Trans-Atlantic deal calls for release of a CG-animated feature every 12 to 18 months.
LOS ANGELES AND LONDON -- Twentieth Century Fox Film and Locksmith Animation have announced a multi-year production partnership. The deal’s first project has already been greenlit and, following its release, the two companies expect to release one film every 12-18 months.
Locksmith Animation films will be released by TCFF, and the U.K.-based studio will develop and produce projects end-to-end in London, with Locksmith partners Double Negative providing digital production. The Locksmith projects will provide TCFF with a second pipeline of animated features in addition to those produced by Blue Sky Studios.
Stacey Snider, TCFF’s Chairman and CEO commented:
“As we redouble our efforts in the family and animation space, there is no better partner in the world to welcome into our family than Locksmith. Julie and Sarah are each singular talents, and together with their vast experience and belief in the preeminence of the storyteller, they are building a world class animation studio that is attracting top tier talent to an ambitious slate of projects.”
Locksmith Animation co-CEOs Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart, who formed the studio in 2014 with the support of co-founder Elisabeth Murdoch, said:
"We are thrilled by the response of both Stacey and the Fox team to Locksmith's vision, talent and IP. TCFF has a first-class track record in marketing and distributing animation, and their shared appreciation of our stories make this a truly exciting partnership. Embarking on production of our first film, with more titles in the pipeline, is a great moment for Locksmith."
Source: Locksmith Animation, Twentieth Century Fox Film
Tom McLean has been writing for years about animation from a secret base in Los Angeles.
