Oct 18, 2023

Shocker: John Lasseter and Sky Dance Animation ditch Apple for Netflix deal.

Sky Dance Animation, run by Pixar and Disney's disgraceful creative chief, John Lasseter, David Ellison's animation Studio, has terminated its distribution agreement with Apple after releasing one feature- poorly reviewed luck. Its future output will now be released by Netflix.

There's no official reason Apple and Skydance broke up shortly after signing the multi-year agreement, but Variety suggests that the two companies have agreed that "Skydance's upcoming feature" Spellbound will not fit into Apple's expanding narrative slate, requiring a move to Netflix."

Spellbound will be the first Skydance film directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek) and to be released on Netflix, and according to the untitled Jack and The Beanstalk Project Variety from Pookoo (from Tangled's Nathan Greno), Brad Bird's Ray Gunn and zootopia's director rich Moore, the theatrical release is not part of the deal .

The Skydance deal follows last week's news that Netflix is rebuilding its animation division. As part of that restructuring, Netflix plans to produce features that aren't animated in-house and get more movies from third-party producers.1 of them is Skydance.