Paramount Pictures to Form Paramount Animation

It looks like Rango inspired more than just those townsfolk in the film of the same name. Paramount Pictures, fresh off the success of the Johnny Depp talkin' lizard flick Rango, is forming their own animation division - Paramount Animation.

As it is now, the only animated films Paramount sees are usually the work of DreamWorks Animation, which they have a distribution deal with. That deal, which covered the recent Kung Fu Panda 2 and will cover the upcoming Shrek spin-off Puss in Boots, is set to expire in 2012. 

The studio is looking to release the first Paramount Animation title by 2014, though there's no details at the moment as to what the film will be. Given Rango's success both critically and commercially, it's not out of the question for that film to be a sequel. When your film makes $241 million on a $135 million budget, it's easy to greenlight another go around.

I, for one, welcome this new combatant into the animated arena. As it stands now, Pixar is the reigning champion (and has been for quite some time) and studios like the aforementioned DreamWorks Animation rarely put a dent in the big P. Not that I want any harm to come to Pixar, I love them to death, but I think some healthy competition will do everyone some good.