Ice Age

An uneasy alliance forms when a gruff woolly mammoth named Manny saves a mischievous sloth named Sid from trouble, and the two encounter a desperate saber-toothed tiger named Diego who is hunting them. They discover a human baby abandoned on the frozen plain and decide to return him to his father, believing it is the only way to earn the baby's safety. As glaciers advance and predators circle, the trio must survive freezing winds, treacherous terrain, and their own clashing personalities. Through missteps and growing trust, they discover that family can be chosen, not just born, and that courage often means looking out for others rather than oneself. Though light on menace, the film never talks down to its audience, balancing wit with emotion as the trio learns to rely on each other. The humor comes from character clashes and the icy landscape itself.

Directed by Chris Wedge, Ice Age arrived in 2002 from Blue Sky Studios. It drew on an original screenplay by Michael Berg, Michael J. Wilson, and Peter Ackerman, and features the voices of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, and Denis Leary.

Its worldwide haul surpassed 383 million, with especially strong performance in global markets beyond the United States. The movie helped spark a merchandising wave and paved the way for a long running franchise.

Ice Age helped propel Blue Sky into a major player in computer animation and spawned a long running franchise with sequels and a TV spin off. Manny Sid and Diego became instantly recognizable icons of early 2000s family cinema, inspiring memes and toys.

Critics praised the movie for its humor, warmth, and accessible themes of friendship, cooperation, and family under pressure. The film balances slapstick with heart and sets a tone Blue Sky would carry into its subsequent installments, emphasizing teamwork, resilience, and choosing kinship over self interest.