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A leaked Sony email reveals part of the decision-making process that led Sony executives to hire Kristine Belson as the head of their animation division.

When you think of countries that are known for their animation, Brazil is probably not among the first that comes to mind. However, the country has nearly a century-long history of producing animation, and while historically most of the animation they have made hasn't been seen outside of its borders, there have been notable contributions to the art form throughout the country’s history. With the animation industry growing quickly in Brazil—they are ranked seventh for countries that visit Cartoon Brew most often—it is a great time to explore the country's animation legacy.

Veteran Blue Sky director Carlos Saldanha (Rio, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Rio 2) is currently in negotiations to take over the direction of 20th Century Fox’s sci-fi picture Rust. The film’s original director, Joe Cornish, recently left the production for unspecified reasons.

The E.T.-esque film, based on a recent graphic novel by Royden Lepp, is described by the Wrap as the story of “a family of farmers struggling in the wake of a devastating world war [whose] lives are changed when Jet Jones, a young boy with a jetpack, crashes into their barn while being pursued by a giant decommissioned war robot.”

Saldanha has been with Blue Sky since its earliest features. He co-directed the studio’s first two films—Ice Age and Robots. As animation fans, we can only hope that this is a mid-life crisis of the kind experienced by Andrew Stanton and Rob Minkoff, and that Saldanha will return to animation after getting the live-action bug out of his system. Because, seriously, what sane person would give up the opportunity to direct Ice Age 6?

Rio 2, directed by Carlos Saldanha and produced by Blue Sky Studios, will be released in April 2014. Here is the official synopsis released this morning with this teaser:

The entire cast of the animated smash Rio returns in Rio 2, and they are joined by a new flock of top actors and musical talents. Rich with grandeur, character, color and music, Rio 2 finds Jewel (Anne Hathaway), Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and their three kids leaving their domesticated life in that magical city for a journey to the Amazon. They encounter a menagerie of characters who are born to be wild, voiced by Oscar nominee Andy Garcia, Oscar/Emmy/Tony-winner Rita Moreno, Grammy winner Bruno Mars, and Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth.