Vanessa Morrison Renews Fox Animation Deal

Fox Animation Studios President Vanessa Morrison has renewed her deal with Fox Filmed Entertainment, the studio said Wednesday according to a report by The Wrap.

The news comes days after Ice Age: Continental Drift topped the domestic box office, taking in $46.6 million. The fourth film in Fox's Pleistocene-era animated franchise has been an even bigger hit internationally, driving its worldwide total to more than $380 million.  

Fox also said that Brian Keane, an executive vice president and chief operating officer at Blue Sky Studios, a subsidiary of Fox Animation, has re-upped with the company.  Keane will continue to report to Morrison.

“Vanessa and her teams at Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios set the bar higher with each picture, and the results speak for themselves,” Fox Filmed Entertainment Chairmen Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman said in a joint statement. “We couldn't be happier that she will continue to work her magic in the years ahead.”

Other hits under Morrison's tenure include Rio, a talking bird adventure that earned more than  $486 million at the worldwide box office, and  Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!, a children's book adaptation that brought in nearly $300 million globally. 

On deck is Epic, a 3D action-adventure comedy that features the voices of Beyoncé Knowles, Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson and Amanda Seyfried.

Morrison was named President of Fox Animation Studios in 2007 after serving as executive vice president at 20th Century Fox. She also previously served as senior vice president of production and vice president of production at the studio, working on such films as Cheaper by the Dozen and Dr. Doolittle 2. 

Keane joined Blue Sky in 1999, as the chief financial officer, and, in 2002, was promoted to general manager. In 2007, he became the studio’s COO. 

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.