Computer animated movies were still a relative novelty in 2002. There were really only two production companies: Pixar and DreamWorks Animation. There was room in the market for a newcomer like Blue Sky Studios.

Special effects artists founded the company in 1987. They initially produced TV commercials for a wide range of products. In the mid-'90s, they moved to feature films, producing visuals for "Blade," "Armageddon" and "The X-Files."

Bing: More about 'Ice Age' | More about Blue Sky Studios

Everything changed in 1998, when Chris Wedge, one of Blue Sky's founders, made "Bunny." The bittersweet computer animated short won an Oscar, and its captivating visual style was enough for FOX to take a chance on Wedge for a feature.

Four years later, the result was "Ice Age."

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(20th Century FOX)