Netflix and Skydance Animation Set Multi-Year Feature Film Deal

Skydance Animation has made a multi-year agreement with Netflix to develop and produce animated movies to be released directly on Netflix. This deal brings Skydance’s full existing animated feature slate exclusively to Netflix.

This deal expands on the existing relationship between the two companies who have already partnered on a number of projects including the hit feature films The Adam Project, Heart of Stone, The Old Guard, and Spy Kids: Armageddon along with the series FUBAR, Altered Carbon and Grace and Frankie. 

The first film of the multi-picture deal will be Spellbound which 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.

Future films include 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). 

John Lasseter will continue to head Skydance Animation and its creative vision along with the President of Skydance Animation, Holly Edwards. 

Launched in 2017 with a focus on creating bold and original stories set in incredible worlds that can only be experienced in animation, Skydance Animation has a robust pipeline of feature film and TV projects in various stages of development and production. Based in Los Angeles and Madrid, Skydance Animation operates a creative and physical production infrastructure with storytellers working around the world.

This announcement follows a monumental year for animation at Netflix - with first ever wins at the Oscars for Best Animated Feature Film with Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, and the Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Animated Program for Arcane respectively, and a sweep of the animated program categories in the inaugural Children's & Family Emmys competition.

Netflix’s original slate of animated features and shorts includes Academy Award winner Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Academy Award nominated The Sea Beast, Academy Award nominated The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Academy Award nominated Klaus, The Willoughbys, Academy Award nominated Over the Moon, Back to the Outback, and Academy Award nominated A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon. Upcoming animated features include Leo and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.