DNA Productions

DNA Productions was founded in 1987, by John A. Davis and Keith Alcorn, after they left their positions at K & H Productions, a Dallas-based animation company. Davis and Alcorn started their new studio with a $5,000 loan.{{cite news |title=Out of This World |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/646208400/ |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=2001-12-25 |access-date=2023-12-13 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}} The company was based in the Dallas suburb of Irving.{{cite news |last=Sprague |first=Suzanne |title=Dallas Video Festival Features Animation |url=https://www.keranews.org/archive/2001-03-15/dallas-video-festival-features-animation |access-date=2023-12-13 |work=KERA News |date=2001-03-15}} The name "DNA" stood for "Davis N Alcorn". The duo would regularly contact companies in search of animation work.

Up until 1997, DNA Productions had only six employees and was involved in the production of commercials and corporate videos for companies such as Dairy Queen and Kroger. DNA also did other work for companies, such as logo design and end credit sequences. In their spare time during the early 1990s, Davis and Alcorn produced crude animated projects and would enter them in touring festivals, which helped their company rise to prominence.{{cite news|last=Bounds|first=Jeff|title=Animation company 'going Hollywood'|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/1997/09/15/story4.html|access-date=2018-05-28|work=BizJournals|date=1997-09-14}}{{cite news |title=Animation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/462255147/ |work=San Francisco Examiner |date=1992-06-28 |access-date=2023-12-13 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |last=Petrakis |first=John |title=This 'Sick and Twisted' Animation Fest Not Worth Your Time |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-06-05-9806050101-story.html |access-date=2023-12-13 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=1998-06-05}} Among these projects was Nanna & Lil' Puss Puss, a series of adult shorts about an elderly woman and her cat.{{cite news |title=Tale of the Tapes |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/tale-of-the-tapes-6392644 |access-date=2023-12-15 |work=Dallas Observer |date=2001-03-08}} Other short projects included the pirate-themed Weird Beard,{{cite news |title=Disturbing 'Animation' Trades Soul for Shock Value |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/158112954/ |work=Albuquerque Journal |date=1994-08-14 |access-date=2023-12-15 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |last=Harrington |first=Richard |title=Animation: A Glut of Excess |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/02/03/animation-a-glut-of-excess/8bf5de51-9325-470b-a625-3e70abbae71b/ |access-date=2023-12-15 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=1995-02-03}} and The Adventures of Nippleless Nippleby, about a cherub who has no nipples.

By 1994, DNA had branched out to 3D animation after a corporate client, Mary Kay, requested a conference presentation that would feature dancing bottles of suntan lotion. The company then worked on A.J.'s Time Travelers, which aired briefly on Fox in 1994 before moving to syndication in 1995.{{cite news |title=Out of This World (page 2 of 2) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/645127354/ |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=2001-12-25 |access-date=2023-12-13 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}

DNA's best-known creative work is the 3D animated character Jimmy Neutron, originally known as Johnny Quasar.{{cite news |last=Hal |first=Cheryl |title=How 2 Dallas unknowns broke the Hollywood mold |url=http://www.dnahelix.com/pclip_20011216_dmn_jnmov_general_p1.jpg |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=2001-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310184815/http://www.dnahelix.com/pclip_20011216_dmn_jnmov_general_p1.jpg |archive-date=2016-03-10}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/rise-jimmy-neutron|title=The Rise of Jimmy Neutron|work=Animation World Network|access-date=2018-02-14|date=2001-12-19}} In 1995, filmmaker Steve Oedekerk heard about a proof of concept video of the character, shown by DNA at an awards festival for animated projects.{{cite web |last=Robertson |first=Barbara |title=Neu Kid on the Block |url=https://www.cgw.com/Publications/CGW/2002/Volume-25-Issue-1-January-2002-/Neu-Kid-on-the-Block.aspx |website=Computer Graphics World |access-date=2023-12-15 |date=January 2002}} After seeing the footage himself, Oderkerk partnered with DNA on two television specials, The O Show and the animated Santa vs. the Snowman, both released in 1997.{{cite news |title=Comedy special blends zany humor, computers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/647177048/ |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=1997-08-31 |access-date=2023-12-13 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}} The latter was DNA's biggest project to date, requiring long hours to be finished in time for its Christmas airing. DNA had full creative control on the project, which was co-produced with Oedekerk's company O Entertainment. It was re-released as an IMAX film in 2002, under the title Santa vs. the Snowman 3D.{{cite web |last=Loftus |first=Marc |title=Santa vs. the Snowman |url=https://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2002/December-1-2002/Santa-vs-the-Snowman.aspx |website=Post Magazine |date=December 1, 2002}}{{cite web |last=Ball |first=Ryan |title=Santa vs. The Snowman Offers 3D Fun, CG Fluff |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2002/10/santa-vs-the-snowman-offers-3d-fun-cg-fluff/ |website=AnimationMagazine.net |access-date=2023-12-15 |date=2002-10-15}} As for The O Show, many of its effects were created by DNA. The company also provided animation work for the 1997 television series The Weird Al Show,{{cite news |title=Television Q&A |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/09/30/television-q-a/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=1997-09-30}} and produced a direct-to-video series titled Jingaroo.

DNA lost some aspects of creative control as it partnered with other companies on these projects. According to Davis in 1999, "We were such a small company for so many years that we're used to doing everything ourselves. So it's been kind of hard to try to not do everything. But we've spent the last two or three years sort of weaning ourselves away." That year, the studio increased its staff from 17 to 30 workers to deal with the new projects,{{cite news |title=Attack of the Killer Cartoonists |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/1999/november/businessdallas-attack-of-the-killer-cartoonists/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |work=D Magazine |date=1999-11-01}} which included another animated holiday special titled Olive, the Other Reindeer. It was co-produced with The Curiosity Company and Fox Television Studios.{{cite web |last=Helber |first=Annabelle Massey |title=Quick, draw |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/quick-draw-6396724 |website=Dallas Observer |access-date=2023-12-15 |date=1999-12-16}} DNA also produced Oedekerk's 1999 television pilot titled The Barnyard, which he later produced as the 2006 film Barnyard, without DNA's involvement.

During 1997, also with Oedekerk's help, DNA had begun negotiations with Nickelodeon to produce a Johnny Quasar television series. Plans for the TV project and an animated feature film were greenlit by Nickelodeon in 1999, with the character name changed to Jimmy Neutron. The film, after nearly two years of production, was released in December 2001, under the title Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.{{cite news |title=Jimmy Nutron vaults creator from sketchbook to big screen |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/649130834/ |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=2001-12-21 |access-date=2023-12-13 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |title=Jimmy Nutron vaults creator from sketchbook to big screen (page 2 of 2) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/646202855/ |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=2001-12-21 |access-date=2023-12-13 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}} It was DNA's first feature film and its biggest project,{{cite news |last=Mallory |first=Michael |title=A Boy and His Franchise |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-11-ca-2777-story.html |access-date=2023-12-13 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2001-11-11}} and received generally positive reviews.{{cite web |title=Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/jimmy-neutron-boy-genius/ |website=Metacritic |access-date=2023-12-15}} The studio then started work on the television series, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius,{{cite news |title=A boy and his franchise: Hooking kids on 'Neutron' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/390020700/ |work=Chicago Tribune |date=2001-12-27 |access-date=2023-12-15 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |last=Calvo |first=Dana |title=From One Screen to Another |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-15-et-calvo15-story.html |access-date=2023-12-15 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2002-02-15}} which aired on Nickelodeon from July 20, 2002 to November 25, 2006.{{cite web |last=Bell |first=Noah |title='Danny Phantom', 'Kim Possible', and 8 Other Nostalgic Cartoons That Deserve a Reboot |url=https://collider.com/nostalgic-cartoons-that-deserve-a-reboot/#39-the-adventures-of-jimmy-neutron-boy-genius-39-2002---2006 |website=Collider |access-date=2023-12-15 |date=2022-09-14}} O Entertainment co-produced the film and television series.

After work on the series ended, DNA partnered with Playtone, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures to produce The Ant Bully, a 2006 animated film loosely based on the 1999 children's book of the same name.{{cite news |title=A Mind of Their Own |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jul-28-fi-animation28-story.html |access-date=2023-12-15 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2006-07-28}}{{cite web |last=Colton |first=Roger |title=The Ant Bully: " ... will draw (audiences) into the story in ways they can't even imagine." |url=http://jimhillmedia.com/guest_writers1/b/miles_archer/archive/2006/07/26/4527.aspx |website=Jim Hill Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805084610/http://jimhillmedia.com/guest_writers1/b/miles_archer/archive/2006/07/26/4527.aspx |archive-date=2012-08-05 |date=2006-07-25}} The film received mixed reviews,{{cite web |title=The Ant Bully |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-ant-bully/ |website=Metacritic |access-date=2023-12-15}} and was a box-office bomb.{{cite news |last=Holson |first=Laura M. |title=Is Th-Th-That All, Folks? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/03/business/media/03animation.html |access-date=2023-12-15 |work=The New York Times |date=2006-10-03}} It was DNA's second feature film,{{cite news |last=King |first=Susan |title=Expanding on an ant story |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jul-24-et-weekmovie24-story.html |access-date=2023-12-15 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2006-07-24}} and its final project.{{cite web |last=Mallory |first=Michael |title=The Life Cycle of DNA |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2013/04/the-life-cycle-of-dna/ |website=Animation Magazine |access-date=2023-12-15 |date=2013-04-25}} At the time of the film's release, DNA had 250 workers and no future projects aligned to generate further revenue. Davis noted in 2023 that he and Alcorn did not set out to build such a large company and felt the time was right to shut down and move on after The Ant Bully.{{cite web |last=Davis |first=John |title=Interview with John Davis |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khXynKzqO-s |website=Youtube |date=11 July 2023 |access-date=2025-02-26 |at=29:00, 33:00}}

Helix the Cat was DNA's original mascot until 2002. He had two tails which were intertwined to form a double helix. While the Jimmy Neutron series was in production, Davis sought to replace Helix with a new studio mascot, a mutant three-eyed chimpanzee, who would appear in DNA's animated production logo at the end of each episode. The new mascot was named Paul, after DNA employee Paul Claerhout, who joined the company in 1990. Claerhout also provided the voice for Paul, who says "Hi! I'm Paul!" in each logo shot.{{cite web |last=Colton |first=Roger |title=Ruminations: DNA Productions goes ape |url=http://jimhillmedia.com/article.php?id=1795 |website=Jim Hill Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060213094628/http://jimhillmedia.com/article.php?id=1795 |archive-date=2006-02-13 |date=2005-12-29}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.dnahelix.com Official website]
• DNA Productions at Internet Movie Database

{{Animation industry in the United States}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1987 establishments in Texas

Category:2006 disestablishments in Texas

Category:American companies established in 1987

Category:American companies disestablished in 2006

Category:Mass media companies established in 1987

Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 2006

Category:American animation studios

Category:Companies based in Dallas

Category:Defunct American film studios

Category:Defunct film and television production companies of the United States

Category:Film production companies of the United States