Christmas and Other Stories by Richard Curtis and Rebecca Cobb. Netflix announced the film as part of its animation slate in 2022 and released it on 4 December 2024. The project broadened Locksmith’s distribution profile from a primarily theatrical model to one that also includes major streaming platforms. The studio continued to build its development slate through literary adaptations and original concepts. In January 2022, it optioned Marissa Meyer’s The Lunar Chronicles. In 2023, as Warner Animation Group was rebranded Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Locksmith was described as having a first-look relationship with Warner Bros. for Bad Fairies and The Lunar Chronicles. Bad Fairies is an original musical comedy set in contemporary London, while The Lunar Chronicles adapts Meyer’s science-fiction-influenced young-adult book series. Bad Fairies is scheduled for Warner Bros. Pictures release on 21 May 2027, and The Lunar Chronicles is scheduled for 3 November 2028. Wed Wabbit is also in development and has been described as Locksmith’s first feature to be funded and released independently. The company opened a Los Angeles office in 2023 and has stated an ambition to move toward releasing approximately one feature each year beginning with Bad Fairies.
- 2024
That Christmas is released
[1]Netflix releases Locksmith’s holiday feature based on the stories of Richard Curtis and Rebecca Cobb.
- 2022
The Lunar Chronicles is optioned
[1]Locksmith options Marissa Meyer’s book series for animated feature development.
- 2021
Ron's Gone Wrong is released
[1]Locksmith’s debut feature reaches cinemas through 20th Century Studios.
- 2021
Natalie Fischer becomes CEO
[1]Natalie Fischer takes over as chief executive while co-founder Sarah Smith leaves the company.
- 2017
20th Century Fox deal
[1]Locksmith forms a multi-year production and distribution relationship with 20th Century Fox.
- 2016
Paramount production deal
[1]Locksmith announces a production arrangement with Paramount Pictures and Paramount Animation.
- 2014
Locksmith Animation is founded
[1]Elisabeth Murdoch, Sarah Smith, and Julie Lockhart establish Locksmith Animation in London.
- 2014
Production relationship with Double Negative
[1]Double Negative agrees to provide computer-animation capabilities for Locksmith’s film projects.
Products and positioning
An independent-minded British feature-animation studio that develops original and literary animation properties for global theatrical and streaming distribution.
Computer-animated feature film · 2021
Ron's Gone Wrong
Locksmith Animation’s debut feature is a science-fiction comedy centered on a schoolboy and a technologically advanced companion robot that does not function as expected. The film was released theatrically on 22 October 2021 by 20th Century Studios and served as the studio’s first completed production.
Animated holiday feature film · 2024
That Christmas
A Christmas-themed animated feature adapted from the children’s book trilogy That Christmas and Other Stories by Richard Curtis and Rebecca Cobb. The film was developed by Locksmith and released globally by Netflix on 4 December 2024.
Original animated feature film
Bad Fairies
An original musical comedy set in contemporary London. The project is part of Locksmith’s Warner Bros. Pictures relationship and is scheduled for theatrical release by Warner Bros. Pictures in 2027.
Animated literary adaptation
The Lunar Chronicles
A planned animated adaptation of Marissa Meyer’s science-fiction-influenced young-adult book series. Locksmith optioned the property in 2022 and is developing it with Warner Bros. Pictures Animation; a 2028 release has been announced.
Live-action/animated hybrid feature film
Wed Wabbit
A planned adaptation of Lissa Evans’s children’s book. Initially described as a live-action/animated hybrid, the project has also been associated with Locksmith’s aim to produce, fund, and release a feature independently.
Brand decisions
2022
Options The Lunar ChroniclesOtherBackground
Locksmith continued to broaden its slate with recognizable literary properties alongside original concepts.
Action taken
The studio optioned Marissa Meyer’s The Lunar Chronicles series for animated feature development.
Aftermath
The project became part of Locksmith’s announced Warner Bros. Pictures Animation development relationship.
2021
Changes executive leadershipStrategyBackground
Following the development of its first feature, Locksmith adjusted its senior leadership structure.
Action taken
Natalie Fischer became chief executive, while co-founder Sarah Smith left to pursue independent creative work.
Aftermath
Fischer’s appointment brought senior experience from several major animation companies to Locksmith’s management team.
2019
Enters a Warner Bros. Pictures production relationshipStrategyBackground
Locksmith sought a continuing major-studio partner after its Fox-linked production arrangement and amid changes in the ownership of 20th Century Fox.
Action taken
The studio announced a multi-year arrangement under which Warner Bros. Pictures would distribute three films associated with Warner Animation Group.
Aftermath
The relationship was later described as a first-look arrangement covering Bad Fairies and The Lunar Chronicles.
2017
Moves to a 20th Century Fox relationshipStrategyBackground
After the Paramount arrangement ended, Locksmith needed a new distribution and production partner for its planned feature pipeline.
Action taken
Locksmith formed a multi-year deal with 20th Century Fox, involving 20th Century Fox Animation.
Aftermath
The relationship produced Ron’s Gone Wrong, which was ultimately released under the 20th Century Studios name following Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox.
2016
Signs a production arrangement with ParamountStrategyBackground
Locksmith sought a major studio distribution partner while building its first feature-animation slate.
Action taken
The company entered a production deal with Paramount Pictures, with Paramount Animation intended to distribute the resulting films.
Aftermath
The arrangement was abandoned in 2017 after a change in Paramount’s senior leadership.
Recent events
- 2024
That Christmas is released by Netflix[1]
Product launch
Locksmith’s second released feature, That Christmas, debuted on Netflix on 4 December 2024 as a holiday animated film.
- 2023
Locksmith expands its Warner Bros. relationship[1]
Other
Following the rebranding of Warner Animation Group as Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Locksmith was described as having a first-look arrangement for Bad Fairies and The Lunar Chronicles.
- 2023
Locksmith opens a Los Angeles office[1]
Other
The studio established a Los Angeles office, adding a US base to its London headquarters and reinforcing its international production and distribution relationships.
- 2022
That Christmas joins Netflix’s animated film slate[1]
Product launch
Netflix presented That Christmas as part of its animated-film slate. The film adapts the children’s Christmas stories created by Richard Curtis and Rebecca Cobb.
- 2022
Locksmith options The Lunar Chronicles[1]
Product launch
The studio acquired an option to develop an animated adaptation of Marissa Meyer’s The Lunar Chronicles book series.
- 2021
Locksmith Animation releases its debut feature Ron's Gone Wrong[1]
Product launch
The studio’s first feature film was released on 22 October 2021 by 20th Century Studios. The computer-animated comedy marked Locksmith’s debut as a completed feature-film producer.
- 2021
Natalie Fischer becomes chief executive and Sarah Smith departs[1]
Leadership change
Locksmith announced Natalie Fischer as chief executive. Co-founder Sarah Smith left the company to pursue other creative work.
Sources2 sources
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