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Locksmith Animation is a British animation studio founded by Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart in 2014. Based in London, England, it is the only high-end computer-animation studio in the United Kingdom to produce computer-animated family films.
History
The studio was founded in 2014 by Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart with the financial backing of Elisabeth Murdoch. In April 2014, visual effects/animation studio Double Negative formed a deal with Locksmith to provide the computer animation for Locksmith's films. In May 2016, Locksmith formed a production deal with Paramount Pictures, with Paramount acting as the distributor for Locksmith's films to be produced under the Paramount Animation label. The following year, however, Paramount abandoned its deal with Locksmith after Paramount chairman and CEO Brad Grey was replaced by Jim Gianopulos.
In September 2017, Locksmith formed a multi-year production deal with 20th Century Fox, which would distribute Locksmith's films under the 20th Century Fox Animation label, with Locksmith aiming to release a film every 12–18 months. The first film to be released under the production company was Ron's Gone Wrong, which was released on October 22, 2021 by 20th Century Studios. In October 2019, after Disney acquired 20th Century Animation, Locksmith formed a new multi-year production deal with Warner Bros. to distribute future Locksmith films under the Warner Animation Group label after the release of Ron's Gone Wrong.
Films distributed by 20th Century Studios
- "Paramount and Locksmith Animation Enter Exclusive Multi-Pic Deal" (May 4, 2016).
- ↑ "British Studios Locksmith and Double Negative Plan To Make CG Features". Cartoon Brew (April 11, 2014).
- ↑ Jump up to:3.0 3.1 3.2 "Fox, Locksmith Animation Ink Multi-Year Production, Development Deal (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety Magazine (September 20, 2017).
- ↑ "UK’s Locksmith Animation Announces Production Agreement with 20th Century Fox". Cartoon Brew (September 20, 2017).
- ↑ "20th Century Fox & Locksmith Animation Slate ‘Ron’s Gone Wrong’ As First Project". Deadline (October 12, 2017).
- ↑ "Warner Signs Multi-Picture Deal With Elisabeth Murdoch’s Locksmith Animation" (in en), Variety (October 31, 2019).