20th Century Family

20th Century Family is a family-oriented production division associated with 20th Century Studios. The division was created in 2017 as Fox Family, reviving and broadening the role previously performed by Fox Family Films, an earlier family and animation unit within 20th Century Fox. Its remit covers family-friendly theatrical films, television programming, mixed live-action and animated productions, animated holiday specials derived from film properties, and feature-film adaptations of television programs. The division operates within the wider 20th Century Studios production structure rather than as an independently listed company. Its portfolio is connected to established entertainment properties including Ice Age, Rio, Night at the Museum, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Anastasia, and Home Alone. These properties give the unit access to animation, live-action family comedy, adventure, holiday entertainment, and adaptations aimed at children and multigenerational audiences. The unit's historical background reaches back to Fox Family Films, one of four film divisions established at 20th Century Fox during the 1990s. Under executive John Matoian, the earlier division was intended to contribute six feature films annually to a broader plan to increase the studio's output. Chris Meledandri joined the unit as executive vice president in 1994, while Don Bluth and Gary Goldman were recruited to establish a major animation operation in Phoenix, Arizona. That effort produced Anastasia, which was released in 1997 and became the most visible early success associated with the Fox family and animation strategy. The earlier unit also produced or participated in live-action family films such as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, Dunston Checks In, and Home Alone 3. Following the success of Anastasia, Fox Family Films was renamed Fox Animation Studios and subsequently developed into 20th Century Fox Animation, later known as 20th Century Animation. In October 2017, the studio created a new Fox Family division and transferred production executive Vanessa Morrison from 20th Century Fox Animation to lead it. The new division was intended to handle a broader family slate, including live-action, animation, mixed-media projects, film adaptations of television properties, and selected producer relationships. The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox in March 2019 changed the division's corporate setting. In 2020, it was renamed 20th Century Family to distinguish it from Fox Corporation and to align it with the post-acquisition 20th Century Studios identity. In March 2020, Morrison moved to a Disney-wide position as president of Streaming, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, overseeing live-action development and production for Disney Pictures and 20th Century Studios projects intended for Disney+. The division also continued to be associated with development work, including the feature adaptation of Tim Federle's Better Nate Than Ever, whose rights had been secured by Disney Television Animation development executive Lisa Fragner. The division's later development slate has included a film based on The Prom Goer's Interstellar Excursion, the live-action/animated family project Paper Lanterns written by Jonny Sun, and The Garden, a live-action/CGI musical inspired by the Garden of Eden and co-produced with Franklin Entertainment. In April 2025, Disney announced that it would not renew its lease with Fox Corporation for the Fox Studio Lot in Century City and would leave the lot business at the end of 2025. The announced consequence for 20th Century Family was a relocation to Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. Publicly available information does not establish a separate current president, standalone financial results, or an independent corporate listing for the division.

20th Century Family developed from the family-film and animation activities of 20th Century Fox. Before the current division was formed, Fox Family Films operated as one of four film divisions at the studio. The unit was associated with an effort to increase annual production, with a stated plan to produce six feature films per year. John Matoian led the division during its early planning period, and Chris Meledandri joined as executive vice president in 1994. A major part of the earlier strategy was the creation of an animation studio. In 1994, Fox Family announced that Don Bluth and Gary Goldman had been hired for a new $100 million animation operation in Phoenix, Arizona. The studio's first feature was Anastasia, released in 1997. The film became an important commercial and brand milestone for Fox's family and animation activities. The earlier unit also released live-action family projects, including Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie in 1995, Dunston Checks In in 1996, and Home Alone 3. Fox Family reduced the number of live-action films it was developing by 1997. A proposed adaptation of the Goosebumps book series was announced in 1998 with R. L. Stine involved and Tim Burton attached as producer, but the project was not completed. After Anastasia, Fox Family Films was renamed Fox Animation Studios and later became 20th Century Fox Animation, eventually operating under the shorter 20th Century Animation name. On October 30, 2017, 20th Century Fox created a new Fox Family division and appointed Vanessa Morrison, then president of 20th Century Fox Animation, to lead it. The division's remit was broader than a conventional animation label. It included family live-action films, animation, mixed-media productions, television-related feature projects, holiday specials based on film properties, and selected producer arrangements. It also supervised a Bob's Burgers film project and certain existing producer deals, including work involving Tonko House. The acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney in March 2019 altered those arrangements; the rights to The Dam Keeper feature project returned to Tonko House. In 2020, after the acquisition, Fox Family was renamed 20th Century Family. The change separated the division from Fox Corporation and connected it more clearly to Disney's 20th Century Studios brand. On March 12, 2020, Morrison left the division's direct leadership role to become president of Streaming, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production. Her new responsibilities included live-action development and production for Walt Disney Pictures and 20th Century Studios projects intended for Disney+. The division's development work included Better Nate Than Ever, based on the 2013 book by Tim Federle, after Lisa Fragner secured adaptation rights for a feature project. Later listed projects included a film based on The Prom Goer's Interstellar Excursion, Paper Lanterns, a live-action and animated family film written by Jonny Sun, and The Garden, a live-action/CGI musical based on the Garden of Eden and co-produced with Franklin Entertainment. In April 2025, Disney announced that it would not renew its lease with Fox Corporation and would leave the Fox Studio Lot business in Century City at the end of 2025. The announced relocation of 20th Century Family to Walt Disney Studios in Burbank reflects the division's continued integration into Disney's studio infrastructure. Available reference material does not identify a separate current head, standalone financial reporting, or an independent stock-market listing for 20th Century Family.

1. 2025Planned relocation to Walt Disney Studios in Burbank

   Following Disney's decision not to renew its Fox Studio Lot lease, the division was slated to relocate from the Century City lot business to Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.

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2. 2020Name changed to 20th Century Family

   The division adopted its current name after the Disney acquisition to distinguish itself from Fox Corporation.

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3. 2019Division enters the Disney studio structure

   Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox changed the ownership and corporate setting of the division.

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4. 2017Fox Family re-established

   A new Fox Family division was created within 20th Century Fox, with Vanessa Morrison appointed president.

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5. 1997Anastasia released

   Anastasia became the first feature associated with the Phoenix animation operation and a major milestone in Fox's family and animation strategy.

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6. 1995Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie released

   The earlier Fox family-film operation released a live-action family feature based on the television property.

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7. 1994Fox develops an expanded family and animation operation

   Fox Family Films pursued a higher-output production plan, Chris Meledandri joined as executive vice president, and Don Bluth and Gary Goldman were recruited to establish an animation studio in Phoenix.

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A studio family-entertainment label built around recognizable film and television properties, animation, live-action family storytelling, and projects intended for theatrical and streaming distribution.

• Ice AgeAnimated film franchise

  An animated family franchise listed among the properties overseen by 20th Century Family. Its identity is built around prehistoric-animal characters and broad comedy-adventure storytelling for children and multigenerational audiences.

• RioAnimated film franchise

  An animated family property associated with the division. The franchise combines animal characters, music, comedy, and adventure within a family-oriented feature-film format.

• Night at the MuseumLive-action family film franchise

  A family adventure-comedy property overseen among the division's established franchises. Its format centers on imaginative museum-based action and accessible humor suitable for broad audiences.

• Diary of a Wimpy KidFamily film franchise

  A family-oriented screen franchise based on the popular book property. It represents the division's interest in adapting recognizable youth literature for feature entertainment.

• AnastasiaAnimated feature film1997

  The 1997 animated feature was the first film produced by the Phoenix animation operation established for Fox Family Films. It became a defining milestone in the historical development of Fox's family and animation activities.

• Home AloneFamily film franchise

  A family comedy franchise listed among the properties overseen by 20th Century Family. The property forms part of the division's catalog of established, broadly recognizable family entertainment brands.

• The Prom Goer's Interstellar ExcursionFamily feature film

  A listed development project based on The Prom Goer's Interstellar Excursion. Public reference material identifies the project but provides no confirmed release date or further production details.

• Paper LanternsLive-action/animated family film

  A planned family feature combining live action and animation, written by Jonny Sun. The available reference material does not provide a release date or detailed production status beyond its development listing.

• The GardenLive-action/CGI musical film

  A planned live-action and CGI musical inspired by the Garden of Eden and co-produced with Franklin Entertainment. No release date is established in the supplied reference material.

• 2025Relocation from the Fox Studio Lot businessStrategy

  Disney announced that it would not renew its lease with Fox Corporation and would leave the Fox Studio Lot business in Century City at the end of 2025.

  What changed. 20th Century Family was announced as relocating to Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.

  Aftermath. The move is expected to further integrate the division's operations with Disney's studio campus, although the supplied material does not describe operational or financial effects.

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• 2020Renaming from Fox Family to 20th Century FamilyStrategy

  The Disney acquisition of 21st Century Fox created a need to distinguish the studio division from Fox Corporation.

  What changed. The division was renamed 20th Century Family and placed within the Disney-era 20th Century Studios framework.

  Aftermath. The new name aligned the unit with Disney's ownership while preserving its family-entertainment mandate.

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• 2017Creation of a new Fox Family divisionStrategy

  20th Century Fox sought a dedicated unit for family-oriented live-action, animated, mixed-media, and television-related film projects.

  What changed. The studio established Fox Family and transferred Vanessa Morrison from 20th Century Fox Animation to serve as its president.

  Aftermath. The division supervised family properties, a Bob's Burgers film project, and selected producer relationships before the Disney acquisition changed its corporate setting.

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• 2025Disney announced departure from the Fox Studio Lot business

  Disney announced that it would not renew its lease with Fox Corporation and would leave the Fox Studio Lot business in Century City at the end of 2025, with 20th Century Family relocating to Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.

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• 2020Fox Family renamed 20th Century Family

  Following the Disney acquisition, the division adopted the 20th Century Family name to avoid confusion with Fox Corporation.

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• 2020Vanessa Morrison moved to a Disney streaming production role

  Vanessa Morrison became president of Streaming, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, overseeing live-action development and production for Disney Pictures and 20th Century Studios projects for Disney+.

  Leadership change
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• 2019Disney acquisition changed the division's corporate context

  The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of 21st Century Fox brought the family division into the Disney studio structure.

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• 2017Fox Family division created under 20th Century Fox

  20th Century Fox created a new Fox Family division and appointed Vanessa Morrison, formerly president of 20th Century Fox Animation, to lead it.

  Leadership changeOther
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1. 20th Century Family