Two years ago, following the theatrical release of "Anastasia," Fox was
expanding its commitment to animation. Fox Family Films, one of Twentieth
Century Fox's four film divisions, was being renamed Fox Animation Studios,
to reflect the division's new plan to focus solely on animated feature
films, including stop-motion, mixed media (live-action mix) and digital
production. Several animated projects were on the development slate then,
including "Dark Town" with Henry Selick, "Santa Calls" with Blue Sky|VIFX,
and projects with Matt Groening ("The Simpsons"), and Steve Oedekerk and
Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"). Fox's second animated feature,
"Planet Ice," then slated for a 1999 release, experienced several setbacks.
For instance, in May 1998, ten development personnel and artists involved
in pre-production were given lay-off notices, after the film's former
director, Art Vitello, had already parted ways with the project. Meanwhile,
Fox confirmed another animated feature in development, a musical based on
the story of "Dracula," developed with Josh Whedon and his production
company, Mutant Enemy. A year later, Fox Feature Animation proved that it
was alive and well. A trailer for "Titan A.E." (previously "Planet Ice"),
re-slated for a summer 2000 release, was being screened in front of "Star
Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" guarenteeing mass exposure. "Titan
A.E." is currently finishing up production at the studios' main production
facility in Phoenix. The film, which mixes CGI and traditional animation,
is directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. It follows a rebellious teenager
who, after the earth is destroyed, embarks on a journey through space to
find a legendary spacecraft which holds the secret to salvation for the
human race.
Today, after five years in existence, Fox Animation Studios is laying off
nearly 70% of its Phoenix-based toon factory's staff. The restructuring of
the animation department will include more contract work outside the
studio. President of animation at Fox, Chris Meledandri said a foundation
of 65-100 of the now 320 employees will remain, including, of course,
studio staples Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. Fox will continue to perform
pre-production work including storyboarding, character design, production
design and layout work. Key animation and editing will also be done at the
Phoenix studio. All additional work after key animation and special effects
will be subcontracted outside of Fox, most probably to Asia. The new
animation division is sending home many of the animators they recruited
from around the world five years prior. It is possible that some staff will
move over to New York-based sister company, Blue Sky Studios, to help on
their new fully-digital feature entitled "Ice Age." The only other animated
Fox feature currently in production is Selick's "Dark Town," which has
taken up residence in a San Francisco studio.
This move happens at the same time as Disney's decision, after four years,
to close the doors of its animation studios in Canada. The Canadian
branches at one time employed 220 people. Disney's closing comes while
Canadian-based companies like Nelvana Ltd. and CINAR have been receiving
large bids to produce animated TV series for U.S.-based companies like PBS
and Fox. This set of events once again brings to the fore that strategic
decisions are economic ones. The animation marketplace, as in many other
industries, is driven by economic realities.
Read Harvey Deneroff's review of Fox Family Entertainment's first animated
feature in the November 1997 issue of Animation World Magazine, in
