FilmFairwas a Britishproduction companyandanimation studiothat producedchildren's television series,animated cartoons,educational films,andtelevision advertisements.The company made numerousstop motionfilms usingpuppets,clay animation,andcutout animation.
| Industry | Television production Film |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1959(as FilmFair) 1968(as FilmFair London) |
| Defunct | 1996 |
| Fate | FilmFair:Library sold to Altschul Group Corporation FilmFair London:Sold to and absorbed byCINAR Films |
| Successor | Altschul Group Corporation Cookie Jar Group |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles,California,U.S. London,England |
Key people |
|
| Parent | Central Independent Television(early 1980s–1991) Caspian Group (1991–1996) |
 | |
| 1968 | FilmFairLondon is founded |
|---|---|
| 1971 | DIC Audiovisuel is founded |
| 1972 | Strawberry Shortcakebrand is first developed |
| 1974 | CPLGis founded |
| 1976 | CINAR andColossal Picturesare founded |
| 1982 | DIC Enterprises is founded |
| 1984 | Ragdoll Productionsis founded |
| 1987 | DIC Audiovisuel closes |
| 1988 | Studio B Productionsis founded |
| 1992 | Epitome Picturesis founded |
| 1993 | DIC Enterprises becomesDIC Entertainment |
| 1994 | Wild Brainis founded‚ and Red Rover Studios is founded, DIC Entertainment brands as The Incredible World of DIC |
| 1995 | Platinum Disc Corporation is founded |
| 1996 | CINAR buys FilmFair's library |
| 1997 | Decode Entertainmentis founded |
| 1999 | Wild Brain acquires Colossal Pictures' employee base |
| 2002 | Nerd Corps Entertainmentis founded |
| 2004 | Halifax Film Company is founded, CINAR rebrands asCookie Jar Group |
| 2005 | Platinum Disc Corporation merge asEcho Bridge Home Entertainment |
| 2006 | Decode and Halifax Film merge as DHX Media, DIC acquires CPLG, and Ragdoll Worldwide is formed withBBC Worldwide |
| 2007 | DHX Media buys Studio B Productions and Wild Brain becomesWildbrain Entertainment |
| 2008 | Cookie Jar Group absorbs DIC andHouse of Coolabsorbs Red Rover Studios |
| 2010 | DHX Media buys Wildbrain Entertainment‚ and Peanuts Worldwide is founded |
| 2011 | Decode Entertainment and Red Rover Studios closes |
| 2012 | DHX Media buys Cookie Jar Group |
| 2013 | DHX Media acquires Ragdoll Worldwide’s back catalogue |
| 2014 | DHX Media buys Epitome Pictures, Nerd Corps, and Echo Bridge Home Entertainment's family content library, as well asFamily,the English version of Disney Junior,the French version of Disney JuniorandDisney XD;Cookie Jar Group is absorbed |
| 2016 | The WildBrain multi-channel network launches and Studio B and Nerd Corps merge asDHX Studios |
| 2017 | Wildbrain Entertainment closes; DHX Media buysPeanuts Worldwideand Strawberry Shortcake |
| 2018 | Halifax Film becomesIsland of Misfits |
| 2019 | DHX Media rebrands asWildBrain,Epitome Pictures closes, and the WildBrain MCN becomesWildBrain Spark |
| 2020 | CPLG becomes WildBrain CPLG |
| 2021 | Echo Bridge folds into SP Distribution |
| 2023 | WildBrain acquires House of Cool |
| 2024 | WildBrain Spark merged into its parent company asWildBrain London |
History
editFoundation
editFilmFair was founded in 1959 by American animator Gus Jekel inLos Angeles,California.After working withWalt Disney Productionsand otherHollywoodanimation studios in the 1930s, Jekel incorporated FilmFair because he wanted the freedom to createlive actionwork as well. The studio was in Animation Alley, a stretch ofCahuenga Boulevardthat runs throughStudio Cityin northern Los Angeles.[1]
Jekel's company produced television advertisements—some animated, others live action—and was extremely successful; even Disney was a client.[2][3]
In the late 1960s, Jekel asked an English colleague, Graham Clutterbuck, to start a European office for FilmFair. Clutterbuck had been producing and coordinating television ads for Europeanadvertising agenciesand had just lost his job as director general of Les Cinéastes Associés inParis.Although he was not well-acquainted with animation, Clutterbuck accepted the job offer. Clutterbuck established FilmFair's European office in Paris. It was there that he metSerge Danot,who pitched his ideas for a children's series, but Clutterbuck turned him down. Soon after, Danot signed a contract with theBBCto produce the seriesThe Magic Roundabout.He invited Clutterbuck to watch them film. While there, Clutterbuck met the series' co-creator,Ivor Wood.[2]Later, the two men agreed that Wood would make animated films for FilmFair. The success ofThe Magic Roundaboutpaved the way for more stop-motion animation at the BBC. Soon, Wood came up with the idea forThe Herbs,which premiered onBBC1in 1968.[2]
FilmFair London
editBy this time,Beatlemaniahad made England a cultural hotspot. Clutterbuck found it too difficult to attract English talent to France, so he moved the office toLondon.[2]There, Barry Leith joined the company as director of animation. Wood and Leith collaborated onThe Wombles,but Wood also had a few ideas for animatingMichael Bond's stories aboutPaddington Bear.Bond was enthusiastic about Wood's artistic vision and began scripting the first series.[4]BBC1premieredPaddingtonin 1976 to great acclaim. FilmFair produced new episodes of the programme for three years, and it expanded into a considerablemedia franchise.
FilmFair continued to produce successful stop motion programmes through the mid-1970s. The company's firstclassically animatedseries,Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings,premiered in 1974 on ITV. It was adapted from a series of children's books written and illustrated by Edward McLachlan.[5]The company's first series not directed by Wood wasThe Perishers,a classically animated series directed by Dick Horn.
As FilmFair London continued to produce animated television series for theBBCandITV,they eventually reached an international audience throughbroadcast syndicationandhome videodistribution.
Acquisitions
editIn the early 1980s,Central Independent Televisionbought a controlling share of the European branch of FilmFair. Graham Clutterbuck died ofcanceron 30 April 1988; FilmFair dedicatedBangers and Mashto his memory.
In 1991, Central sold FilmFair London to Storm Group (also known as the Caspian Group), one of FilmFair's video distributors. Altschul Group Corporation (AGC) bought FilmFair's American branch in 1992, as part of campaign to acquire more than a dozen film companies. Discovery Education, a subsidiary of Discovery Communications, bought AGC's film catalogue in 2003.[6]As of 2022, Discovery Education is now owned byClearlake Capital,with Francisco Partners along withDiscovery, Inc.'s successor andWarner Bros.parent companyWarner Bros. Discoveryholding minority stakes.
Sale of FilmFair London to CINAR and reopening (1996-2001)
editOn 1 November 1996, it was announced that CINAR Films, a Canadian-based company, agreed to a deal with the Caspian Group to purchase FilmFair London's catalogue and production amenities for $10.5 Million. The deal would include all television, video, music publishing, licensing and merchandising rights, and the opportunity to produce new episodes of select shows.[7]The deal was completed at the end of the month.[8]
On 25 March 1997, CINAR announced the opening of their London-based European production and distribution studio CINAR Europe. Alongside that, they had announced that they had also reopened FilmFair as a fully-fledged animation studio to produce new content with their parent company, as well as remaster and restore their existing catalogue for an international expansion. The first two shows to be produced under the revived studio would beThe WomblesandThe Adventures of Paddington Bear,themselves being revivals of shows FilmFair previously produced.[9][10]The company also co-produced the seriesThe Upstairs Downstairs Bears[11]in 2000, and announced a revival ofSimon in the Land of Chalk Drawingsin November 2001, which would be handled in Canada by CINAR themselves.[12]
Following CINAR's founders being implicated in a financial scandal in 2000, the CINAR Corporation went under major economic issues. The company announced that they would put up CINAR Europe for sale in September 2001[13]but after being unable to find a buyer, the company shut down in February 2002 with all sales and distribution activity moving to CINAR's main headquarters in Montreal.[14]
In 2004, after being bought out under new management, the CINAR Corporation rebranded to Cookie Jar Group, which in turn was acquired byDHX Media(now WildBrain) in 2012, thus acquiring the rights to the European FilmFair properties and making DHX the largest independent producer of kids programming with 8,550 half hours up from 2,550.[15]
Productions
editAnimated television series
edit| Title | Original broadcast |
Network | Animation | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Herbs | 1968 | BBC1 | Stop motion | Ivor Wood |
| Hattytown Tales | 1969–1973 | ThamesforITV | Stop motion | Ivor Wood |
| The Adventures of Parsley | 1970 | BBC1 | Stop motion | Ivor Wood |
| The Wombles | 1973–1975 | BBC1 | Stop motion | Ivor Wood Barry Leith (dir. of animation) |
| Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings | 1974–1976 | Thames for ITV | Traditional | Ivor Wood |
| Paddington | 1975–1986 | BBC1 | Stop motion | Ivor Wood Barry Leith (dir. of animation) |
| The Perishers | 1978–1979 | BBC1 | Traditional | Dick Horn |
| Moschops | 1983 | Centralfor ITV | Stop motion | Martin Pullen |
| The Adventures of Portland Bill | 1983 | Central for ITV | Stop motion | John Grace |
| The Blunders | 1986 | Central for ITV | Traditional | Ian Sachs |
| The Shoe People | 1987 | TV-amfor ITV | Traditional | Clennell Rawson |
| Edward and Friends | 1987 | BBC2 | Stop motion | Martin Pullen Jo Pullen Jeff Newitt |
| Windfalls | 1988 | Central for ITV | Stop motion | Jenny Kenna |
| Stories of the Sylvanian Families | 1988 | Central for ITV | Stop motion | Jo Pullen Martin Pullen |
| Bangers and Mash | 1988 | Central for ITV | Traditional | Ian Sachs |
| Huxley Pig | 1989–1990 | Central for ITV | Stop motion | Martin Pullen |
| Nellie the Elephant | 1990–1991 | Central for ITV | Traditional | Terry Ward |
| The Dreamstone | 1990–1995 | Central for ITV | Traditional | Martin Gates |
| Rod 'n' Emu | 1991 | Central for ITV | Traditional | Ian Sachs Dick Horn |
| The Gingerbread Man | 1992 | Central for ITV | Stop motion | Martin Pullen |
| Astro Farm | 1992–1996 | Central for ITV | Stop motion | David Johnson |
| The Legends of Treasure Island | 1993–1995 | Central for ITV | Traditional | Dino Athanassiou Simon Ward-Horner |
Television specials
edit| Title | Premiere | Network | Animation | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddington Goes to the Movies | 1980 | BBC1 | Stop motion | Barry Leith[16] |
| Paddington Goes to School | 1984 | BBC1 | Stop motion | Martin Pullen[17] |
| Paddington’s Birthday Bonanza | 1986 | BBC1 | Stop motion | Glenn Whiting[18] |
| Totally Minnie | 1988 | NBC | Traditional | Scot Garen |
| World Womble Day | 1990 | CentralforITV | Stop motion | Martin Pullen[19] |
| The Wandering Wombles | 1991 | Central for ITV | Stop motion | Martin Pullen[19] |
| Brown Bear's Wedding | 1991 | Central for ITV | Traditional | Chris Randall (anim.)[20] |
| White Bear's Secret | 1992 | Central for ITV | Traditional | Chris Randall (anim.)[21] |
Pilots
edit| Title | Premiere | Animation |
|---|---|---|
| The Further Adventures of Noddy[22] | 1983 | Stop motion |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Sito, Tom (2006)."Lost Generations, 1952–1988".Drawing the Line: The Untold Story of the Animation Unions from Bosko to Bart Simpson.Lexington: University Press of Kentucky. p. 226.ISBN978-0-8131-2407-0.OCLC69331438.Retrieved18 September2014.
- ^abcd"Graham Clutterbuck: A great entrepreneur".Animator(23). 1988.Retrieved1 April2011.
- ^Potter, Ian (2008).The Rise and Rise of the Independents: A Television History.Isleworth: Guerilla Books.ISBN9780955494321.OCLC236120118.
- ^Warner, Jennifer (5 September 2014).The Unofficial History of the Paddington Bear.BookCaps Study Guides. p. 40.ISBN9781629173818.Retrieved18 September2014.
- ^"Biography: Edward McLachlan".British Cartoon Archive.University of Kent.Retrieved18 September2014.
- ^Alexander, Geoff (2010).Academic Films for the Classroom: A History.Jefferson: McFarland & Co. pp. 65–66.ISBN9780786458707.OCLC601049093.Retrieved18 September2014.
- ^Jones, Dow (November 1996)."Cinar to Buy Film Library".The New York Times.Retrieved2023-11-22.
- ^"CINAR Completes Acquisition of FilmFair"(Press release). CINAR Films, Inc. 26 November 1996. Archived fromthe originalon 6 August 2017.Retrieved1 April2011.
- ^Kelly, Brendan (1997-03-25)."U.K.'S FERGUSON TO LEAD CINAR EUROPE".Variety.Retrieved2023-11-22.
- ^"A busy time for Cinar".Retrieved2023-11-22.
- ^"Quebec Scene".
- ^"FilmFair's Simon rides again at Cinar".
- ^"CINAR UP FOR SALE".Broadcast.Retrieved2023-11-22.
- ^"Cinar Europe finally closes its doors".
- ^"DHX Media Closes Acquisition of Cookie Jar Entertainment"(Press release). Halifax: DHX Media. 22 October 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 14 October 2013.Retrieved30 October2013.
- ^"Paddington Goes to the Movies".Toonhound.Retrieved7 November2014.
- ^Paddington Goes to SchoolatIMDb
- ^"Paddington's Birthday Bonanza".Toonhound.Retrieved7 November2014.
- ^ab"The Wombles".Toonhound.Retrieved7 November2014.
- ^Brown Bear's WeddingatIMDb
- ^White Bear's SecretatIMDb
- ^"Martin Cheek stop-frame puppet animation – Page 2 – Animator Mag".9 December 2010.
Further reading
edit- "Graham Clutterbuck: An Animated Line in Merchandise".Director.31.Director Publications: 28. 1978.
External links
edit