UPDATE: Cartoon Brew has taken down the header images showcasing the new studio at the request of Skydance Media, which stated that the “imagery is not approved for distribution.” Additionally, the original LinkedIn post featuring video footage of the studio has been removed by its author. Skydance clarified that, “The user who posted the video did not have permission to do so, and he has taken the post down from LinkedIn.”

Moreover, the name of the individual has been omitted from the article at their request.

Exciting Developments in Animation

Los Angeles has been without a major feature animation studio for several years, but that’s about to change with the launch of the new Skydance Animation studio.

Situated on a sprawling 5.8-acre campus in Santa Monica, the studio recently held a preview for its employees, showcasing common areas for the first time in a video shared on LinkedIn by a worker [name removed at the request of individual].

Under the leadership of John Lasseter, former chief creative officer at Pixar and Disney, the studio was initially slated to open in November 2023. However, large-scale construction projects often face delays, and artists are now anticipated to start moving into the new space next month.

To date, Skydance has released two feature films—Luck and Spellbound—along with two seasons of the Apple TV+ series WondLa. The studio is gearing up for an ambitious future, having signed a significant distribution deal with Netflix in 2023, ensuring that its films will reach audiences for years to come. Upcoming projects include Pookoo by Nathan Greno and Ray Gunn by Brad Bird, with many more titles in the pipeline.

While the potential merger between Skydance and Paramount raises questions about the future of Skydance Animation’s distribution agreement with Netflix, the studio appears to be on solid ground. Its parent company, Skydance Media, is among the most well-capitalized entities in Hollywood, bolstered by the financial support of Larry Ellison, co-founder and executive chairman of Oracle, who ranks as the fourth-richest individual globally with a net worth of approximately $200 billion.