L-R Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart
Locksmith Animation, the UK CG feature studio, led by Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart, Co-CEOs, has secured a multi film agreement with Toby Emmerich, Chairman, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, and Courtenay Valenti, President Production and Development, Warner Bros. Pictures to co-develop and distribute a slate of pictures.
The deal covers the development and production of family animated features for worldwide theatrical distribution by Warner Bros. Pictures. Working in close collaboration with Allison Abbate, Executive Vice President, Warner Animation Group, Locksmith Animation will add a fresh voice to complement the Studio’s current animation activities.
Smith and Lockhart in a joint statement said: “We’re absolutely delighted to become part of the Warner Bros. family with this partnership. The studio has not only a revered legacy in animation, but an outstanding record in bringing contemporary family classics to global audiences. We look forward to working with its visionary leadership team to bring our unique voice and brand to worldwide audiences.”
Emmerich and Valenti said: “In recent years, animation has become a tremendously important part of our slate, and this deal with Locksmith dovetails perfectly with our forward-going plans. We love Sarah and Julie’s sensibilities and work, and look forward to working with them to create titles that will enchant today’s audiences and become classics for future generations of animation lovers.”
Locksmith’s first feature, Ron’s Gone Wrong, is currently in production in London and will be released by Walt Disney Studios.
Warner Animation Group/Warner Bros. Pictures’ upcoming animated titles include SCOOB in May 2020, Tom & Jerry in April 2021 and Space Jam 2 in July 2021.
About Sarah Smith, Co-CEO
Before moving into animation Sarah was a director, writer and producer with a critically acclaimed career in British television comedy. Working with talent such as Armando Iannucci, The League of Gentlemen in the UK and Jon Stewart and Michael Moore in the US, she won every industry accolade including BAFTA, RTS and British Comedy Awards and the Rose D’Or. In 2006 she was recruited by Aardman Animations to build a new slate of projects at the end of their DreamWorks pact. In nine months she developed a package of projects that earned the company a 3-year studio deal with Sony Pictures. She took two films to Greenlight in 18 months, before making her animation debut as Director and Co-Writer of the 3D CG feature Arthur Christmas. The BAFTA, Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice nominated picture was the highest performing animated film at the UK Box Office and was named the best reviewed film worldwide in 2011.
About Julie Lockhart, Co-CEO
Julie Lockhart is one of the UK’s most experienced animation producers. Her work has received three Academy Award© nominations including Best Animated Film in 2015 for the animated feature Shaun The Sheep Movie. At Aardman she took leadership roles in every area of the business, and has been the producer of many acclaimed animated shorts, commercials and ground-breaking television series, including the Rose D’Or winning Creature Comforts and the Emmy and BAFTA award winning Shaun the Sheep Series. Stepping into features, she developed and produced the Academy Award®-nominated feature film The Pirates! A Band of Misfits (UK title In an Adventure with Scientists) for Sony Pictures and Shaun the Sheep Movie for Studio Canal/Lionsgate.
About Locksmith Animation
Locksmith Animation was founded in 2014 by BAFTA® Award-winning director, writer and producer Sarah Smith (Arthur Christmas) and acclaimed producer Julie Lockhart (Academy Award®-nominated Shaun the Sheep Movie, Pirates! Band of Misfits, together with Elisabeth Murdoch., dedicated to producing compelling family films that speak to and delight contemporary families. Headquartered in London, Locksmith encompasses content creation, production and financing of CG animated feature films for global markets. Locksmith Animation is home to an exceptional team of forward-thinking writers, directors, and feature animation talent. Academy Award®-winning visual effects facility Double Negative provides the company’s digital pipeline. Ron’s Gone Wrong, the studio’s first film, will be released by The Walt Disney Company.
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