Rio's sequel was released five years before April 11, 2014.
Rio is a 2011 American 3D computer-animated adventure film-produced by Blue Sky Studios and directed by Carlos Saldanha .. Carlos Saldanha. Carlos Saldanha. Blue Sky Studios. Blue Sky Studios. 3D film. computer-animated. Computer-animated film. adventure film. adventure film. The title refers to the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro , where the film is set .. Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro. The film features the voices of Jesse Eisenberg , Anne Hathaway , Jemaine Clement , Leslie Mann , George Lopez , and Jamie Foxx .. Jesse Eisenberg. Jesse Eisenberg. Anne Hathaway. Anne Hathaway. George Lopez. George Lopez. Jemaine Clement. Jemaine Clement. Leslie Mann. Leslie Mann. Jamie Foxx. Jamie Foxx. It tells the story of Blu -LRB- Eisenberg -RRB- , a male Spix 's macaw who is taken to Rio de Janeiro to mate with a free-spirited female Spix 's macaw , Jewel -LRB- Hathaway -RRB- .. Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro. The two eventually fall in love , and together they have to escape from being smuggled by Nigel -LRB- Clement -RRB- , a cockatoo .. The theme song , `` Telling the World '' was performed by Taio Cruz .. Taio Cruz. Taio Cruz. Saldanha developed his first story concept of Rio in 1995 , in which a penguin is washed up in Rio .. Saldanha learned of the production of the films Happy Feet -LRB- 2006 -RRB- and Surf 's Up -LRB- 2007 -RRB- , and changed the concept to involve macaws and their environments in Rio .. Happy Feet. Happy Feet. He proposed his idea to Chris Wedge in 2006 , and the project was set up at Blue Sky .. Chris Wedge. Chris Wedge. The main voice actors were approached in 2009 .. During production , the crew visited Rio de Janeiro and also consulted with an expert on macaws at the Bronx Zoo to study their movements .. Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro. Bronx Zoo. Bronx Zoo. Rio premiered on March 22 , 2011 , in Lagoa , Rio de Janeiro , and had its general release on April 15 , 2011 , in North America .. Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro. North America. North America. The film received generally positive reviews from film critics .. Observers praised the visuals , voice acting , and music .. The film was also a box office success , grossing over $ 143 million in the United States and $ 484 million worldwide .. The film was nominated for Academy Award for Best Original Song for the song `` Real in Rio '' , but lost to the other nominee , `` Man or Muppet '' from The Muppets .. Academy Award. Academy Award. Best Original Song. Academy Award for Best Original Song. Real in Rio. Real in Rio. Man or Muppet. Man or Muppet. The Muppets. The Muppets ( film ). A sequel , Rio 2 , was released on April 11 , 2014 .. Rio 2. Rio 2