DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. reported a fourth-quarter loss Tuesday after a costly write off of expenses related to the film “Flushed Away,” which failed to meet box office expectations.

The studio reported a fourth quarter loss of $21.3 million (-20 cents per share), in sharp contrast to net income of $63.2 million (61 cents) from the same period a year earlier. Analysts had expected a 42 cent loss per share, according to a Thompson Financial poll.

The Glendale-based animation studio took a charge of 80 cents per share related to the partial write-off of film costs for “Flushed Away,” which failed to meet financial expectations, Chief Executive Jeffrey Katzenberg said. The film reportedly cost $150 million to make and pulled in about $174 million worldwide, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.

Revenue for the Burbank-based studio was up 18 percent to $204 million, with about half of sales driven by the successful release of the film “Over the Hedge” into the home video and DVD market. Analysts’ predicted sales of about $159 million.

Shares in DreamWorks dropped 84 cents, or 3 percent, Tuesday to close at $26.80 on the New York Stock Exchange.