Animation is an MVP this year, on it's way to as much as $5 billion or more in global sales. And last weekend was no exception, setting a stage for strong holiday season.

In surprise upset, the family friendly animated film opened behind expectations to lose the Sept. 20-22 box office race to 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' — but there still could be hope.

There’s more than meets the eye at the box office this weekend. Paramount and Hasbro’s “Transformers One,” the franchise’s first fully animated film since 1986, has made $3.36 million in Thursday previews at the box office.