Locksmith Animation

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Locksmith Animation
TypePrivate
IndustryFilm industry
CGI animation
Founded2014
Founder
Headquarters
113 Regent's Park Road, London, England
,
United Kingdom
Key people
Natalie Fischer (CEO)
Julie Lockhart (CEO)
Websitewww.locksmithanimation.com

Locksmith Animation is a British CGI animation studio founded by Aardman Animations collaborators Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart in 2014 with the financial backing of Elisabeth Murdoch. Based in London, England, it bills itself as "the only high-end CGI animation movie studio in the UK making computer-animated family-oriented films."[2]

History[]

The studio was founded in 2014 by Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart with the financial backing of Elisabeth Murdoch.[3] In April 2014, visual effects/animation studio Double Negative (now known as DNEG) formed a deal with Locksmith where it will provide the computer animation for Locksmith's films.[4]

In May 2016, Locksmith formed a production deal with Paramount Pictures, with Paramount acting as the distributor for Locksmith's films to be produced under the Paramount Animation label.[3] The following year, however, Paramount abandoned its deal with Locksmith when Paramount chairman and CEO Brad Grey was replaced by Jim Gianopulos.[5]

In September 2017, Locksmith formed a multi-year production deal with 20th Century Fox, which would distribute Locksmith's films under the 20th Century Fox Animation label, with Locksmith aiming to release a film every 12–18 months.[5][6] The first film to be released under the production company was Ron's Gone Wrong, which was released on October 22, 2021 by 20th Century Studios.[5][7] In October 2019, while Disney took over 20th Century Animation, Locksmith formed a new multi-year production deal with Warner Bros., which will distribute future Locksmith films under the Warner Animation Group label after the release of Ron's Gone Wrong, which was now the only Locksmith film to be distributed by 20th Century Studios.[1]

In June 2021, it was announced that Natalie Fischer, the former COO of Illumination Entertainment, will step in as CEO. Locksmith co-founder Sarah Smith exits the company to pursue her own creative endeavours. It was also announced that Locksmith is currently in production on That Christmas, a holiday film based on filmmaker Richard Curtis' children’s book series, Wed Wabbit a live action/animated hybrid film based on Lissa Evans' children's book and working on an original-musical film.[8]

Productions[]

Feature films[]

Released films[]

# Title Release date Distributor Co-production with Animation service(s) Budget Gross RT MC
1 Ron's Gone Wrong October 22, 2021 20th Century Studios[a] 20th Century Animation
TSG Entertainment
DNEG Feature Animation		 DNEG TBA $60.4 million 80% 65

Upcoming films/Films in development[]

Title Release date Ref(s) Distributor Co-production with Animation service(s)
That Christmas TBA [9] Warner Bros. Pictures Warner Animation Group DNEG
Untitled original musical-comedy movie [10]
Wed Wabbit [11]

Notes[]

  1. ^ through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

References[]

  1. ^ a b Clarke, Stewart (October 31, 2019). "Warner Signs Multi-Picture Deal With Elisabeth Murdoch's Locksmith Animation". Variety. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  2. ^ "ABOUT US". Locksmith Animation. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Paramount and Locksmith Animation Enter Exclusive Multi-Pic Deal". Animation Magazine. May 4, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  4. ^ Emmett, Neil (April 11, 2014). "British Studios Locksmith and Double Negative Plan To Make CG Features". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Lang, Brent (September 20, 2017). "Fox, Locksmith Animation Ink Multi-Year Production, Development Deal (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety Magazine. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  6. ^ Amidi, Amid (September 20, 2017). "UK's Locksmith Animation Announces Production Agreement with 20th Century Fox". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  7. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (October 12, 2017). "20th Century Fox & Locksmith Animation Slate 'Ron's Gone Wrong' As First Project". Deadline. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  8. ^ Yossman, K.J. (June 10, 2021). "Liz Murdoch's Locksmith Animation Hires Natalie Fischer as CEO, Co-Founder Sarah Smith Exits". Variety. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  9. ^ Motayor, Rafael (June 14, 2021). "Simon Otto to Helm Animated 'That Christmas' Adaptation, Based on Books by 'Love Actually' Writer". Collider. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  10. ^ Yossman, K.J. (June 10, 2021). "Liz Murdoch's Locksmith Animation Hires Natalie Fischer as CEO, Co-Founder Sarah Smith Exits". Variety. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  11. ^ White, Peter (January 29, 2018). "Locksmith Animation Sets Up Animated Feature Based On 'Wed Wabbit' Kids' Books". Deadline. Retrieved February 15, 2018.

External links[]

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