Blue Sky has produced many animated films, but Ice Age is a treasure trove that has spawned sequels, shorts, and animated TV specials. Since its first release in 2002, Ice Age animated films have been a huge success with a value of $6 billion.
However, this precious treasure had to end due to Blue Sky’s unstable economy. Since being acquired by Disney for $71.3 billion in 2019, Blue Sky has only managed to launch one Ice Age franchise, titled The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild (2022). This movie is also the closing of a series of Ice Age franchises that always succeed in shaking the stomach.
The adventure ends with Blue Sky and Scrat, the squirrel character who finally finds the eek seed palace through The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild (2022). This latest sequel can be said to wrap up the ending on a special note, as it is a tear-jerking farewell in a way that only this franchise can achieve.
Ice Age, The Great Idea
Set in prehistoric times, Ice Age combines adventure, friendship and comedy. Three different animals, Manny (Mammoth), Sid (Sloth), and Diego (Tiger) must struggle to face various challenges in the ice age.
The Ice Age movie franchise is one of the most famous animated films in various countries. This franchise gave birth to various iconic characters that are quite memorable for the audience. The collaboration between stunning cinematography against the backdrop of the ice age and slapstick humor provides an extraordinary experience.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) is the most epic cinematography in the Ice Age film franchise. The underworld was filled with dinosaurs and the green jungle became a soothing sight for the eyes.
It seems that there is no need to doubt cinematography problems, although the humor given is sometimes quite crisp, but overall it is quite good like the humor of Scrat who keeps looking for acorns and always fails to get them. It’s funny, but it’s not funny when he’s looking for it in space and causes an incredibly gripping natural phenomenon in the Ice Age: Collision Course (2016).
It’s a relief, however, to see Scrat find an acorn palace, albeit a ruined one thanks to his greed. The iconic squirrel is obsessed with acorns and has become a signature opening symbol in every Ice Age movie. Scrat’s presence gives this franchisee a special appeal, Scrat and his endless obsession are always anticipated in every franchise.
No less mesmerizing, the three friends showed their fangs in Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012). Their chaotic and hilarious action succeeded in delivering epic moments, especially during an unexpected battle with a pirate captain.
From the first movie to the last, Ice Age has no significant character development. The three of them seem to remain the same and continue to face different problems.
Still the best Ice Age (2002) among other Ice Age franchises. It deals with a hero-like rescue for a human baby who was accidentally abandoned. Friendship, cooperation, and sympathy are key in this first movie.
Just Spin-Off
The question is no longer how great the Ice Age once was, but whether it ended at the right point. The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild (2022) feels more like a light epilogue than the emotional climax of a major franchise. As a closing chapter, it is not entirely unsuccessful, it provides symbolic closure for Scrat and his obsession and yet it does not fully satisfy as a farewell to the entire Ice Age universe.
Here lies the classic dilemma of a successful franchise: continuing the story risks overuse and a loss of its magic, while ending it too soon leaves a lingering sense of incompleteness. If Ice Age were ever to return, the most reasonable path would not be a direct sequel, but limited side stories focusing on supporting characters for fan service of Scrat, Buck, or even the dinosaur underworld without undermining the core arcs of Manny, Sid, and Diego, which have long been complete.
Compared to other cross-generational animated franchises such as Toy Story or Shrek, the strength of Ice Age does not lie in complex character development, but in the simplicity of its premise, its universal slapstick humor, and its ability to appeal to all ages without excessive sentimentality. It may not reach the emotional depth of Toy Story, but its consistency as light, humorous, and iconic family entertainment over two decades makes Ice Age a treasure in a different sense, not because it constantly evolves, but because it has managed to preserve its identity. For that reason, allowing the Ice Age to end rather than forcing a repetitive continuation may be the most mature decision to protect a legacy already cherished by generations.
Source: Hollywood Reporter, ScreenRant
