Greenwich digital media firm Blue Sky Studios celebrated Monday in Hartford the unveiling of its first digital animation movie completely produced in Connecticut.
Touting the state’s film tax credit program, which was the primary reason Blue Sky moved its operations from New York to Connecticut a few years ago, company executives discussed the premier of Rio, a comedy-adventure digital film that follows the travels of a domesticated Macaw who travels to Rio de Janeiro.
The film, which premiers everywhere April 15, features a voice cast by Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, Jemaine Clement, Leslie Mann, Tracy Morgan, will.i.am, George Lopez and Jamie Foxx.
Blue Sky Studios, which is also behind the successful Ice Age digital animation series, produced Rio entirely in Connecticut and held special advance screenings for the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford.
Since moving to Connecticut two years the company has grown from about 280 employees to 400 workers who make an average salary of $100,000.
Former Sen. Chris Dodd, who is the new head of the Motion Pictures Association, and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy spoke at the event held at the Connecticut Science Center Monday afternoon.Â
The event was in part a demonstration of the effectiveness of Connecticut’s film tax credit program, which has become a political hot potato in recent years with the state dealing with a massive budget deficit. Some groups have called for the curtailing of the program, arguing that it is too much of a give away to the industry. In his budget proposal, Malloy has recommended some changes to the program, including restricting film industry  incentives for work not performed in Connecticut.
