Wildbrain Entertainment, Inc.(commonly known asWildbrain,stylized asW!LDBRAIN,formerly known asWild Brain,and later known asDHX Media Los Angeles) was an Americanentertainment companyandanimation studiothat developed and produced television programming, motion pictures, commercial content, and licensed merchandise. Established in 1994, it maintained offices inLos Angeles,New York City,andSan Francisco.
 Logo used in 2007 as Wildbrain | |
| Formerly | Wild Brain (1994–2007) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Entertainment Animation |
| Predecessor | Colossal Pictures BIG Pictures |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founders | John Hays Phil Robinson Jeff Fino |
| Defunct | 2017 |
| Fate | Closed |
| Successors | |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles,California,U.S. New York City,New York,U.S. San Francisco,California,U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Television series, specials, television commercials, licensed merchandise |
| Parent | DHX Media(2010–2017) |
| Divisions | Wildbrain Animation Kidrobot Ghostbot |
 | |
| 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 |
Its film productions included theAnnie Award-winning computer-animated short filmHubert's Brain,while its television work included theNick Jr.seriesBubble GuppiesandYo Gabba Gabba!,and theDisney ChannelseriesHigglytown Heroes.Wildbrain also produced earlier animated shorts and television specials ofMonster HighforMattel.
They have produced national commercials for clients such asEsurance,[1]Chiclets,Target,Nike,Honda,Kraft,The Wall Street Journal,andLamisil(featuring Digger theDermatophyte). Their ad work has wonClio Awards,ADDY Awards,BDA Awards,andAnnie Awards.A subsidiary,Kidrobot,creates limited edition toys, clothing, artwork, and books. It had stores in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, andMiami.
The studio was sold toDHX Mediain 2010 for US$8 million, and was dissolved in 2012.[2]In 2016, DHX revived the WildBrain trademark forits streaming video network.Following the success of the video network, DHX changed its name toWildBrainin 2019.[3]
History
editIn 1994, John Hays, Phil Robinson, and Jeff Fino founded Wild Brain in theCastro DistrictofSan Francisco,California.The new company bootstrapped with contract work from local game companies such asBroderbund,LucasArts,andLiving Books.In 1996, Wild Brain moved to a 17,000 square foot warehouse at the corner of 18th St. and York St. in theMission Districtspearheading the growth of what came to be known in San Francisco asMultimedia Gulch.In 1999,Austin, Texas-based Interfase Capital invested almost $17 million in Wild Brain.
Over the next few years, Wild Brain's staff ballooned from a staff of about 20 to about 250. It struck deals withYahoo!andCartoon Networkto produce animated shorts for the web. It launched wildbrain, creating animated web shorts such as "Groove Monkee", "Mantelope", and numerous web series includingJoe Paradise,Glue,Graveyard,andSpace is Dum.
After legendary studioColossal Picturesclosed down in 1999, and with the financial backing of the Interfase companies, Wild Brain expanded further, providing employment for former Colossal directors and staff. Around this period, they produced the seriesHigglytown HeroesandPoochini.
In 2004,Charles Rivkin,former CEO ofThe Jim Henson Company,joined Wild Brain as president and CEO. Rivkin oversaw the creation and development of the seriesYo Gabba Gabba!forNick Jr.
In 2007, former founder Jeff Fino left to start Nuvana, an educational web-based company with former Colossal Pictures producer, Joe Kwong. Wild Brain rebranded to Wildbrain Entertainment that same year.
In 2008, Rivkin left Wildbrain after being named U.S. ambassador to France and Monaco. Michael Polis, the marketing director of Wildbrain, then became the new CEO.
Around this time, John Hays left Wildbrain to work on indie featuresLa MissionandHowl,which opened the2010 Sundance Film Festival.
By 2009, the original founders of the company had all left Wildbrain. The company expanded its animation studios toSherman Oaksin March, then closed its San Francisco office in June. It had been an independent company until Canadian studio DHX Media purchased Wildbrain in 2010. That same year, Phil Robinson and Amy Capen, executive producer of Wildbrain's San Francisco studio, started an independent company called Special Agent Productions. Robinson died in 2015 after a short battle withpancreatic cancer.[4][5][6]
In 2016, DHX Media announced the formation of a newLondon-basedmulti-channel networkunder the name WildBrain, focusing primarily onYouTubechannels aimed towards children, such as content and original series from DHX's properties, as well as other forms of educational and toy-oriented content.[7]The following year, in 2017, Wildbrain Entertainment was formally shuttered. In September 2019, DHX Media announced that it would change its name toWildBrainoutright, with the MCN unit being renamedWildBrain Spark.[8]
Filmography
editTelevision series
edit- I Am Weasel(1997-2000)
- KaBlam!(1997) (The Brothers Tikishorts)
- O Canada(1997) (opening title and bumpers)
- Acme Hour(1997) (opening, bumpers and closing)
- Oh Yeah! Cartoons(1998) ( "Fathead" )
- Space is Dum(1999–2001)
- Pajama Party(2000) (opening title)
- Poochini(2000–2002)
- The Chuck Jones Show(2001) (opening title)
- Higglytown Heroes(2004–2008)
- Yo Gabba Gabba!(2007–2015)
- Team Smithereen(2009–2011)
- The Ricky Gervais Show(2010–2012)
- The Hard Times of RJ Berger(2010–2011)
- Monster High(2010–2012)
- Bubble Guppies(2011) (season 1)
- The Aquabats! Super Show!(2012–2014)
- UMIGO(2012–2014)
Films
edit- FernGully 2: The Magical Rescue(1998)
- Dudley Do-Right(1999) (animation)
- The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle(2000) (2D traditional animation)
- Cats & Dogs(2001) (Egypt animation)
- Rat Race(2001) (opening title sequence)
- Dopamine(2003) (CGI animation)
- Howl(2010) (animation)
- Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown(2011) (television special)
Short films
edit- Out in Space(1997)
- Humanstein(1998)
- A Dog Cartoon(1998)
- Web Premiere Toons(1999-2001)
- El Kabong Rides Again(2001)
- Hubert's Brain(2001)
- Anita Bomba(2001)
- Erin Esurance in "Carbon Copy"(2007)
- Disrespectoids(2010)
Video games
edit- Living Books: The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight(1995) (animation)
- Living Books: Green Eggs and Ham(1996)
- NeoHunter(1996) (character design and animation)
- Play-Doh Creations(1996) (animation)
- Flying Saucer(1997)
- Rugrats Adventure Game(1998) (additional art and animation)
- Star Wars: Jar Jar's Journey Adventure Book(1999)
- Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? Treasures of Knowledge(2001) (character design)
- The Oregon Trail 5th Edition(2001) (character design)
- Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean(2003) (2D animation)
- Sideway: New York(2011) (animation)
Commercials
edit- Animax(1998) (withMercury Filmworks)
- Cap'n Crunch(2003–2007)
- Cartoon Network/Tennis Industry Association (1997)
- Century Theatres(2000)
- Cheetos(2001)
- Chicago Transit Authority(2004)
- Chiclets(2004)
- Chips Ahoy!(1999)
- Coca-Cola(1996, 1998, 2005)
- Sprite(1998)
- Dreyer's(2002)
- Esurance(2004–2009)
- Ford Motor Company(1999, 2001)
- Green Giant(1999, 2003)
- Helados (1998) (with Mercury Filmworks)
- Hershey's Kisses(1998–1999, 2002)
- Honda Element(2005–2008)
- KFC(1998–2000)
- Kraft Singles(2003)
- Jolly Rancher(2001)
- Kid Cuisine(2001)
- Lamisil(2003–2005)
- Levi's(1998)
- Locomotion(1997)
- Lunchables(2004–2008)
- Mainstay Mutual Funds (1996) (with Little Fluffy Clouds)
- Nike(1996, 1999)
- NTB(1997–1998)
- Noggin(1999)
- Norfolk Southern(2001)
- Oreo O's(2002)
- Parfums de Coeur (1999, 2001)
- PBS Kids(2005)
- Pebbles(2002–2004)
- Reese's Sticks(1999)
- Rice Krispies(1998)
- Ritz Crackers(2000–2001)
- Scandinavian Designs (2000)
- Secret Central(2003)
- Sony Music Entertainment(2000)
- The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie(2004)
- STP(1996)
- Target Corporation(2001)
- Tropicana(2003)
- The Wall Street Journal(2002)
- The Willy Wonka Candy Company(1998–2000, 2004)
- Winterfresh(2001)
- Virgin America(2007)
- Visine(2001)
- XeroxDocument Centre (1997)
Staff
editExecutives
edit- Michael Polis
- Marge Dean
- David Graber
- Bob Higgins
- Amy Capen
- Jeff Fino (1994–2007)
- Scott Hyten
- Jeff Ulin
- Charles Rivkin(2004–2008)
Directors
edit- Chris Hauge
- George Evelyn
- Paul Fierlinger
- Denis Morella
- Scott Schultz
- Phil Robinson (March 1995–July 2009)
- John Hays
- Ed Bell
- Robin Steele
- Dave Marshall
- Dave Thomas
- Dave Feiss(2000–2002)
- Roque Ballesteros (2000–2001; 2006–2007)
- Denis Morella
Animators
edit- Dave Thomas
- Sean Dicken (August 1999–August 2001; July 2003–September 2006; May 2007–October 2009)
- Jeff Nevins
- Alex Currier
- Sam Hood
- Roque Ballesteros (1998–2000)
- Rob Lily (2009–2010)
- Nick Butera (2010–2012?)
- Lyndon Ruddy
- John Korellis
- Gordon Clark
- Achiu So
- Patricia Ross
- Cindy Ng
- Marcelo de Souza
- Nick Hewitt
- Marc Perry
- Scott Morse
References
edit- ^Alex Miller, "Cross-Media Case Study: Secret Agent of Change",OMMA,March 2006.
- ^https:// licenseglobal /entertainment/dhx-media-acquires-wildbrain-entertainment
- ^https://kidscreen /2019/09/23/dhx-rebrands-as-wildbrain
- ^"Phil Robinson".FALLOUT: JaMie BaKeR's BLOG.29 January 2015.Retrieved2017-03-19.
- ^"Wild Brain Co-Founder Phil Robinson, RIP".Cartoon Brew.2015-01-29.Retrieved2017-03-19.
- ^"Director and Studio Co-Founder Phil Robinson Dies".Animation Magazine.2015-01-29.Retrieved2017-03-19.
- ^"DHX Media unveils online kids net WildBrain".Kidscreen.April 25, 2016.Retrieved2019-09-23.
- ^"DHX rebrands as WildBrain".Kidscreen.September 23, 2019.Retrieved2019-09-23.