Skydance Animation, formed in 2017, has slowly been building an impressive library of upcoming titles and bringing in some of the biggest names in the animation industry to work on them, including Disney musical maestro Alan Menken, acclaimed "Tomorrowland" director Brad Bird, and the director of the iconic "Cape Feare" episode of "The Simpsons," Rich Moore.

Now, after years in production, we're finally seeing the first footage for Skydance Animation's debut film, "Luck," which Apple TV+ will release this year. The film looks just like the kind of animated comedy you could picture Illumination Entertainment, which made the "Minions" movies, turning into a global phenomenon. Will Apple and Skydance be able to pull it off?
An Unfortunately Controversial Film

The brief trailer introduces us to a world in which a secret organization micro-manages all the luck in the world, both good and bad. You get hit in the face with a $100 bill? That was the work of a leprechaun sitting behind a desk somewhere. Drop the toilet paper and it rolls away from the office stall? A demonic goat creature with a sick sense of humor is responsible. It brings to mind another animated film with a similar secret-organization plot, 2016's "Storks," which was vastly underrated.

"Luck" stars Jane Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg, Eva Noblezada, Simon Pegg, Flula Borg, Lil Rel Howery, Colin O'Donoghue, John Ratzenberger, and Adelynn Spoon.

Sadly, it is hard to talk about "Luck" or be too excited about it without at least considering the controversy around it. In 2019, mere days after his contract with Disney expired, Skydance hired alleged sexual harasser John Lasseter to replace Bill Damaschke ("Kung Fu Panda," "How to Train Your Dragon") and run Skydance Animation. Just a few weeks later, Emma Thompson, who had been hired to voice a character in "Luck," resigned after refusing to work with Lasseter.

Then, in 2020, "Luck" director Alessandro Carloni ("Kung Fu Panda 3") was replaced with Peggy Holmes, who had worked on two of the Disney Fairies movies with Lasseter. Original screenwriters Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger were also quietly replaced by Kiel Murray, who wrote "Cars" for Lasseter.

Which side of the luck die "Luck" will fall on remains to be seen, but at the very least it's good to see Apple TV+ being clearly interested in becoming a big player in the animation landscape.

"Luck" will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on August 5, 2022.

    From Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation comes the story of Sam Greenfield, the unluckiest person in the world, who when she stumbles into the never-before-seen Land of Luck, sets out on a quest to bring some good luck home for her best friend. But with humans not allowed, her only chance is teaming up with the magical creatures who live there to do it.

From Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation comes the story of Sam Greenfield, the unluckiest person in the world, who when she stumbles into the never-before-seen Land of Luck, sets out on a quest to bring some good luck home for her best friend. But with humans not allowed, her only chance is teaming up with the magical creatures who live there to do it.