EXCLUSIVE: It has come to our attention that Paramount and Netflix are ending their animated film pact. There was a pre-existing agreement in place specifically between Netflix and Skydance Animation which was announced in 2023; that latter label ultimately falling under Paramount post merger.
The two congloms remain committed to the upcoming animated features on Netflix including Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn, which hopes to be in the awards season mix, in addition to the Rich Moore directed untitled Jack and the Beanstalk project.
In a joint statement from the companies’ reps: “Netflix and Paramount have mutually agreed to conclude their animated film agreement. Both companies remain fully committed to the successful releases of Ray Gunn and the untitled Jack and the Beanstalk project on Netflix, and additionally will continue their longstanding content licensing relationship. We are proud of our collaboration to date and look forward to bringing these upcoming films to audiences around the world.”
Most recently, Skydance Animation’s Swapped became one of Netflix’s most-watched movies of all-time with 144.9M global views.
Note that Paramount will continue licensing content to Netflix, including series Matlock, The King of Queens, Seal Team, Watson and NCIS.
Skydance Animation is a standalone label under Paramount Pictures, and it operates independently from the Jennifer Doge led Paramount Animation. Skydance Animation is led by John Lasseter, alongside President of Skydance Animation, Holly Edwards.
In 2022, Skydance Animation premiered their first animated feature, director Peggy Holmes’ Luck, with Apple Original Films. Other feature films include Spellbound (Netflix) in 2024, from director Vicky Jenson. The studio’s slate also includes the imaginative Emmy Award-winning series Wondla and the critically acclaimed short film Blush, both for Apple TV.
On deck, Paramount will release Skydance Animation’s Cosmic Motors from director John Lasseter and co-director Louie Del Carmen theatrically.
Netflix Animation is under the leadership of Netflix Chairman of Film Dan Lin and Netflix Animation Studios Head Hannah Minghella, Netflix Animation Studios’ early hits include The Sea Beast, Leo and Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature Pinocchio. The division’s global phenomenon is KPop Demon Hunters, which is Netflix’s most watched movie ever at 325.1M global views, and it was also the streamer’s first movie to notch No. 1 at the weekend box office with $19M in late August 2025.
Netflix Animation’s upcoming slate includes Steps starring Ali Wong, Amanda Seyfried, and Stephanie Hsu and produced by Amy Poehler; Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory starring Kit Connor, Taika Waititi, Nicola Coughlan, Kate Winslet, and Helena Bonham Carter, Guillermo del Toro’s The Buried Giant, an original Ghostbusters feature, and sequels to both Leo starring Adam Sandler, which which set a record for an animated debut on Netflix (34.6M views), and Kpop Demon Hunters.
