From Disney’s D23 Brazil event, the studio has announced that Ice Age 6 is on the way, from 20th Century Animation. Original voice stars Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary and Simon Pegg are all confirmed to return, with production underway.
The animated film franchise, which grossed $3.2 billion in global box office across five movies, has been largely on ice since Disney shuttered its origin studio Blue Sky in 2021, following its acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019, although a Scrat-less spinoff movie titled The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild was released as a Disney+ original in 2022.
Kicking off the successful prehistoric CG adventures, Ice Age was released in 2002, earning $383.3 million worldwide and an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. The pic was directed by Blue Sky Studios co-founder Chris Wedge (Oscar-winning short Bunny; Robots, Epic) and Brazilian-American animator Carlos Saldanha, who worked with the studio until its closure.
In addition to the core films, Ice Age became a cultural touchstone, drawing audiences with its unique blend of humor, family dynamics, and inventive prehistoric storytelling. Over the years, the series introduced a wide array of memorable characters like Diego the saber-tooth, Sid the lovable sloth, Ellie the mammoth, and of course, Buck the thrill-seeking weasel. Each character added new layers to the franchise, helping it remain fresh and engaging for nearly two decades.
The franchise also made an impact beyond just box office numbers. With its groundbreaking CG animation, Ice Age helped define early 2000s animated storytelling and solidified Blue Sky Studios as a major player in the animation world.
Fans have long cherished Scrat’s misadventures as the “face” of Ice Age, and the quirky squirrel’s pursuit of his elusive acorn became a globally recognized bit, adding to the series’ iconic status.
With Ice Age 6 now officially confirmed, fans can look forward to seeing their favorite characters brought back to life, along with fresh plotlines and comedic dynamics. Disney and 20th Century Animation are expected to put their mark on this new chapter, building on the legacy established by Blue Sky Studios while adapting it to modern audiences. Whether it will be in theaters or Disney+ remains to be seen, but Ice Age fans everywhere are excited for what’s next in the franchise.
