Variety reports that 20^th Century Fox Animation has greenlit Blue Sky Studio’s 3D digital animated film Rio.

It will follow a nerdy macaw who leaves the comforts of his cage in small-town Minnesota and heads to Rio de Janeiro.

Ice Age: The Meltdown helmer Carlos Saldanha is set to direct. Chris Jenkins and Bruce Anderson will produce.

Fox has scheduled the film for release on April 8, 2011.