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Sony Pictures Animation

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Sony Pictures Animation

Sony Pictures Animation Inc. is an American animation studio owned by Sony Entertainment's Sony Pictures Entertainment through their Motion Picture Group division and founded on May 9, 2002. The studio's films are distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Releasing under their Columbia Pictures label, while all direct-to-video releases are released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Their first movie Open Season was released on September 29, 2006, it's latest release was Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on June 2, 2023 and upcoming film Untitled Christmas Snow film December 25, 2025, Fixed and Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse TBA. The studio's most successful movie to date is The Smurfs. However, its most critically acclaimed movie is Arthur Christmas, which was co-produced with Aardman Animations.

Sony Pictures deal (2001–03)

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In 2001, Sony Pictures considered selling off its visual effects facility Sony Pictures Imageworks but after failing to find a suitable buyer, having been impressed with the CGI sequences of Stuart Little 2 and seeing the box office successes of DreamWorks Animation's Shrek and Disney/Pixar's Monsters, Inc., SPI was reconfigured to become an animation studio. Astro Boy, which had been in development at Sony since 1997 as a live-action film, was set to be SPI's first all-CGI film, but never made it to fruition.[3] On May 9, 2002, Sony Pictures Animation was established to develop characters, stories and movies with SPI taking over the digital production while maintaining its visual effects production.[4] Meanwhile, SPI produced two short films, the Academy Award-winning The ChubbChubbs! and Early Bloomer, as a result of testing its strengths and weaknesses in producing all-CGI animation.[5]

Sony Pictures Animation (2003–2011)

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On its first anniversary on May 9, 2003, Sony Pictures Animation announced a full slate of animated projects in development: Open Season, an adaptation of a Celtic folk ballad Tam Lin, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Surf's Up, and a feature-length film version of The ChubbChubbs!.[6]

On May 2014, it was announced that Netflix had acquired streaming rights to films produced by Sony Pictures Animation.[7]

Sony Pictures Animation (2011–18)

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In June 2019, Sony Pictures Animation announced that they had launched an "International" division headed by Aron Warner at the 2019 Annecy International Animated Film Festival, with Wish Dragon set to be the division's first film. The same day, they also announced an "Alternative" division aimed at producing adult animated content, headed by Katie Baron and Kevin Noel. In addition to Tartakovsky's films Black Knight and Fixed, the division's TV shows are set to include The Boondocks, a reboot of the original TV series that originally aired on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block from 2005 to 2014; Superbago, a co-production with Stoopid Buddy Stoodios that was originally greenlit as a feature film; and Hungry Ghosts, a series based on the Dark Horse graphic novel by Anthony Bourdain and Joel Rose.[10] They had previously announced their plans to produce adult content at the 2017 Annecy festival.[11]

Sony Pictures Animation (2018–present)

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According to Kristine Belson, president of SPA, the studio produces films on a 1:1 development-to-production ratio, meaning that the studio puts films into development as much as it places films in production, unlike other animation studios.[11]

Release Feature Movies

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Title Release Date Distribution/Co-production with Animation services Released by Notes
1 Open Season September 29, 2006 Columbia Pictures Sony Pictures Imageworks Theatrical First SPA in 3D.

First SPA in IMAX.

2 Surf's Up June 8, 2007
3 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs September 18, 2009 Columbia Pictures

Lord Miller Productions

Second SPA in 3D.

Second SPA in IMAX.

4 The Smurfs July 29, 2011 Columbia Pictures

The Kerner Entertainment Company

Third SPA in 3D.

First SPA’s Live-Action.

5 Arthur Christmas November 23, 2011 Columbia Pictures

Aardman Animations

Aardman Animations

Sony Pictures Imageworks

Fourth SPA in 3D.

First SPA’s Aardman.

6 The Pirates! Band of Misfits April 27, 2012 DNEG

Aardman Animations

Fifth SPA in 3D.

Latest SPA’s Aardman.

First-Latest SPA’s Stop-Motion.

7 Hotel Transylvania September 28, 2012 Columbia Pictures Sony Pictures Imageworks Sixth SPA in 3D.
8 The Smurfs 2 July 31, 2013 Columbia Pictures

The Kerner Entertainment Company

Seventh SPA in 3D.

Second SPA’s Live-Action.

9 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 September 27, 2013 Columbia Pictures

Lord Miller Productions

Eighth SPA in 3D.
10 Hotel Transylvania 2 September 25, 2015 Columbia Pictures

LStar Capital

MRC

Nineth SPA in 3D.
11 Goosebumps October 16, 2015 Columbia Pictures

LStar Capital

Village Roadshow Pictures

Original Film

Scholastic Entertainment

Moving Picture Company Tenth SPA in 3D.

Third SPA’s Live-Action.

12 Smurfs: The Lost Village April 7, 2017 Columbia Pictures

The Kerner Entertainment Company

Wanda Pictures

LStar Capital

Sony Pictures Imageworks Eleventh SPA in 3D.
13 The Emoji Movie July 28, 2017 Columbia Pictures Twelveth SPA in 3D.
14 The Star November 17, 2017 Columbia Pictures

The Jim Henson Company

Franklin Entertainment

Walden Media

Affirm Films

Cinesite
15 Peter Rabbit March 23, 2018 Columbia Pictures

Olive Bridge Entertainment

2.0 Entertainment

Screen Australia

Animal Logic Fourth SPA’s Live-Action.
16 Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation September 21, 2018 Columbia Pictures

MRC

Sony Pictures Imageworks Thirteen SPA in 3D.
17 Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween October 12, 2018 Columbia Pictures

Original Film

Scholastic Entertainment

Silvertongue Films

Pixomondo Latest SPA’s Live-Action.
18 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse December 21, 2018 Columbia Pictures

Marvel Entertainment

Arad Productions

Lord Miller Productions

Pascal Pictures

Sony Pictures Imageworks Fourteenth SPA in 3D.

Third SPA in IMAX.

19 The Angry Birds Movie 2 September 20, 2019 Columbia Pictures

Rovio Animation

Fifteenth SPA in 3D.
20 The Mitchells vs. The Machines April 30, 2021 Columbia Pictures

Lord Miller Productions

One Cool Films

Netflix Sixteenth SPA in 3D.
21 Wish Dragon June 11, 2021 Columbia Pictures

Beijing Sparkle Roll Media Corporation

Tencent Pictures

Flagship Entertainment Group

Boss Collaboration

Cultural Investment Holdings

Base FX

Industrial Light & Magic

Titmouse Inc.

Original Force

Seventeenth in 3D.

Fourth SPA in IMAX.

22 Vivo August 6, 2021 Columbia Pictures

One Cool Films

Laurence Mark Productions

Sony Pictures Imageworks Eighteenth SPA in 3D.

First SPA’s Musical.

23 Hotel Transylvania: Transformania January 14, 2022 Columbia Pictures

MRC

Prime Video Ninteenth SPA in 3D.
24 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse June 2, 2023 Columbia Pictures

Marvel Entertainment

Arad Productions

Lord Miller Productions

Pascal Pictures

Theatrical Fifth SPA in IMAX.

Upcoming films

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Title Release date Distribution/Co-production with Animation services Released by Notes
25 Untitled Christmas Snow film December 25, 2025 Columbia Pictures Sony Pictures Imageworks Theatrical Twentieth SPA in 3D.
26 Fixed TBA Columbia Pictures

Warner Bros. Pictures

New Line Cinema

Renegade Animation First SPA’s R-Rated.
27 Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse Columbia Pictures

Marvel Entertainment

Arad Productions

Lord Miller Productions

Pascal Pictures

Sony Pictures Imageworks Sixth SPA in IMAX.

In development

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Title Distribution/Co-production with Animation services Released by Notes
Black Knight Columbia Pictures TBA Theatrical Second SPA's R-Rated.
K-Pop: Demon Hunters Sony Pictures Imageworks Netflix Twentyfirst SPA in 3D.

Second SPA’s Musical.

Spider-Woman Columbia Pictures

Marvel Entertainment

Arad Productions

Pascal Pictures

Theatrical Seventh SPA in IMAX.
Tao Columbia Pictures Twentysecond SPA in 3D.
Tut Twentythird SPA in 3D.
Untitled Ghostbusters spin-off film Columbia Pictures

Ghost Corps

Twentyfourth SPA in 3D.
Untitled Matt Braly film Columbia Pictures Twentyfifth SPA in 3D.

Direct-to-video films

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Title Release date Distribution/Co-production with Animation services
1 Open Season 2 January 27, 2009 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Sony Pictures Imageworks

Reel FX Creative Studios

2 Open Season 3 January 25, 2011 Reel FX Creative Studios
3 Open Season: Scared Silly March 8, 2016 Rainmaker Entertainment
4 Surf's Up 2: WaveMania January 17, 2017 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

WWE Studios

Upcoming Streaming films

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Title Release date Distribution/Co-production with Animation services Notes
1 Untitled The Mitchells vs. the Machines cute young porn on a cloudy spin-off film Fall 2024 Netflix

Sony Pictures Television

Lord Miller Productions

87North Productions

Cloudy Productions

Kennedy Miller Mitchell

Industrial Light & Magic

Sony Pictures Imageworks

Mikros Animation

DNEG

Tonic DNA

First SPA Streaming’s R-Rated
2 Untitled season Winter film 2025 Netflix

Sony Pictures Television

Sony Pictures Imageworks An animated comedy-fantasy film

TV Series

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Title Creator(s)/Developer(s) Seasons Premiere date End date Network Distribution/Co-production with
1 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Mark Evestaff

Alex Galatis

2 February 20, 2017 June 30, 2018 Cartoon Network (United States) (2017)

Boomerang SVOD (United States) (2018–2020)

YTV (Canada)

Sony Pictures Television

Corus Entertainment

2 Hotel Transylvania: The Series Mark Steinberg June 25, 2017 October 29, 2020 Disney Channel/Disney XD (United States)

Teletoon(Canada)

Sony Pictures Television

Corus Entertainment

Nelvana

3 Agent Elvis Priscilla Presley

John Eddie

Mike Arnold

1 March 17, 2023 Netflix Sony Pictures Television

Titmouse, Inc.

4 Young Love Matthew A. Cherry

Carl Jones

September 21, 2023 present Max Sony Pictures Television

Lion Forge Animation

Carl Jones Studios

Cherry Lane Productions

5 Open Season: Call of Nature Jennie Stacey

Kent Redecker

November 3, 2023 Family Channel Sony Pictures Television

9 Story Media Group

Brown Bag Films

In development

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Title Network Distribution/Co-production with
Motel Transylvania Netflix
Untitled Ghostbusters series Sony Pictures Television

Ghost Corps

Hunger Ghosts TBA Sony Pictures Television
Superbago! Sony Pictures Television

Stoopid Buddy Stoodios

Short movies

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Title Release Date Distribution/Co-production with Animation Services Franchise Release with Notes
1 The ChubbChubbs! July 3, 2002 Columbia Pictures Sony Pictures Imageworks The ChubbChubbs! Men in Black II Theatrical release
2 Early Bloomer May 9, 2003 N/A Daddy Day Care
3 Boog & Elliot's Midnight Bun Run January 30, 2007 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Open Season Open Season Home video release
4 The ChubbChubbs Save Xmas August 8, 2007 Columbia Pictures Sony Pictures Imageworks

Prana Studios

The ChubbChubbs! Daddy Day Camp Theatrical release
5 The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol December 2, 2011 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Peyo

Sony Pictures Imageworks

Duck Studios

The Smurfs The Smurfs Home video release
6 So You Want to Be a Pirate! August 28, 2012 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Aardman Animations

Aardman Animations N/A The Pirates! Band of Misfits
7 Goodnight Mr. Foot October 26, 2012 Columbia Pictures Rough Draft Studios Hotel Translyvania Hotel Transylvania Limited theatrical release
8 The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow September 10, 2013 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Peyo

Sony Pictures Imageworks

Duck Studios

The Smurfs The Smurfs 2 Home video release
9 Super Manny October 2, 2013 Columbia Pictures

Lord Miller Productions

Sony Pictures Imageworks

6 Point Harness

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 Limited theatrical release
10 Earl Scouts October 9, 2013
11 Steve’s First Bath January 28, 2014 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Lord Miller Productions

Home video release
12 Attack of the 50-Foot Gummi Bear 6 Point Harness
13 Puppy! July 28, 2017 Columbia Pictures Sony Pictures Imageworks Hotel Translyvania The Emoji Movie Theatrical release
14 Flopsy Turvy March 30, 2018 Columbia Pictures

Olive Bridge Entertainment

2.0 Entertainment

Screen Australia

Animal Logic Peter Rabbit Peter Rabbit Limited theatrical release
15 Spider-Ham: Caught in a Ham March 19, 2019 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment Arad Productions Pascal Pictures

Titmouse, Inc. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Home video release
16 Hair Love September 20, 2019 Columbia Pictures

Lion Forge Entertainment

Lion Forge Entertainment N/A The Angry Birds Movie 2 Theatrical release
17 Live Stream November 12, 2019 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Rovio Animation

Sony Pictures Imageworks The Angry Birds Movie Home video release
18 Monster Pets: A Hotel Transylvania Short April 3, 2021 Columbia Pictures Hotel Translyvania Various films Theatrical release
19 Dog Cop 7: The Final Chapter December 14, 2021 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Lord Miller Productions

N/A The Mitchells vs. the Machines Home video release
20 The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story June 12, 2023 Columbia Pictures

Marvel Entertainment Arad Productions Pascal Pictures

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Annecy International Animation Film Festival release
21 Untitled K-Pop: Demon Hunters short TBA Columbia Pictures K-Pop: Demon Hunters K-Pop: Demon Hunters

Franchises

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Sony Pictures Animation franchises
Titles Movies Release first dates Release latest dates
Open Season 4 September 29, 2006 present
Surf's Up 2 June 8, 2007 January 17, 2017
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 September 18, 2009 June 30, 2018
The Smurfs 3 July 29, 2011 April 7, 2017
Hotel Transylvania 4 September 28, 2012 present
Goosebumps 2 October 16, 2015 October 12, 2018
Peter Rabbit 1 March 23, 2018
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2 (1 coming soon) December 21, 2018 present
The Angry Birds Movie 1 September 20, 2019

References

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