Blue Sky Studios' unexpected $46.3 million opening weekend for "Ice Age" reshaped Fox's animation ambitions overnight.

This CGI triumph signaled Fox's serious entry into the competitive animated feature arena, long dominated by giants like Disney and Pixar.

The studio is already channeling this momentum into "Robots," a new venture directed by Chris Wedge and based on William Joyce's concepts.

Fox Animation president Chris Meledandri confirms extensive visual development is underway, with Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel drafting the screenplay.

While "Robots" wasn't contingent on "Ice Age's" performance, its success provides powerful acceleration.

Fox's patience in animation faced severe tests - from the moderate "Anastasia" to the disastrous "Titan A.E." and "Monkeybone."

Quietly, the studio placed its bets on Blue Sky, a modest New York-based effects house.

Their $65 million prehistoric comedy about animals protecting a human child proved a remarkably cost-effective blockbuster.

Blue Sky's origins trace back to commercial effects work and Paramount/MTV's "Joe's Apartment," where they animated cockroaches.

The 1998 Oscar-winning short "Bunny," created by co-founder Chris Wedge, ultimately captured Fox's attention.

After acquiring the "Ice Age" script in 1998 and greenlighting it in 1999, Fox endured 120 weeks of development.

Associate producer John Bunkin recalls initial studio nervousness about Blue Sky's capacity, though consistent progress eased concerns.

Industry ripples were immediate.

Sony accelerated "Astro Boy," while ILM eyed Universal's "Curious George" or "Where the Wild Things Are."

Simultaneously, Disney announced layoffs of 250 traditional animators, highlighting CGI's market dominance.

Kleiser-Walczak president Jeff Kleiser noted his phones ringing nonstop, with financiers suddenly keen on CGI projects.

He observed, "The success confirms CGI films beyond Pixar and PDI can thrive - only 'Final Fantasy' stumbled, due to story issues."

Fox's marketing strategy earned praise, strategically placing trailers before "Harry Potter" and "Jurassic Park III" to build family awareness.

While an "Ice Age" sequel isn't guaranteed, Fox executives Tom Rothman and Jim Gianopulos actively explore the possibility.

Their support throughout the lengthy production proved crucial to transforming a White Plains effects shop into a major animation contender.

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