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20th Century Family
FormerlyFox Family (2017–2020)
Company typeDivision
IndustryFilm
Founded2017; 7 years ago (2017)
HeadquartersFox Studio Lot Building 88, 10201 West Pico Boulevard,
Century City, Los Angeles, California
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Parent20th Century Studios
Websitefamily.20thcenturystudios.com

20th Century Family (also known as 20th Century Studios Family; formerly known as Fox Family or 20th Century Fox Family[1]) is a division of 20th Century Studios which produces family-friendly films and television programs. Besides theatrical films, the division oversees mixed media (live-action with animation), family animated holiday television specials based on film properties, and feature films based on TV shows.

The division is in charge of such franchises as The Simpsons, Ice Age, Rio, Night at the Museum, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Anastasia, and Home Alone.

Background

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Main article: 20th Century Animation § History

Before Fox started its family division, 20th Century Animation was known as Fox Family Films, as one of four film divisions of 20th Century Fox under executive John Matoian. The division was planned to produce six feature films a year as part of a plan to produce more films per year overall.[2] Fox senior vice president of production Chris Meledandri was transferred into the unit as executive vice president in March 1994 after having been hired the previous year.[3] The week of May 6, 1994, Fox Family announced the hiring of Don Bluth and Gary Goldman for a new $100 million animation studio[4] which began construction that year in Phoenix, Arizona. In three years, the animation studio would produce and release its first film, Anastasia.[5] In September 1994, Matoian was promoted by Rupert Murdoch to head up the Fox network.[6] Meledandri was selected to head up the unit in 1994.[7]

It produced live-action films such as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995), Dunston Checks In (1996) and Home Alone 3. By August 1997, Fox Family had decreased the number of live-action films.[5] R.L. Stine agreed with Fox Family Films in January 1998 for a film adaptation of the Goosebumps book franchise with Tim Burton producing, but it never came to fruition.[8]

After the success of Anastasia, Fox Family Films was renamed to Fox Animation Studios, later 20th Century Fox Animation, and simply 20th Century Animation.

History

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On October 30, 2017, Morrison was transferred from her post as president of 20th Century Fox Animation, the prior Fox Family Films, to be president of a newly created 20th Century Fox division, Fox Family, which as a mandate similar to Fox Family Films. During this time, the president of the division also picked up supervision of a Bob's Burgers film[9] and some existing deals with animation producers, including Tonko House.[10] With the sale of 21st Century Fox to Disney in March 2019, rights to The Dam Keeper feature animated film returned to Tonko House.[11]

After the Disney acquisition in 2019, the company was renamed to 20th Century Family in 2020 to avoid confusion with Fox Corporation. On March 12, 2020, Morrison was named president, Streaming, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production to oversee live action development and production of Walt Disney Pictures and 20th Century Studios for Disney+.[12] Lisa Fragner, who would later become Vice-President of Development at Disney Television Animation, secured the rights to adapt the 2013 book, Better Nate Than Ever, as a feature film to be developed under the division.[13]

Productions

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Released films

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# Title Release date Ref(s) Co-production with
1 Better Nate Than Ever April 1, 2022 [13] Walt Disney Pictures[a], Marc Platt Productions

In development

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  • The Prom Goer's Interstellar Excursion based film, co-produced with Chernin Entertainment[14]
  • Paper Lanterns live-action/animated family film written by Jonny Sun and co-produced with Chernin Entertainment[15]
  • The Garden live-action/CGI musical film based on book of Genesis's The Garden of Eden and co-produced with Franklin Entertainment[16]

Notes

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  1. ^ The film was originally produced by 20th Century Studios, but was released under Walt Disney Pictures.

References

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  1. ^ "20th Century Studios Family | Home". Archived from the original on 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  2. ^ O'Steen, Kathleen. "Matoian firmed at Fox family unit". Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  3. ^ O'Steen, Kathleen (March 28, 1994). "Meledandri joins Fox family film wing". Variety. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  4. ^ Kaye, Jeff (May 6, 1994). "Company Town : Fox Heats Up the Animation Wars : Movies: Heavyweight Don Bluth discusses the deal that will bring him and Gary Goldman home from Ireland". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 3, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Petrikin, Chris (February 18, 1998). "Fox renamed that toon". Variety. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  6. ^ Cerone, Daniel Howard (July 4, 1995). "A More Grown-Up Look for Fox : Television: With new entertainment president John Matoian and a powerful distribution system, the fourth network plans to expand its audience". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  7. ^ Lang, Brent (November 1, 2018). "How Chris Meledandri Became the Most Powerful Man in Animation". Variety. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2019. While Meledandri might have been a late convert to the genre, his big break came in 1994, when he was tapped to head Fox's family division,...
  8. ^ Flamm, Matthew (January 9, 1998). "Between The Lines". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  9. ^ Lang, Brent (October 30, 2017). "Vanessa Morrison Named Head of Fox Family in Animation Division Overhaul". Variety. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  10. ^ Kilday, Gregg (October 30, 2017). "Vanessa Morrison Takes on New Role as President, Fox Family". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  11. ^ Flores, Terry (March 4, 2019). "Animation Studio Tonko House Unveils Development Slate". Variety. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  12. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 12, 2020). "Steve Asbell Takes Over 20th Century Studios Post Emma Watts; Vanessa Morrison Named Walt Disney Studios Streaming Production President". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  13. ^ a b White, Peter (November 22, 2021). "Disney Television Animation Hires Lisa Fragner & Promotes Elizabeth Waybright Taylor". Variety.
  14. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 28, 2018). "Fox Family Sets Chris McCoy's 'The Prom Goer's Interstellar Excursion' Pic". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  15. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (November 27, 2018). "Fox, Chernin Entertainment Tap Jonny Sun To Pen 'Paper Lanterns' Hybrid Film". Deadline. Penske Business Media. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  16. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (January 24, 2019). "DeVon Franklin & Fox Family Putting A New Spin On The Garden of Eden Story". Deadline. Penske Business Media. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
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