Skip to main content

Blue Sky Studios

Blue Sky Studios

Blue Sky Studios

Blue Sky Studios

Blue Sky Studios is one of the world’s leading 3D animation studios acquired by Disney and consolidated under 20th Century Fox.

(SCROLL) See all projects
disney animation studios
(01) Project
Overview

Blue Sky Studios is one of the leading 3D animation studios alongside Disney and Pixar.

Blue Sky Studios are award-winning animators, artists, and storytellers of Ice Age, Rio, Ferdinand, Robots, Epic, and Spies in Disguise. As a merger with Disney® and 20th Century Fox took hold, Blue Sky needed to grow its identity. Motto facilitated leadership towards a new position, created an EVP to attract top talent, increased international brand recognition, and captained the brand to new horizons.

(Details)
  • Engagement Fullsail®
  • Type Rebrand
  • Category Animation
  • Services Strategy, Identity, Activation
  • Model B2B/B2C
(02) Challenge

Create a brand that attracts top artists, navigate a Disney® merger, and increase visibility.

As one of the world’s leading animation studios, Blue Sky has been making iconic films for over 30 years––Ice Age, Rio and Ferdinand, and Spies in Disguise, to name a few. But while many folks know their famous movies, Blue Sky has never been a household name like competitors Pixar® and Dreamworks®. As a purpose-driven animation studio committed to fearless filmmaking, Blue Sky creates real, relatable characters and stories that reflect what it means to be human; they’ve captured viewers’ hearts worldwide.

(03) Motto Method®

Our unique rebranding process led Blue Sky through the Disney acquisition and beyond.

Rebranding requires a tried and true methodical process. The Motto Method® needed to help Blue Sky navigate a significant acquisition, frame the brand for the future, and re-center the brand amidst a new horizon.

Words from the client

Let's work together

“The brand identity work for Blue Sky is outstanding. Thank you for your timeliness and professionalism; everyone is so pleased.”

Immersion Workshop (1:00)
(04) Motto Method®
/ Immersion

Align executive leaders across the C-Suite at every level of the organization.

Motto® interviewed stakeholders to understand the general sentiment. Next, we tailored on-site workshops with the executive leadership team at Blue Sky HQ. We went behind the scenes, immersed ourselves in the culture, and learned how animations are made.

(WHAT WE DID)
  • Vision-Casting
  • Trend Audit
  • 1:1 Executive Stakeholder Interviews
  • Strategic Workshops
  • Competitive Audit
(05) Motto Method®
/ Strategy

Attract the best animation talent in the world.

While most US movie industry is based in Hollywood, Blue Sky’s headquarters is in woodsy Greenwich, CT. Luring top talent from the glitz and glamour to the east coast posed a challenge. Though 600+ loyal employees work there, Blue Sky needed to attract new talent to that culture. We then created a Culture Map to show potential recruits and industry insiders all the fantastic things happening at Blue Sky.

(WHAT WE DID)
  • Purpose and Vision Language
  • Positioning Statement
  • Idea Worth Rallying Around™
  • Strategic Narrative
  • Core Values and Behaviors
(06) Motto Method®
/ Visual Identity

A brand system that can entertain audiences worldwide.

Blue Sky Studios is committed to bold choices in family animation that give its storytellers the freedom to create original films. We knew the brand needed to support the bold stories that Blue Sky tells. From its roots in transforming a prehistoric squirrel into a pop culture icon, the brand continuously draws from a legacy of revolutionary technology and brave storytelling to inspire all that comes next.

(WHAT WE DID)
  • Vision Boards
  • Logo System
  • Color and Type System
  • Graphic Elements
  • Art Direction
  • Brand Guidelines
(07) Motto Method®
/ Social

Create a social strategy that showcases the studio culture, improves recruitment, and grows the audience.

Whether sharing production art, highlighting movies, or profiling employees, we wanted to share the culture of Blue Sky. With a strong focus on recruitment and building out Instagram and LinkedIn social, we met talent where they consume content.

We conducted a Social Immersion Workshop and shared our new strategy directly with 100 employees at Blue Sky; we aimed to create an environment where everyone was excited to contribute in a meaningful way. From unique hashtags to a new social strategy and posting cadence, we led each month’s social media assets and provided monthly metrics to demonstrate performance.

(WHAT WE DID)
  • Social Immersion Workshop
  • Social Strategy
  • Social Content Cadence
  • Social Media Assets
  • Social Media Guidelines
(08) Impact Created

Grew all social channels and platform saturation by 300%.

Our team created a powerful force across social media by creating channel-specific strategies that speak to industry insiders and film enthusiasts. We created content series like #FemaleFilmmakerFriday and #DeskOfTheMonth that showcase the magical inclusivity and creativity across the office. We held AMAs and giveaways that engaged excited fans.

  • 3x impressions ~90k to > 300k
  • Tripled Frequency
  • 160% Increase in favorites
  • 460% Increase in comments

Are you ready to rally around your big idea?

Let's work together