Netflix and Skydance Animation Set Multi-Year Feature Film Deal

Skydance Animation has signed a multi-year deal with Netflix to develop and produce animated films for direct release on Netflix.

Skydance’s entire existing animated feature slate will be exclusive to Netflix under this agreement. This agreement expands on the two companies’ previous collaborations, which include the hit feature films The Adam Project, Heart of Stone, The Old Guard, and Spy Kids: Armageddon, as well as the series FUBAR, Altered Carbon, and Grace and Frankie. Spellbound, the first film in the multi-picture deal, will debut on Netflix in 2024, followed by Pookoo in 2025.

• Spellbound follows the adventures of Ellian, the tenacious princess who must go on a daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell transforms her parents, the King and Queen of Lumbria, into monsters. Spellbound is directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek, Shark Tale) with original score from EGOT-winning composer Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater. Spellbound boasts an all-star voice cast led by Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane, and Tituss Burgess. Spellbound is written by Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin and Linda Woolverton and produced by John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Bruce Anderson for Skydance Animation.
• Pookoo is a buddy comedy about a small woodland creature and a majestic bird, two natural sworn enemies of The Valley, that magically trade places and set off on an adventure of a lifetime. Pookoo is directed by Nathan Greno (Tangled, Tangled Ever After) with original music composed by Siddhartha Khosla. The film is produced by John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Mary Ellen Bauder Andrews for Skydance Animation.

Ray Gunn, directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille, The Iron Giant), and an untitled Jack and the Beanstalk project directed by Rich Moore (Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph) are among the upcoming films.

John Lasseter, along with the President of Skydance Animation, Holly Edwards, will continue to lead Skydance Animation and its creative vision. Skydance Animation, which was established in 2017, aims to create unique and daring stories that take place in extraordinary animated worlds. It has a strong lineup of feature films and TV projects in different stages of development and production.

With its offices located in Los Angeles and Madrid, Skydance Animation operates a global creative and physical production infrastructure with storytellers from all over the world.

This announcement comes after a significant year for animation at Netflix. The year included historic victories at the Oscars, where Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio won Best Animated Feature Film, and at the Primetime Emmys, where Arcane won Outstanding Animated Program. Additionally, Netflix dominated the animated program categories in the first-ever Children’s & Family Emmys competition.

Netflix has a collection of original animated features and shorts that includes Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, The Sea Beast, The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Klaus, The Willoughbys, Over the Moon, Back to the Outback, and A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, all of which have been nominated for Academy Awards. Additionally, there are upcoming animated features called Leo and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.