[Archive 2021-02-10] Disney to shut down Blue Sky Studios, animation studio behind 'Ice Age'

Historical archive — originally published 2021-02-10. This report records what was known on that date. It is not current news; subsequent events may have changed the situation. Wikinews closed in May 2026.

Yesterday, US-based entertainment company Disney announced its plans to shut down Blue Sky Studios, the animation studio behind the Ice Age movie franchise.

Based in Greenwich, Connecticut, Blue Sky Studios was founded in 1987, and was later acquired by 20th Century FOX in 1999. Blue Sky's control went to Disney in 2019 when Disney bought assets of FOX Studios for around US$71 billion. Blue Sky had worked on Joe's Apartment, A Simple Wish, Alien Resurrection, and Fight Club. The studio went on to produce five Ice Age films, two Rio movies, The Peanuts Movie as well as Ferdinand, which received an Academy Award nomination for best animated feature film.

Disney also owns two other significant animation studios, Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney has closed Radio Disney and Radio Disney Country. Disney planned last year to lay off about 32 thousand employees, many from Disney's theme parks. Disney also sold mobile video game unit FoxNext Games Los Angeles. Disney reported a US$2.8 billion net loss in the 2020 fiscal year.

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