Locksmith Animation

Locksmith Animation is an independent animation studio founded by Aardman Animations collaborators Julie Lockhart and former Sarah Smith with the financial backing of Elisabeth Murdoch on 2014. Based in London, England, Locksmith describes itself as "An independent producer of high-quality animated features and series for global audiences.

Locksmith Animation's first film, Ron's Gone Wrong, was released on 22 October 2021, distributed by 20th Century Studios (which had recently been acquired by Disney two years prior) with positive reviews. Its next films are: That Christmas, a holiday film based on filmmaker Richard Curtis' children's book series, distributed by Netflix; Bad Fairies, a subversive original musical-comedy film set in contemporary London, The Lunar Chronicles, an animated feature film adaptation project based on the author Marissa Meyer's four young adult science fiction fantasy novels by the same name, set to be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

History

Locksmith was founded in 2014 by Aardman Animations collaborators Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart with the financial backing of Elisabeth Murdoch, the studio was named after Julie Lockhart and Sarah Smith's last names. In April 2014, visual effects studio Double Negative (now known as DNEG) formed a deal with Locksmith where it will provide the CGI animation for Locksmith's films, this was before DNEG's animation division, DNEG Feature Animation (now known as DNEG Animation) was founded.

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 when 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; 20th Century Fox Animation was brought in to oversee the deal, as Locksmith was 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 22 October 2021 by 20th Century Studios. In February 2018, it was announced that Locksmith was developing Wed Wabbit, a live-action/animated hybrid film based on Lissa Evans' children's book, serving as the first live-action/animated hybrid film from Locksmith. In October 2019, while Disney took over 20th Century Animation, Locksmith formed a new multi-year production deal with Warner Bros., which will distribute future Locksmith films under the Warner Animation Group label after the release of Ron's Gone Wrong, which was now the only theatrical Locksmith film to be distributed by 20th Century Studios.

With the release of Ron's Gone Wrong in October 2021, Sister Pictures became the parent of Locksmith Animation since Elisabeth Murdoch is the President of Production of the studio.

In June 2021, it was announced that Natalie Fischer, the former COO of Illumination Entertainment, would step in as CEO. Locksmith co-founder Sarah Smith exited the company to pursue her own creative endeavours. It was also announced that Locksmith is currently in production on The Empty Stocking (now entitled That Christmas), a holiday film based on filmmaker Richard Curtis' children's book series, and they are working on an original musical-comedy film. That Christmas was unveiled in June 2022 as part of Netflix's slate of animated films.

In January 2022, Locksmith had optioned to adapt Marissa Meyer's fantasy novel series The Lunar Chronicles.

In April 2023, Locksmith rebranded with a new logo, location and colours being orange and blue (sometimes white, maroon, or yellow).

In June 2023, as part of the rebranding of WAG now called Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, it was announced that the studio had signed a first-look deal with Locksmith to develop and produce animated features for worldwide distribution, which include Bad Fairies and The Lunar Chronicles.

In December 2023, Locksmith updated their new website.

Filmography

Feature films

Released

Upcoming

Accolades

Annie Awards

British Animation Awards

Notes

References

External links

• Official website

1. Ron's Gone Wrong
2. List of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation productions
3. Warner Bros. Pictures Animation
4. Paramount Animation
5. That Christmas
6. 20th Century Animation
7. List of Warner Bros. films (2020–2029)
8. List of animated feature films of the 2020s
9. DNEG
10. Sarah Smith (director)
11. 20th Century Studios
12. The Lunar Chronicles
13. Locksmith (disambiguation)
14. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
15. Netflix Animation
16. Aardman Animations
17. List of films with live action and animation
18. List of animation studios
19. List of animated feature films of 2024
20. List of libraries owned by Warner Bros. Discovery