Wikipedia

Marvel Productions

This article is about the animation company primarily active from 1981 until 1993. For other uses, seeMarvel Animation (disambiguation).

Marvel Productions Ltd.,later known asNew World Animation,was an Americanproduction companyowned by theFox Entertainment Groupsubsidiary ofNews Corporationwhich was founded in 1981 as the television and film studio subsidiary of theMarvel Entertainment Group,based inHollywood,Los Angeles,California.[1]It later became a subsidiary ofNew World Entertainmentand eventually of News Corporation.

  • Marvel Productions Ltd.
  • New World Animation
Formerly
Company typeSubsidiary
Industry
PredecessorDePatie–Freleng Enterprises
Founded1981;44 years ago(1981)
Founder
Defunct1996;29 years ago(1996)
FateAcquired byNews Corporation
SuccessorsStudio:
20th Century Animation
Marvel Animation
Marvel Studios Animation
Library:
The Walt Disney Company(majority)
Hasbro Entertainment(assets fromSunbow Entertainment&Claster Television)
Amazon MGM Studios(viaUnited Artists)
HeadquartersHollywood, Los Angeles,California
Key people
Products
Parent

The company as Marvel Productions produced animated television series, films and television specials such asSpider-Man and His Amazing Friends,The Incredible Hulk,My Little Pony: The Movie,The Transformers: The Movie,andG.I. Joe: The Movieas well asThe TransformersandG.I. Joe: A Real American Herotelevision series. Most of Marvel Productions/New World Animation's non-Hasbro-related back catalog is currently owned byThe Walt Disney Company.

History

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DePatie–Freleng Enterprises (1963–1981)

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The company began in 1963 asDFE Films,and was sold toCadence Industries,Marvel ComicsGroup's owner, in 1981 after DFE founder and company executiveFriz Frelengdeparted the company to return to his former job atWarner Bros. Cartoons.[2][3]Freleng's business partner and DFE co-founderDavid H. DePatiecontinued to work for the company under the Marvel banner for several years until his retirement.[4]

Marvel Productions (1981–1993)

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Logo for Marvel Productions, New World's former name.

Marvel Productions opened its Los Angeles studio in 1981.[3]In 1984,Margaret Loeschjoined Marvel Productions as president and chief executive officer.[5]Marvel Comics Group, owned by Cadence Industries Corporation since 1968, was sold toNew World Picturesin 1986 along with Marvel Productions and incorporated as Marvel Entertainment Group.[6]

With New World having cash flow problems, MEG was sold in January 1989 toAndrews Group,a MacAndrews and Forbes subsidiary, owned byRonald Perelman.However, New World kept Marvel Productions and merged it with its own television business.[6]MP moved their offices from Van Nuys to West Los Angeles in May 1989.[1]

New World's problems continued, which led them to also be acquired by the Andrews Group within the year.[7]Loesch left forFox Kidsin 1990.[8]In December 1992, New World formed New World Family Filmworks and New World Action Animation, headed by Marvel Productions presidentRick Ungar,to produce $20 million worth of family entertainment programming.[9][10]

New World Animation (1993–1996)

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Marvel Productions was renamed New World Animation in November 1993.[11]In 1994, Marvel and New World establishedMarvel Filmsincluding Marvel Films Animation.[6][12][13][14]New World Animation (The Incredible Hulk),Saban Entertainment(X-Men), and Marvel Films Animation (Spider-Man), each produced a Marvel series for television.[15]Tom Tataranowiczwas in charge of both Marvel Films Animation and New World Animation during this period.[16]

News Corporation subsidiary (1996)

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News Corporation/Fox Entertainment Groupacquired New World Entertainment, along with New World Animation and Marvel Films Animation for $2.5 billion in August 1996.[17]At the same time, Saban Entertainment secured the rights from Marvel Entertainment Group forCaptain America,Daredevil,andSilver Surfer,and additional characters to be developed into four series and 52 episodes over the next seven years.[18]

Fox Children's Productions and Saban Entertainment merged to formFox Kids Worldwide,a holding company and joint venture, in November 1996,[19]while Fox retained ownership of New World Animation.[20]

Postscript

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Fox Family Worldwide and its assets, including the Marvel Productions library and Saban Entertainment, were purchased byThe Walt Disney Companyfor $5.2 billion in July 2001.[21][22][23]

After getting its 2002 profit participation statements for the Marvel Productions library, Marvel Enterprises sued The Walt Disney Company over royalties in August 2004 after Disney would not open their books. This was followed by a November 2004 suit which claimed that the purchase of Fox Family did not transfer the shows' copyrights to Disney as the purchase was done without Marvel's approval. As part of both suits, Marvel claimed library income concealment and failure to exploit the characters.[21]

On August 31, 2009, Disney acquiredMarvel Entertainmentfor $4 billion, reunifying the Marvel Productions library and Marvel Entertainment under the same corporate banner.[24]AfterDisney's acquisition of 21st Century Foxon March 20, 2019, the Marvel Productions and Fox Kids/Saban Entertainment libraries reunited with the New World Animation library.

Filmography

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Animated series

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Show Year Network Notes
Spider-Man 1981 Syndication Marvel property[25]
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends 1981–1983 NBC[26] Marvel property, paired withThe Incredible Hulk[25][27]
The Incredible Hulk 1982 NBC Marvel property, paired withSpider-Man and His Amazing Friends[25][27]
Meatballs & Spaghetti CBS co-production withInterMedia Entertainment Company,Pan Sang East Co. Ltd, andMGM/UA Television[28]
Pandamonium co-production with InterMedia Entertainment Company and MGM/UA Television[citation needed]
Dungeons & Dragons 1983–1985 co-production withTSR Entertainment/Dungeons and Dragons Entertainment Corp[29]
currently co-owned by Disney andHasbro Entertainment
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero 1983–1986 Syndication based on Hasbro toyline of same name withSunbow Productions[30]
Muppet Babies 1984–1991 CBS based on Jim Henson's Muppets[31]
The Transformers 1984–1987 Syndication based on Hasbro toyline of same name with Sunbow Productions[30]
Little Muppet Monsters 1985 CBS based on Jim Henson's Muppets, co-produced withHenson Associates[30]
Super Sunday(a.k.a.Super Saturday) Syndication based on Hasbro toyline of same name co-produced with Sunbow Productions[30]
Jem and the Holograms 1986 based on Hasbro toyline of same name co-produced with Sunbow Productions[33]
Inhumanoids based on Hasbro toyline of same name co-produced with Sunbow Productions[34]
My Little Pony 'n Friends based on Hasbro toyline of same name, coproduced with Sunbow Productions;[30]first half of the show was My Little Pony while the second half was awheel series[32]
Defenders of the Earth[35] Syndication co-production withKing Features Syndicate(owner)[32]
Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series 1987 NBC based onFraggle Rock[31]
Little Wizards ABC co-production withNew World International[32]
The Little Clowns of Happytown[36] co-production withMurakami-Wolf-Swenson[37]
currently owned byWildBrain
Dino-Riders[35] 1988 Syndication co-produced byTyco Toys;aired as part of theMarvel Action Universeblock[32]
RoboCop co-production withOrion Pictures;aired as part of theMarvel Action Universeblock[32]
Rude Dog and the Dweebs[32] 1989 CBS
X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men Syndication aired on theMarvel Action Universeblock as a pilot for an X-Men series[citation needed]
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes 1990–1991 FOX co-production withFox Children's Productions[32]
Kid 'n Play NBC co-production withSaban Entertainment[citation needed]
Space Cats 1991–1992 NBC co-production with Paul Fusco Productions[citation needed]
Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars![35] Syndication (U.S.) co-production with Abrams/Gentile Entertainment,Continuity Comics,IDDH, and Sunbow Productions
Little Shop 1991 Fox co-production withSaban Entertainment,Saban International N.V.,BIL Participations S.A. and Gorfy Corporation N.V.
Biker Mice from Mars[34] 1993–1996 Syndication studio known as New World Animation onwards, released as Marvel Productions, distributed by New World (internationally), Genesis Entertainment (domestically),[9]co-production with Brentwood Television Funnies, Worldwide Sports & Entertainment, Inc. andPhilippine Animation Studios[38]
The Incredible Hulk 1996 UPN season 1, co-production withMarvel FilmsandSaerom Animation

TV specials

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Airdate Title Network Notes
February 14, 1981 Pink at First Sight ABC production inherited fromDePatie–Freleng Enterprises
May 20, 1982 The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat production inherited fromDePatie–Freleng Enterprises,co-production withDr. Seuss
October 25, 1983 The Charmkins syndication based on Hasbro toyline of same name
April 14, 1984 My Little Pony: Rescue at Midnight Castle
September 12, 1984 The Secret World of the Very Young CBS co-production with Sunbow Productions
March 23, 1985 My Little Pony: Escape from Catrina syndication based on Hasbro toyline of same name
1987 Blondie and Dagwood CBS co-production withKing Features Syndicate
1989 Blondie and Dagwood: Second Wedding Workout
1993 The Magic Paintbrush CBS prime time special sponsored byMcDonald's[9]
November 28, 1996 Party Town Friends Syndication

Except forFraggle Rock,the rights to series based on Jim Henson properties are now held byThe Muppets Studio,a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.[42][43]

All programs based onHasbroproperties were co-productions with Sunbow Productions. These programs are now owned by Hasbro through itsentertainment unit.

Theatrical and DTV films

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Airdate Title studio Notes
November 28, 1984 Gallavants Direct-to-Video
June 20, 1986 My Little Pony: The Movie with Sunbow Productions[30] Theatrical
August 8, 1986 The Transformers: The Movie
April 20, 1987 G.I. Joe: The Movie Direct-to-Video planned for theatrical release.
January 1993 Gahan Wilson's Diner Theatrical short[9]

Film titles

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TV pilots

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Title Original broadcast Network
Solarman 1988 Syndication
X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men 1989

Executives

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  • David H. DePatie– president and chief executive officer (1980–1984)[4]
  • Margaret Loesch– president and chief executive officer (1984–1990)[8]
  • Rick Ungar– president and chief executive officer (1991–August 1995)[44]
  • Lee Gunther– senior vice president, production (1986)[45]
  • Stan Lee– vice president, creative affairs (1986)[45]
  • Michael Wahl – vice president, business affairs (1986)[45]
  • Peter Knepper – vice president and chief financial officer (1986)[45]
  • Hank Sarovan – vice president (1986)[45]

References

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  1. ^ab"Marvel Productions Plans Move to West Los Angeles".Los Angeles Times.May 2, 1989.RetrievedOctober 22,2010.
  2. ^Mangel, Andy (May 1991). "Reel Marvel". In Jim Salicrup (ed.).Marvel Age Issue 100.Marvel Comics.RetrievedOctober 25,2011– viaAndyMangels.
  3. ^abGilroy, Dan (September 17, 1986)."Marvel Grows Into $100-Million Hulk".Variety.p. 92. Archived fromthe original(jpeg)on July 20, 2013.RetrievedOctober 18,2011.
  4. ^ab"DePatie, David H."ASIFA-Hollywood Cartoon Hall Of Fame.The International Animated Film Society: ASIFA-Hollywood. Archived fromthe originalon November 9, 2011.RetrievedMay 17,2012.
  5. ^Godfrey, Leigh (October 10, 2001)."Loesch Steps Down From Crown".Animation World Network.RetrievedFebruary 16,2018.
  6. ^abcHicks, Jonathan P. (November 8, 1988)."THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Marvel Comic Book Unit Being Sold for $82.5 Million".The New York Times.RetrievedOctober 22,2010.
  7. ^"History of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc".FundingUniverse.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
  8. ^ab"Margaret Loesch Biography".Yahoo! Movies.Yahoo!.RetrievedMay 19,2011.
  9. ^abcd"New World forms two new kidvid banners".Variety.December 8, 1992.RetrievedMay 27,2014.
  10. ^Times Staff (December 9, 1992)."New World Expands TV Program Activities".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMay 27,2014.
  11. ^Freeman, Mike (November 1, 1993)."New world of animation: former Marvel Entertainment chief Rick Ungar will head new division concentrating on original animated series, including upcoming 'Stealth Warriors.'".Broadcasting & Cable.Archived fromthe originalon June 29, 2014.RetrievedMay 27,2014.
  12. ^"MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT AND AVI ARAD TO DEVELOP MEDIA PROJECTS"(Press release).Marvel EntertainmentGroup.PR Newswire.April 21, 1993.RetrievedApril 13,2011.
  13. ^"John Semper on" Spider-Man ": 10th Anniversary Interview".Marvel Animation Age.Toonzone. Archived fromthe originalon May 14, 2011.RetrievedMay 5,2011.
  14. ^Cawley, John."Marvel Films Animation 1993–1997".Home of John Cawley.Cataroo. Archived fromthe originalon May 22, 2012.Retrieved5 May2011.
  15. ^Goldman, Michael."Stan Lee: Comic Guru".Animation World Magazine.Animation World Network.RetrievedMay 5,2011.
  16. ^Materna, Marisa (February 24, 2005)."Gang of Seven Goes Employee-Owned Route".Animation World Network.RetrievedJuly 19,2011.
  17. ^"August Issue News Section – Time Warner-Turner Merger Approved and Fox to Take Over New World".Animation World Magazine.August 1996.RetrievedJuly 19,2011.
  18. ^"August Issue News Section – Marvel Super Heroics To Continue On Fox Kids Network".Animation World Magazine.August 1996.RetrievedJuly 19,2011.
  19. ^Hillier, Barry (November 1, 1996)."Fox Kids Worldwide is born".Kidscreen.RetrievedNovember 21,2010.
  20. ^"10-K Annual Report for the Period Ending 06/30/14"(PDF).shareholder.21st Century Fox.August 14, 2014. p. 181. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on January 26, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 21,2016.
  21. ^ab"Disney Is Sued Over Copyrights".Los Angeles Times.Reuters.November 2, 2004.RetrievedFebruary 24,2017.
  22. ^Hofmeister, Sallie (July 21, 2001)."Walt Disney to Acquire Fox Family".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedFebruary 26,2017.
  23. ^DiOrio, Carl (October 24, 2001)."Fox Family costs Mouse less cheese in final deal".Variety.RetrievedOctober 25,2017.
  24. ^Wilkerson, David B. (August 31, 2009)."Disney to acquire Marvel Entertainment for $4B".MarketWatch.RetrievedAugust 31,2009.
  25. ^abcFickett, Travis; Goldman, Eric; Iverson, Dan; Zoromski, Brian (May 3, 2007)."Spider-Man on TV".IGN.RetrievedSeptember 9,2010.
  26. ^"Top 100 Animated Series. 59. Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends".IGN.Ziff Davis.p. 59.RetrievedMay 18,2016.
  27. ^ab"The Incredible Hulk (1982)".IGN.Ziff Davis.RetrievedMay 18,2016.
  28. ^Leszczak, Bob (2016).Single Season Sitcoms of the 1980s: A Complete Guide.McFarland & Company.p. 99.ISBN978-1-4766-2384-9.RetrievedOctober 24,2017– viaGoogle Books.
  29. ^"Dungeons & Dragons".IGN.Ziff Davis.RetrievedMay 18,2016.
  30. ^abcdefGelman, Morrie (September 17, 1986)."Sunbow Takes To Marvel Like Duck To Water In Animation".Variety.p. 81. Archived fromthe original(jpeg)on February 14, 2012.RetrievedOctober 18,2011.
  31. ^abSolomon, Charles (May 11, 1988)."Animation Industry Finding Cost Of Laughter Is In Serious Trouble".Orlando Sentinel.Entertainment News Service.RetrievedOctober 19,2010.
  32. ^abcdefghImbesi, Pete (May 5, 2017)."15 CLASSIC Cartoons Marvel SECRETLY Produced".Comic Book Rescoures.RetrievedFebruary 16,2018.
  33. ^abSwenson, John (December 22, 1987)."Cartoon Character Puts Singer Into Spotlight".Sun Sentinel.United Press International.RetrievedFebruary 24,2017.
  34. ^abcWebber, Tim (December 10, 2016)."15 Cartoon Superheroes Who Jumped To Comic Books".Comic Book Resources.RetrievedFebruary 24,2017.
  35. ^abcReddish, David (September 1, 2016)."15 Animated Superhero TV Shows You Completely Forgot About".Screen Rant.RetrievedFebruary 24,2017.
  36. ^Yoshihara, Nancy (November 2, 1987)."'Little Clowns' Find Happytown Outside Japan: Korea, Brazil Among Countries Drawing Animation Work as Yen Grows Stronger ".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedFebruary 16,2018.
  37. ^Lenburg, Jeff (2006).Who's who in Animated Cartoons: An International Guide to Film & Television's Award-winning and Legendary Animators.Hal Leonard Corporation. p.359.ISBN978-1-55783-671-7.RetrievedFebruary 15,2018– viaInternet Archive.Little Clowns of Happytown 1987 ABC.
  38. ^"A Bedrock of U.S. Cartoon Production: TV: The Philippines' low costs and understanding of American culture are luring studios big and small".Los Angeles Times.Manila.Associated Press.August 28, 1995.RetrievedMay 28,2014.
  39. ^Anderson, Jack (January 11, 1985)."Young Astronaut Program Is Taking Off".The Tuscaloosa News.No. 111. p. 4.RetrievedJune 25,2014.
  40. ^Carter, Robert L. (August 1, 1990)."Marvel Entertainment Group v. Young Astronaut Council".Leagle.Leagle, Inc.RetrievedAugust 7,2016.Because of this, the show was postponed by CBS from the fall projected airing, although it was not cancelled. Eventually, YAC restrained the consultant and gave Marvel the freedom to go ahead with CBS' plans, and there was a meeting with CBS, Marvel and YAC in January, 1986, to discuss the show. The day after this meeting the space shuttle exploded and CBS notified the parties that the show was being cancelled.
  41. ^Freeman, Mike.New world of animation: former Marvel Entertainment chief Rick Ungar will head new division concentrating on original animated series, including upcoming 'Stealth Warriors.'Archived2014-06-29 at theWayback MachineNovember 1, 1993. Broadcasting & Cable.
  42. ^"Disney Newsroom".The Walt Disney Company. February 17, 2004. Archived fromthe originalon 2004-12-07.RetrievedSeptember 17,2015.
  43. ^Rossen, Jake (2016-02-17)."Her Name Was Skeeter: The Mystery of the Missing Muppet".Mental Floss.Retrieved2016-03-07.
  44. ^"Rick Ungar, president of New World Animation since 1991".Broadcasting & Cable.August 28, 1995. Archived fromthe originalon June 29, 2014.RetrievedMay 27,2014.
  45. ^abcdeGilroy, Dan (September 17, 1986)."Marvel Now A $100-Million Hulk: Marvel Divisions And Top Execs".Variety.p. 81. Archived fromthe original(jpeg)on 14 February 2012.RetrievedOctober 18,2011.
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