Skydance Animation's new deal brings Brad Bird, Zootopia Director films to Netflix

Skydance Animation is switching platforms from Apple to Netflix, enabling it to introduce several projects from significant industry figures such as Brad Bird. This transpires amidst substantial internal changes within Netflix, which is reorganizing its animation department, even despite layoffs and cancellations.

The Hollywood Reporter suggests that this new deal facilitates the addition of Spellbound, an animated film featuring Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, and Javier Barden, to the platform. Several other films, including Pookoo by Tangled director Nathan Greno, Brad Bird's Ray Gunn, and an untitled Jack and the Beanstalk project from Zootopia director Rich Moore, will also be enriched by this partnership.

Bird's film, Ray Gunn, is his first since The Incredibles 2 in 2018 and draws inspiration from the 1930's Sci-Fi genre. Rich Moore, renowned for his work on Zootopia, had signed a deal with Skydance back in 2017 to develop multiple films.

Conversely, during a time in which Netflix is revising its animation strategy, work on Tunga and Escape from Beverly Hills has stopped, contributing to Netflix's layoff plans for the "coming weeks." Amidst this, the service aims to spike prices again, regardless of a reported nine million new subscribers.

The first movie to be launched under the new agreement in 2024 will be Spellbound, followed by Pookoo in 2025.n