Fans Saddened After Disney Closes Blue Sky Studios Almost 2 Years After Fox Acquisition
On February 9, The Walt Disney Studios announced it would be putting Blue Sky Studios on ice.
Disney received Blue Sky Studios in March 2019, as part of the 20th Century Fox acquisition. During its run as an animation studio, Blue Sky Studios produced 13 films and grossed over $5.9 billion. The studio found commercial success with the Ice Age franchise (which included five films) and critical success with films like The Peanuts Movie and Horton Hears A Who!.
As Disney suffered heavy losses across the board in 2020 because of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the heads of the company decided they could no longer afford Blue Sky Studios.
Fans of the studio took to Twitter to express their sadness and disappointment with the decision.
The BlueSky folks deserve so much better. Hoping the LA animation industry uses its new remote hiring abilities to bring these people onto their current productions. There’s no excuse for all those talented people not to have work moving forward.
— Caitlin VanArsdale (@cachavaa) February 9, 2021
So sad to hear about Blue Sky being shut down. My heart goes out to all the employees. Here’s some concept art of Scrat from ICE AGE by Peter de Sève. pic.twitter.com/D0gFhmKRfd
— Vincent Alexander (@NonsenseIsland) February 9, 2021
Blue Sky Studios plans to close its doors in April while Disney intends to reabsorb and reassign the 450 employees that have been impacted.
Disney points at the lackluster success of Blue Sky Studio’s last film, Spies in Disguise, as the reason to shut the company down. The film, starring Will Smith and Tom Holland, made $66 million domestically and $171 million worldwide.
As of the studio’s closing, Blue Sky Studios was 10 months short of releasing its 14th film, Nimona. Unfortunately, Disney has halted production on this film and it will never be released to the public.
Blue Sky was filled with funny, talented, passionate, creative artists who welcomed you in as family. I’m so sad you won’t get to see NIMONA. We were doing something pretty great. https://t.co/hI8D5mgXwb
— Pamela Ribon (@pamelaribon) February 9, 2021
After Disney acquired Blue Sky Studios, Disney named Walt Disney Animation Studios’ president, Andrew Millstein, as co-president of Blue Sky Studios. He served alongside co-president Rob Baird. It is expected Millstein and Baird will not return to Disney.
This is unfortunate news for the Disney family and fans everywhere are wishing the best for all employees affected.
Writer | Tweet me @Emily_N_Wolfe
