Film Roman

Phil Roman, veteran alumnus of MGM Animation/Visual Arts and Bill Melendez Productions, founded Film Roman on October 26, 1984 as a means to continue the production of the Garfield television specials, since Melendez's own studio was unable to work on both the Peanuts and Garfield specials. Peanuts executive producers Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez and their aforementioned studio had produced the first two Garfield specials, but due to both Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz' and Garfield creator Jim Davis' concerns about conflicting interests in allocating production priority at Melendez's boutique studio, the production had to be moved. While he was leaving him and Melendez for his already-established studio, Roman was offered the opportunity to produce the next Garfield prime time special, Garfield in the Rough (1984), for CBS by Mendelson, which he accepted and went on to produce and direct all by himself, winning an Emmy in the process.

In 1985, CBS' head of children's programming Judy Price had commissioned an animated television series based on the Garfield prime time special series, later ultimately titled Garfield and Friends, which took three years for Roman to decide developing and producing the program before it eventually aired on the network's Saturday morning time slot, premiering on September 17, 1988. The aforementioned show was Film Roman's first regular series. In 1986, in an effort to expand and diversify the studio, Roman hired Marvel Productions VP of Business Affairs and his own personal attorney, Michael Wahl, as President and Bill Schultz, Marvel's Director of Development, to join in the company as the fledgling studio's VP of Production and Development. Garfield and Friends was expanded to an hour on CBS' number one rated Saturday Morning block and the studio grew to increase its capacity.

In 1988, the new management team developed, sold and produced a new series, Bobby's World, to the brand new Fox Kids Network, headed up by former Marvel Productions president Margaret Loesch. In 1992 to 2016, Film Roman took over the source production of 20th Century Fox's The Simpsons from Klasky-Csupo who had produced the one-minute teaser cartoon shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show as well as the animation for the first three seasons and the first two episodes of the fourth season (in total 61 episodes).{{cite video|people=Kirkland, Mark|date=2004|title=The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Kamp Krusty"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}{{cite news|author= Bernstein, Sharon|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-01-21-fi-739-story.html|title='The Simpsons' Producer Changes Animation Firms|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1992-01-21|page=18|access-date=2011-08-24}} The studio went on to grow and produce many popular animated series now seen all around the world.

In 1999, Film Roman's founder Phil Roman left and sold the company to form Phil Roman Entertainment, the studio that produced Christmas television specials including Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (2000), but he remained a shareholder of the company and then subsequently rejoined in 2001 as a member of the company's board of directors{{cite news|url=https://www.awn.com/news/film-roman-founder-resigns|title=Film Roman founder resigns|website=Animation World Network|date=February 18, 1999|access-date=July 14, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.awn.com/news/phil-roman-returns-film-roman-studios|title=Phil Roman Returns to Film Roman Studios|website=Animation World Network|date=February 20, 2002|access-date=July 14, 2024}}

At the same time, it attempted to get into the syndication market with the launch of Max Degree TV, which would have consisted of three shows, Mission Extreme from Steve Tisch, Skins from the Deep from SFX artist Steve Wang, and a new Wes Archer cartoon Victor,{{Cite news |last=Schlosser |first=Joe |date=July 19, 1999 |title=Film Roman on syndie march |pages=48 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/99-OCR/BC-1999-07-19-OCR-Page-0048.pdf |access-date=August 24, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Pursell |first=Chris |date=1999-07-19 |title=Film Roman to ride teen wave |url=https://variety.com/1999/tv/news/film-roman-to-ride-teen-wave-1117743070/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} but it never got off the ground.{{Cite news |date=December 13, 1999 |title=No Max deal |pages=118 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/99-OCR/BC-1999-12-13-OCR-Page-0118.pdf |access-date=August 24, 2023}}

In April 2000, The Harvey Entertainment Company became Film Roman's international sales representative and distributor in an effort for the former to branch out of its existing properties.{{Cite web |title=Harvey To Rep Film Roman Overseas |url=https://www.awn.com/news/harvey-rep-film-roman-overseas |access-date=August 15, 2024 |website=Animation World Network |language=en}} Within the same year, India-based software firm Pentamedia Graphics attempted to acquire 51% stake in the studio for $15 million, but the deal later terminated in 2001.{{cite news|url=https://www.awn.com/news/indias-pentamedia-buys-51-film-roman|title=India's Pentamedia Buys 51% of Film Roman|website=Animation World Network|date=October 24, 2000|access-date=July 14, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-oct-31-me-44749-story.html|title=Film Roman Agrees to Sell 51% Stake to Firm in India|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=October 31, 2000|access-date=July 14, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.screendaily.com/pentamedia-bids-to-rescue-film-roman-deal/405520.article|title=Pentamedia bids to rescue Film Roman deal|magazine=Screen Daily|date=April 23, 2001|access-date=July 14, 2024}}

In May 2003, the Digital Production Solutions division of IDT Corporation (formed in 2002) announced that it would acquire a 51% controlling interest and stake in Film Roman, which would temporarily renamed as DPS Film Roman, and the studio later became part of the newly-formed IDT Entertainment division in November that year.{{cite press release|url= https://www.idt.net/idt-medias-digital-production-solutions-unit-to-acquire-controlling-interest-in-film-roman-inc-acquisition-significantly-broadens-idt-medias-animation-capability/|title= IDT Media's Digital Production Solutions Unit To Acquire Controlling Interest in Film Roman, Inc.|publisher=IDT Corporation|date=May 15, 2003|access-date=July 14, 2024}}

{{cite news|url=https://www.awn.com/news/idt-media-calls-controlling-interest-film-roman-inc|title=IDT Media Calls Controlling Interest in Film Roman Inc.|website=Animation World Network|date=May 15, 2003|access-date=July 15, 2024}}

In May 2006, IDT sold the IDT Entertainment division, which includes Film Roman, to Liberty Media for $186 million, the sale was completed on August 31, 2006, which resulted in IDT Entertainment becoming part of Starz Entertainment Group and renamed as Starz Media.{{cite news|url=https://sfvbj.com/news/idt-entertainment-sold-to-liberty/|title=IDT Entertainment sold to Liberty|magazine=San Fernando Valley Business Journal|date=May 16, 2006|access-date=July 23, 2024}}

In 2015, Film Roman was acquired from its parent company Starz Distribution by Waterman Entertainment, the production company of executive producer Steve Waterman. As such, it now does business with Starz, which owns the company's catalogue.{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title='Simpsons' Animator Film Roman Bought by Waterman Entertainment|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/simpsons-animator-film-roman-waterman-entertainment-1201639014/|access-date=May 17, 2017|work=Variety|date=November 12, 2015}}

On November 22, 2016, the company formed a joint venture based in Tijuana, called Film Roman Baja J.V. (also known as Film Roman Baja Productions), with Boxel Studios, a Baja California-based animation facility.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/film-roman-boxel-studios-film-roman-baja-1201858249/|title=Film Roman Teams With Boxel Studios To Form Film Roman Baja J.V.|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|date=21 November 2016|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=18 February 2020|archive-date=24 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524122719/https://deadline.com/2016/11/film-roman-boxel-studios-film-roman-baja-1201858249/|url-status=dead}}

The original studio was located on Riverside Drive in Toluca Lake, California, where Roman was also joined by Melendez producer Lee Mendelson. Years later, the studio moved to a new location on Chandler Blvd. in Studio City, before settling into another location at Starz Plaza on Hollywood Way in Burbank, which it shared with the former Hub Network and Hasbro Studios/Allspark, and finally settling into its present location in Woodland Hills.

• Jess Espanola (King of the Hill, The Simpsons, Futurama)
• Matt Groening
• Rich Moore (The Simpsons, The Critic, Futurama)
• Bill Schultz

• Get in Line (Barenaked Ladies music video)
• Frijolero (Molotov music video)
• The Simpsons Game (2007, produced by Electronic Arts) (cutscenes only)
• The Simpsons Ride (2008, amusement simulator ride film produced for the attraction of the same name at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood)
• The Simpsons: Tapped Out (2012, freemium mobile game produced for Fox Digital Entertainment and Electronic Arts) (cutscenes only)

• Alpo
• Ask Jeeves (2000) (five-minute branding reel)
• Burger King (2001–2003)
• Butterfinger (1992–1994, 1998–2001, 2007)
• CC's (1998)
• C.C. Lemon (2000–2002)
• Embassy Suites Hotel
• Expedia (2003)
• Garfield Fruit Snacks{{cite web | url=http://www.rcartwerks.com/RCArtwerks/CREDITS.html | title=Credits }}
• General Foods
• Honey Nut Cheerios (1993) (Garfield ad only)Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/q7fTXS_yR6U Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140302025037/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7fTXS_yR6U&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7fTXS_yR6U| title = Honey Nut Cheerios with Garfield (1993) | website=YouTube| date = 12 February 2013 }}{{cbignore}}
• Intel (1998)
• Matchbox (2002) (CGI sales presentation animated by Forum Visual Effects)
• Microsoft (2003)
• Mirinda (2005–2006, 2008)
• Partnership for a Drug-Free America (2002)
• RC Cola (1999)
• SeaWorld (1998)
• SHO Too (2002){{cite web|title=Film Roman Gets Shagged For Sho Too|url=https://www.awn.com/news/film-roman-gets-shagged-sho-too|date=May 29, 2002}}
• Toyota (1992–1993)
• Trix (1991)

• Blues Brothers: The Animated Series{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/tv/animated/|title=Blues Brothers - The Animates Series|website=Blues Brothers Central|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429085647/http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/tv/animated/|archive-date=April 29, 2009}} (Canceled due to irreplaceable casting of the original actors)
• Max Degree TV (Cancelled due to lack of international backers)
• Big Bug Man (Canceled after actor Marlon Brando died during production){{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

• Phil Roman Entertainment
• Starz Animation
• Klasky Csupo
• Rough Draft Studios
• AKOM
• Wang Film Productions
• Saerom Animation
• Sunmin Image Pictures
• Sunwoo Entertainment
• Bardel Entertainment
• Boulder Media
• Bento Box Entertainment
• Fox Animation Studios
• Warner Bros. Animation

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://filmroman.com/}}

{{Film Roman}}

{{The Simpsons}}

{{Garfield}}

{{Animation industry in the United States}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Adult animation studios

Category:1984 establishments in California

Category:American animation studios

Category:Companies based in Burbank, California

Category:Companies based in Los Angeles County, California

Category:Entertainment companies based in California

Category:Entertainment companies established in 1984

Category:Film production companies of the United States

Category:Mass media companies established in 1984

Category:Television production companies of the United States

Category:Former Lionsgate subsidiaries

Category:2015 mergers and acquisitions

Category:American corporate subsidiaries