Walt Disney Co. Shutting Down Greenwich-Based Animation Studio

GREENWICH, CT — Blue Sky Studios, the Greenwich-based animation studio behind the "Ice Age" and "Rio" films, will be shut down by Walt Disney Co., which owns the studio, according to a studio spokesperson.

The spokesperson noted the past year has been "challenging" for Disney on many fronts due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, which has led to some "very difficult business decisions" for the company. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

"Given the current economic realities, after much consideration and evaluation, we have made the difficult decision to close filmmaking operations at Blue Sky Studios," a studio spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson said sustaining a third feature animation studio was no longer viable for the company given the "current economic realities" caused by the virus, which has affected its studios, theme parks and cruise lines.

Disney currently has two other feature animation studios under its ownership: Walt Disney Animation Studios, which is set to release "Raya and the Last Dragon" in theaters and on the Disney+ streaming service in March, and Pixar Animation Studios, which released "Soul" on Disney+ in December.

Deadline reports Blue Sky's last day of operation will be sometime in April, and approximately 450 employees will be affected by the closure. "Nimona," a film based on a graphic novel currently in production at the studio and originally scheduled for release in January 2022, will cease production.

According to Deadline, the studio's films will remain part of Disney, and the parent company will work with employees at the Greenwich studio to "explore open positions" at other Disney studios.

First Selectman Fred Camillo was out of town Tuesday and could not be reached for comment. Selectwoman Lauren Rabin, who is acting first selectman while Camillo is out of town, said the news of the studio's closing was unfortunate.

"The announcement that Blue Sky Studios will be shuttered is unfortunate news," Rabin said. "The creativity of the 450 employees who produced such classics as the 'Ice Age' and 'Rio' franchises have generated enjoyment for legions of fans worldwide, young and old alike."

Rabin also acknowledged the coronavirus crisis as a factor in the decision.

"This pending closure is further evidence of the financial impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic," Rabin said. "It is my hope that the hundreds of employees affected by this decision will be able to continue employment in other Disney studios, as announced by the company."

Greenwich Chamber of Commerce president Marcia O'Kane said news of the studio's closure was "truly sad" to hear.

"[Blue Sky] was one of our more prominent businesses, and definitely one of the more interesting names in town," O'Kane said. "This is not just a loss of tax dollars and employees, but the end of over a dozen years of being part of our local business community."

While most major animation studios tend to be based on the West Coast, Blue Sky Studios sits just at the edge of town on American Lane, about 10 minutes away from Westchester County Airport.

The famed animation studio is behind the blockbuster "Ice Age" films, which have grossed over $3 billion combined at box offices worldwide. In addition to "Rio," other hit films from the studio include "The Peanuts Movie" and "Ferdinand," the latter of which starred John Cena and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film.

The studio's most recent film, "Spies In Disguise," was released to theaters in December 2019. Starring Will Smith and Tom Holland, the film was directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, who spoke about the making of the film during an advance screening held in town by the Greenwich International Film Festival.

See also: Major Movie Produced By Greenwich Studio Readies For Debut

"It's a lot of fun. We get to work with 550 of the most amazing artists you could imagine right here in Greenwich," Quane said during a Q&A session after the screening. "It's really exciting and really cool, and not a lot of people know about that."

Disney acquired Blue Sky in 2019 following its acquisition of 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets. Fox distributed the studio's films prior to the acquisition.