__NOTOC__ This is a list of unmade and unreleased animated projects by Sony Pictures Animation. Some of these films were or still are, in development limbo. These also include the co-productions the studio collaborated with in the past (i.e The Kerner Entertainment Company, Aardman Animations, The Jim Henson Company, Lord Miller Productions, Rovio Animation, and Base FX), as well as sequels to their franchises and one-off films. Contents: 2000s: 2001200220032004200520082009 2010s: 20102011201220132014201520182019 2020s: 2023 See alsoReferences

2000s 2001 Series Title DescriptionFeature filmUntitled Astro Boy filmJust as early as 2001, long before the animation studio was founded in 2002, there were plans to do an entirely CGI film based on the Japanese manga series. It was going to be produced by Don Murphy, Lisa Henson, and Kristine Belson with a potential release date of 2004, and it would have been a collaboration with both Sony and Jim Henson Productions. Nothing came out eventually, and it would have been the first film for Sony Pictures Animation long before Open Season. Years later, Astro Boy ended up getting a computer-animated film released in 2009, with production done by Hong Kong-based Imagi Animation Studios instead.

2002 Series Title Description Feature film Untitled Guiley/Schneiderman films In July 2002, when Sony Pictures Animation opened its doors, screenwriters Derek Guiley and David Schneiderman had pitched two separate untitled animated projects to the studio.

2003 Series Title Description Feature film Tam Lin In May 2003, Sony Pictures Animation announced an adaptation of the Scottish fairy tale Tam Lin, with Roger Allers and Brenda Chapman as directors, but one year later, Allers was later moved to co-direct Open Season. Chapman later moved to Pixar to co-direct Brave. Feature film and television series The ChubbChubbs! A feature-length animated film and a television series based on the short The ChubbChubbs! were in development in 2003, at Sony Pictures Animation. That same year in October, Dan Wilson and Dave Gilbreth were hired to write the film's screenplay.

2004 Series Title Description Feature film Big Nasty In August 2004, Sony Pictures Animation hired Don. D. Scott to write a computer-animated musical film entitled Big Nasty that involves micro-animals. Additionally, Scott was also producing the film through his production company, The Bridge, along with Sean Bailey. Penney Finkelman Cox and Nate Hopper were attached as producers. In February 2007, Cox left Sony Pictures Animation, but she remained as a producer for the project. Character designer Sylvain Deboissy posted on ArtStation with a description confirming that the project was cancelled.

2005 Series Title Description Feature film Neanderthals In October 2005, Jon Favreau was hired to write, direct and produce an animated film based on his original concept that was to take place in pre-historic times. In January 2008, Favreau told MTV News that he was ready to begin work on the project and was optimistic to do motion capture animation tests before the 2007–08 writers' strike. As of 2010, some concept art was shown online.

2008 Series Title Description Feature film Pooch Café In January 2008, Pooch Café author Paul Gilligan revealed on his website that Sony Pictures Animation has signed to make a computer-animated feature film based on the Pooch Café strip. Gilligan then wrote several story treatments and screenplay drafts. In October 2011, Kelly Asbury was hired to write the next script draft. In April 2013, on a Twitter Q/A session, Gilligan revealed that the Pooch Cafe film was shelved by a director whom he refused to name.

2009 Series Title Description Feature film Changelings In 2009, according to fantasy illustrator Jean-Baptiste Monge, Sony Pictures Animation had asked him to design some creatures for a fantasy animated film. Brian Pimental was set to direct it and the film was going to be about mischievous creatures that lived in a forest and invaded a house in that wood. The Familiars In June 2009, Sony Pictures Animation acquired the rights to The Familiars. Doug Sweetland was set to direct it and was later joined with Fergal Reilly to co-direct the film, but in 2013, he left to co-direct The Angry Birds Movie. The same year in January, Sweetland later joined Warner Animation Group to ultimately direct Storks.

2010s 2010 Series Title Description Feature film Harold and the Purple Crayon In February 2010, Sony Pictures Animation and Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment were developing a computer-animated film adaptation of Harold and the Purple Crayon. It would have been produced by Smith and James Lassiter, and written by Josh Klausner. Dallas Clayton was later brought to write the film. The film moved to Columbia Pictures and Davis Entertainment and was released on August 2, 2024. RollerCoaster Tycoon In 2010, Sony Pictures Animation was developing a film adaptation of the RollerCoaster Tycoon series, with filmmaker Harald Zwart executive producing and possibly directing. Flower Power According to character designer Sylvain Deboissy, Sony Pictures Animation had an idea for an animated fantasy film set in the 1960s, named Flower Power. On his blog, however, the project is cancelled. Futuropolis In December 2010, Sony Pictures Animation had entered a four-picture deal with Gotham Group beginning with an animated feature film. Based on his original story, Stephan Franck was attached to direct and David Reynolds was to write the script. Popeye By March 2010, Sony Pictures Animation was developing a 3D computer-animated Popeye film, with Avi Arad producing it. Jay Scherick and David Ronn, the writers of The Smurfs, were brought to write the screenplay for the film. In June 2012, Genndy Tartakovsky was hired to direct the feature, which he planned to make "as artful and unrealistic as possible". Sony originally scheduled the film for release date of September 26, 2014, but was pushed back to 2015. Sony Pictures Animation later updated its slate, scheduling the film for 2016, and Tartakovsky was hired as the director of Hotel Transylvania 2, which he was directing concurrently with Popeye. Tartakovsky revealed an "animation test" footage in September 2014. Despite the well-received test footage, Tartakovsky left the project, and would instead direct Can You Imagine?, which was based on his own original idea, but it was scrapped. T.J. Fixman was brought to write the film in 2016. In 2020, the project moved at King Features Syndicate, with Tartakovsky returning to helm the film, but in July 2022, Tartakovsky confirmed the project was no longer in development. On July 22, an animatic of the entire film was leaked online, but it wouldn't reach mainstream attention until 4 days later.

2011 Series Title Description Feature film Untitled Lima/Sussman Project In 2011, Enchanted director and writer Kevin Lima and David Sussman were hired to produce a live-action/animated project for Sony Pictures Animation. Sussman was to write the film, and Lima to direct and produce the film. Muncle Trogg In March 2011, Sony Pictures Animation acquired the film rights to Janet Foxley's children's book Muncle Trogg. The story is set in a community of giants who live in a volcano and centers on a tiny giant (which makes him human-sized) laughed at for his size. He ends up saving his family in a story that involves a solar-powered dragon, a disgraced brother and a kidnapped child. Jane Startz was set to executive produce, while Kane Lee was assigned to produce the project. How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack In April 2011, Sony Pictures Animation announced their first R-rated project, an adaptation of Chuck Sambuchino's book How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack: Defend Yourself When the Lawn Warriors Strike (And They Will). It would have been produced by Robert Zemeckis. Chad Damiani and J. P. Lavin were hired as writers in November of the same year. Instant Karma In April 2011, Sony Pictures Animation picked up the rights to Instant Karma, a comedy fantasy from Paul Hernandez, who wrote the script and was attached to direct what would be a live-action/CGI hybrid film. The film was to follow a misguided safecracker from New Orleans through his life lessons from a near-death experience, only to find himself reincarnated as a fly. He does good deeds to improve his karma, and moves up the food chain through various types of animals, trying to get back to his human body and the woman he loves. Chickenhare By July 2011, Sony Pictures Animation and Dark Horse Comics were adapting the Chickenhare series into an animated feature film. During 2012 and 2013, Grine revealed on the official Chickenhare Facebook page that he was impressed with screenplays and expressed a hope about the film to be made, but in January 2016, Grine wrote on his Twitter profile that the film was cancelled. The film was brought back in production in February 2021, known as Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness, with Ben Stassen and Matthieu Zeller serving as directors and Dave Collard writing the screenplay. It was co-produced by Sony Pictures International Productions and nWave Pictures, and was released on February 16, 2022. The Cat Burglars Aardman's stop-motion animated heist action-adventure black comedy film directed by Steve Box, about six cat burglars that steal milk, and their plans to pull off 'the great milk float robbery' before some humans neuter them. The Pirates! Sequel to The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! By August 2011, Aardman Animations was working on a sequel idea for The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!, and by June 2012, a story had been prepared, awaiting Sony to back the project. Eventually, Sony decided not to support the project due to insufficient international earnings. According to director Peter Lord, "it got close, but not quite close enough. I was all fired up for doing more. It was such fun to do! We actually have a poster for The Pirates! In an Adventure with Cowboys!. That would have been just great".

2012