When Disney bought Fox in 2018 the acquisition included Blue Sky Studios. Most well known for creating the Ice Age series, Blue Sky Studios has been one of the few strong CGI competitors to Pixar/Disney for the last two decades.
Yesterday, it was announced that Disney will be closing the studio next month.
The studio launched 13 films over the course of 17 years including the aforementioned Ice Age and it’s four theatrical sequels, Robots starring the late Robin Williams, Rio and its sequel and Epic, and the most recent Peanuts film among others. Their final film, Spies in Disguise, was released in 2019.
The studio was nominated in total for six Academy Awards, winning one, Best Animated Short Film. Additionally, the studio had 50 Annie Award Nominations, winning once for Best Character Animation in an Animated Feature for Rio.
The various original intellectual properties will continue on under Disney’s ownership, but as with all things of this nature, it will have a different tone and concept under Disney’s eye.
Personally, I am not too surprised at the development of this announcement. Any large purchase Disney makes is going to have the underpinning companies folded into Disney’s extensive, already existing corporate structure. Of course, it’s always unfortunate to see the finality of a predominant animation studio close its doors.
My Dad adores the Ice Age franchise; he laughs his butt off watching those movies and, in turn, gets me rolling as well. There is an earnest storytelling in the Blue Sky Studios films and a non-malicious slapstick aesthetic that isn’t seen very often these days. Hopefully, Disney will move the talent that made up Blue Skies into other positions throughout Disney.
Of course, with recent rumors of Disney potentially buying MGM, Disney’s acquisition of competitors may continue further on. It will be interesting to see if the Biden Administration begins to talk about monopolies in the entertainment business. As for today, I think I’ll throw in Ice Age in the DVD player.
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