CATDOLL: Paramount and Locksmith Animation jointly invest in three animated works

Paramount Pictures, known for its logo of stars surrounding a snowy mountain, has reached a cooperation agreement with Locksmith Animation, a London-based animation studio.

Locksmith Animation was founded in 2014 by two female animators, Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart (producer of Shaun the Sheep). Sarah Smith previously directed a 2011 Christmas-themed animation, Arthur Christmas, which grossed $147 million worldwide. Julie Lockhart is a producer, and her most recent work, Shaun the Sheep, is considered one of the best stop-motion animations in the world in recent years.

In this cooperation between Paramount and Locksmith Animation, the two parties will jointly invest in the production and development of three animated works. The first of these works will begin production within a year and is scheduled to be officially released in 2020. Paramount is just a microcosm of Hollywood's enthusiasm for the animation industry in recent years. Although animation is an industry with high investment and high risks, it can bring in rich additional income beyond the box office. The best example is Minions. In addition to the movie taking in more than $1.1 billion in box office worldwide, the sales of derivatives can also reach $70 million per year. Compared with movies, this is a more stable and long-term income.