January 22, 2009 Gov. Rell praises Blue Sky Studios at grand opening Play video

(Brian Burnell, NECN: Greenwich, CT) - While the economy continues in recession, Connecticut can boast at least one company that is not only healthy but also growing. Largely thanks to Manny, Scrat, Diego and Sid the sloth.

Will Scrat ever get his paws on that acorn? That is largely up to these guys. This is Blue Sky Studios, a division of Twentieth Century Fox Animation, makers of the “Ice Age” movies. The animators are hard at work on “Ice Age 3”. Hard at work in new digs in Greenwich, Connecticut. The state introduced tax breaks for the film industry and Blue Sky has taken advantage. At the ribbon cutting the governor said she thought it was great a year ago when Blue Sky agreed to move in but she didn't know how great it would be.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell, R-Connecticut: Blue Sky continues to hire people and in this economy I think that's just amazing and good news.

The studio has more than 300 employees and room to expand. The so-called Hollywood East tax breaks make a difference.

Vanessa Morrison, President-Fox Animation: The tax breaks are always great and always we're appreciative of them and also appreciative of just the welcome that we got from the state, from the governor, from all the people you saw up there and we wanted to come to a place where we felt welcome.

The Hollywood East tax breaks went into effect about 2 years ago and in that time some 90 films have been shot in the state and that's great. But the former

Jim Amann, Former House Speaker: What you see here is production that is consistently and accurately and also long term will be continuing day after day. Not just 30-day shoots or 60-day shoots. They have 5 different productions going right now. It’s like an assembly line of work.

At the head of the line, as we mentioned, is “Ice Age 3”. Peter Paquette is working on getting Sid the sloth through a log. He calls the figure he's working with an animated puppet.

Peter Paquette, Blue Sky Studios Animator: The reason why I call it a puppet is because that's pretty much what it is. I have full control of everything that moves on him.

They are also working on some new characters... But you will have to go to the theatre to find out more.