The ink is still drying on a new deal between Apple and Skydance Animation that is set to bring quality children’s programming to the Apple TV+ streaming platform. This multi-year agreement kicks off with Apple’s procurement of Skydance Animation’s two upcoming animated features, “Luck” and “Spellbound,” which will premier in 2022. The animation company will also make its television debut with two seasons of “The Search for WondLa.”
Holly Edwards, president of Skydance Animation, says, “Luck and Spellbound create rich worlds and compelling characters that we know will resonate with audiences everywhere. It’s incredibly exciting to see our team of legendary creatives working around the clock and across the globe to bring these pictures to life.”
Skydance Animation is jointly run by Edwards and John Lasseter, who was hired as the head of animation in January 2019. Together, they will serve as producers on all feature films and executive producers on all series.
John Lasseter got his start in the late 1970s when he graduated from the CalArts Character Animation program created by Disney animators Jack Hannah and T. Hee. From his first job at Walt Disney Productions and throughout his long career in the animation world, Lasseter has had a hand in some of the most well-known animated productions, like “The Lion King” and “Toy Story,” and even has an Oscar and a Special Achievement Award to show for it.
Consumers are switching to streaming-based video services in droves, so producing quality kid- and family-friendly programming is extremely important. With luminaries like Lasseter and other trailblazers at the helm, Skydance Animation’s upcoming projects are in great hands.
“Luck,” the first feature from Skydance Animation, is an upcoming 3D computer-animated comedy film that is scheduled for release on February 18, 2022. It will be directed by Peggy Holmes, who previously directed “Secret of the Wings” and “The Pirate Fairy.” Kiel Murray, who was a writer on “Cars” and “Raya and the Last Dragon,” will rewrite the screenplay.
The premise of “Luck” is that the unluckiest girl in the world stumbles upon a never-before-seen world of good and bad luck and partners with magical creatures to uncover a force even more powerful than luck itself.
Two-time Oscar-winning actress Jane Fonda will voice “The Dragon,” who is the “exuberant CEO of Good Luck and undisputed luckiest ancient being in all the land. The Dragon is elegant, stylish, and as persuasive as she is powerful. The only thing better than good luck is more good luck, so when bad luck starts to spin out of control, she must face her fears or risk losing good luck forever.”
Skydance Animation is a division of David Ellison’s Skydance Media, which is widely known for its productions of feature film franchises like “Mission: Impossible,” “Star Trek,” and “Terminator,” as well as the Netflix shows “Altered Carbon” and “Grace and Frankie.”
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash