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Frederator Studios

{{Short description|American animation television production studio}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Frederator Studios

| logo = Frederator Studios.svg

| logo_caption = Logo used as of 2009

| former_name = {{Plainlist|

  • Frederator Incorporated (1997–2009)

}}

| type = Division

| owner =

| parent = Frederator Networks, Inc. (2012–present)

| industry = Animation
Television production
Film production

| predecessor = Fred/Alan
Chauncey Street Productions, Inc.

| founded = {{Start date and age|1997|1|6}}

| founder = Fred Seibert

| hq_location_city = New York City, New York, Burbank, California, U.S.

| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Michael Hirsh (CEO)|Kevin Kolde (vice president Production)|Isabel Bailin (Director of Development)}}

| products = {{unbulleted list|Oh Yeah! Cartoons|The Fairly OddParents|ChalkZone|My Life as a Teenage Robot|Nicktoons Film Festival|Random! Cartoons|Fanboy & Chum Chum|Adventure Time|Bravest Warriors |Too Cool! Cartoons|Castlevania|Bee and PuppyCat|}}

| services = Traditional animation
Stop-motion animation
CGI animation
Flash animation

| divisions = Bolder Media (with Mixed Media Group)
Frederator Books
Channel Frederator Network

| website = {{URL|http://frederator.com}}

}}

Frederator Studios is an American animation television production studio founded by Fred Seibert in January 1997.{{Cite web|url=https://frederator.com/who/|title=Who? Frederator|website=Frederator.com}} It is a division of Frederator Networks, Inc., itself a part of Kartoon Studios' Canadian holding company Wow Unlimited Media. The studio's slogan is "Original Cartoons since 1998."

Frederator and Seibert have been credited with producing various, critically-acclaimed media projects, predominantly in animation suitable for general audiences.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediavillage.com/article/the-bizarre-kickstarted-world-of-frederator-studios-gilbert-smith-jack-myers-and-claire-burden/print/|title=The Bizarre, Kickstarted World of Frederator Studios -- Gilbert Smith, Jack Myers and Claire Burden}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/fred-seibert-interview-part-1|title=The Fred Seibert Interview — Part 1|last=Strike|first=Joe|date=July 15, 2003|access-date=June 22, 2018|publisher=Animation World Network}} The studio has offices in New York City and Burbank, California.{{cite web|url=http://frederator.com/about/#where|title=Who are we?|last=|date=|website=Frederator Studios|publisher=Frederator Networks|access-date=April 16, 2025}}{{self-published source|date=June 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://frederatorstudios.com/about-frederator-studios/|title=About Us|last=|date=|website=Frederator Studios|publisher=Frederator Networks|access-date=June 22, 2018}}{{Self-published source|date=June 2018}}

In 2016, Frederator would be acquired by Canadian animation studio Rainmaker, and merged into Wow! Unlimited Media where Seibert was Chief Creator Officer; he would remain at the company until August 2020. After departing, he would found a successor company, FredFilms, in February 2021.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/animation-fred-siebert-launches-new-production-company-fredfilms-viacomcbs-streaming-1234698515/|title=Animation Vet Fred Seibert Launches New Production Company, FredFilms, And First-Look Deal With VIS Kids At ViacomCBS|date=23 February 2021}}

History

=Founding and early years=

Before Frederator, in 1983, Fred Seibert founded Fred/Alan, Inc. in New York City with his college friend Alan Goodman; in 1988, Fred/Alan partnered with Albie Hecht in Chauncey Street Productions to produce television programs for Nickelodeon, MTV, A&E, and CBS. The Fred/Alan firm closed down in 1992.

Seibert became the president of Hanna-Barbera Cartoons in 1992, and created What a Cartoon!, a showcase consisting of 48 shorts that aired on Cartoon Network. In 1996, when Time Warner merged with Turner Broadcasting (owner of Hanna-Barbera), he left the studio.

Frederator Incorporated was formed on January 6, 1997{{cite web|url=http://fredseibert.com/post/140602202596/frederator-begins-it-seemed-unlikely-id-stay-in|title=Frederator begins|last=Seibert|first=Fred|author-link=Fred Seibert|date=|work=Tumblr|type=Blog|access-date=June 22, 2018}} (its first cartoons were released in 1998), and was housed at a temporary location of the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in North Hollywood, California.{{Cite web|url=http://archives.frederatorblogs.com/frederator_studios/2010/09/06/the-frederator-launch-1997/|title=The Frederator Launch, 1997.|last=Seibert|first=Fred|author-link=Fred Seibert|date=September 6, 2010|website=Discus|type=Blog|access-date=June 22, 2018|archive-date=April 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427141350/http://archives.frederatorblogs.com/frederator_studios/2010/09/06/the-frederator-launch-1997/|url-status=dead}} Frederator's debut production was the cartoon short incubator, a television series called Oh Yeah! Cartoons, which later spun off three series: The Fairly OddParents (its first official series), as well ChalkZone, and My Life as a Teenage Robot, in addition to 51 original short cartoons from creators including Butch Hartman, Rob Renzetti, Tim Biskup, Larry Huber, Pat Ventura, Seth MacFarlane, and Carlos Ramos. Oh Yeah! Cartoons was based on Seibert's What a Cartoon! series of shorts from Hanna-Barbera Cartoons and Cartoon Network, which brought Hanna-Barbera its first hit series in 10 years, Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, I Am Weasel, The Powerpuff Girls, and Courage the Cowardly Dog. Frederator has produced a total of 16 television series, and over 200 miniseries, including webisodes. {{As of|2013}}, the company was in a producing partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment and YouTube.{{cite web|url=http://frederator.com/about/|title=Who are we?|last=|date=|work=Frederator: Frederator Loves You|publisher=Frederator Studios|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014184107/http://frederator.com/about/|archive-date=October 14, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2013}}

In 2002, Frederator created a joint venture for preschoolers named Bolder Media with producer Susan Miller's Mixed Media Group, Inc.. They produced their first preschool series created by Bob Boyle for Nick Jr., Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!.

Frederator Studios created a television series and competition The Nicktoons Film Festival (now known as the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival) for the Nicktoons Network, which debuted October 24, 2004.

In 2004, David Karp interned at Frederator Studios at its first Manhattan location, and built their first blogging platform.{{Cite web|url=http://frederatorblogs.com/adventure_time|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060419131458/http://frederatorblogs.com/adventure_time|url-status=dead|archive-date=2006-04-19|title=Frederator Studios Blog|date=2006-04-19|access-date=2018-08-22}} In 2007, he launched Tumblr from a rented desk at Frederator Studios' Park Avenue South offices, with chief engineer Marco Arment.{{cite AV media |last1 = Karp |first1 = David |last2 = Alexandria |first2 = Julie |date = May 27, 2008 |title = David Karp and Tumblr |type = Video |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK4pLXWkgMw |access-date = February 24, 2013 |time = 1:30 |publisher = Wallstrip|quote = Sometime in 2006, we had a couple of weeks between contracts and said 'Let's see what we can do, let's see if we can built this thing', and we threw together the first working version of Tumblr. }}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2013/01/02/tumblr-david-karps-800-million-art-project/2/ |title="Tumblr: David Karp's $800 Million Art Project" Forbes, January 2, 2013 |magazine=Forbes.com |date=2012-04-18 |access-date=2013-04-17}} Seibert was one of Tumblr's first bloggers.{{Cite web|url=http://archives.frederatorblogs.com/frederator_studios/2007/11/01/killing-them-softly/|title=Frederator Studios Blogs {{!}} Fred Seibert's Blog {{!}} Killing them softly.|website=archives.frederatorblogs.com|access-date=2018-08-22|archive-date=2013-10-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003095509/http://archives.frederatorblogs.com/frederator_studios/2007/11/01/killing-them-softly/|url-status=dead}}

On November 1, 2005, Frederator launched what it called "the first cartoon podcast."[http://frederatorblogs.com/channel_frederator/2005/10/28/welcome/ Welcome.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214235410/http://frederatorblogs.com/channel_frederator/2005/10/28/welcome/ |date=2010-12-14 }} Channel Frederator Blog. October 25, 2005. Named Channel Frederator by David Karp (who also structured and edited the initial episodes), this weekly animation network features submitted films from around the world, and quickly became one of the top video podcasts on Apple Inc.'s iTunes. In quick succession, The Wubbcast was launched for pre-schoolers in January 2006, and ReFrederator featuring vintage public domain cartoons in April 2006. Channel Frederator became the model for Seibert's media company Next New Networks and reaches almost 4,000,000 video views monthly.

On June 25, 2007 Variety article announced the studio had formed Frederator Films, dedicated to creating animated feature films budgeted under $20 million.McNary, Dave. [https://variety.com/2007/digital/markets-festivals/toon-trio-starts-frederator-1117967622/ Toon trio starts Frederator]. Variety. Mon, Jun. 25, 2007. Frederator's first feature is set up at Paramount Pictures, co-produced with J. J. Abrams' Bad Robot. They have also set up their first two animated features in a first look production arrangement for Sony Pictures Animation.{{cite web|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/sony-and-frederator-to-develop-animated-movies-16439.html|title=Sony and Frederator to develop Animated Movies|publisher=Cartoon Brew|author=Jerry Beck|date=September 10, 2009|access-date=July 24, 2018}}

=Expansion into web animation=

The studio produced its first original internet cartoons with independent animator Dan Meth. The Meth Minute 39 launched on September 5, 2007, featuring 39 of Meth's original character shorts. (The first cartoon was "Internet People", a video on the viral video sites YouTube and MySpaceTV that featured some popular Internet memes and internet people.) A spin-off, Nite Fite, debuted in October 2008. These series have totaled over 35,000,000 video views to date.

Random! Cartoons, the latest Frederator anthology series, began airing on Nicktoons in 2009;{{Cite web|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/internet/frederator-launches-new-cartoon-hangover-channel/|title=Frederator Launches New Cartoon Hangover Channel|website=www.animationmagazine.net|date=21 February 2012|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-22}} it spawned two TV series, Fanboy & Chum Chum and Adventure Time (the first Frederator production not for Nickelodeon and the first and only series made for Cartoon Network), as well as the web series, Bravest Warriors.

Frederator Studios became a division of parent Frederator Networks when founder Fred Seibert announced the company's new YouTube funded channel and adult production label, Cartoon Hangover in February 2012 and 18 months later started the Channel Frederator Network, a multi-channel network (MCN) dedicated to helping individual YouTube animation creators distribute and monetize their owned and operated channels. At launch, Frederator produced three animated series for Cartoon Hangover: Bravest Warriors, created by Pendleton Ward; SuperFuckers, created by James Kochalka; and Too Cool! Cartoons, an incubator featuring content from different animators.{{Cite web|url=http://hangover.cartoonhangover.com/post/25132605493/you-probably-know-i-founded-frederator-studios-to|title=Cartoon Hangover — To get a Too Cool! greenlight, we'll ultimately...|website=Cartoon Hangover|access-date=2018-08-22|archive-date=2012-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710013249/http://hangover.cartoonhangover.com/post/25132605493/you-probably-know-i-founded-frederator-studios-to|url-status=dead}} Bravest Warriors premiered on November 8, 2012 and SuperFuckers premiered on November 30, 2012.

In July 2013 as part of Too Cool! Cartoons Cartoon Hangover premiered the first part of the 10-minute short film, Bee and PuppyCat created by Natasha Allegri. Due to its popularity, in November 2013 Frederator launched a Kickstarter to fund a first season of the series,{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/frederator/bee-and-puppycat-the-series|title=Bee and PuppyCat: The Series|website=Kickstarter|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-22}} which was successful and raised $872,133 toward more episodes of the show. The project was the most funded animation and web series Kickstarter at the conclusion, and the fourth most-funded Film/Video project.{{Cite news|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2013/11/14/bee-and-puppycat-kickstarter-web-series-record/|title='Bee And Puppycat' Raises $872,133, Breaks Kickstarter Record|date=2013-11-14|work=Tubefilter|access-date=2018-08-22|language=en-US}}

In 2013, Frederator launched a digital-only ebook company, Frederator Books. Frederator Books published its first title, "The Lieography of Babe Ruth" in March 2013.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}}

In 2014, Frederator announced the launch of The Channel Frederator Network, a Multi Channel Network (MCN) of independently owned animation channels on YouTube.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thevideoink.com/news/simons-cat-new-home-channel-frederator-networks/|title=Simon's Cat Has a New Home at Channel Frederator Networks - VideoInk|date=2014-02-19|work=VideoInk|access-date=2018-08-22|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405185206/http://www.thevideoink.com/news/simons-cat-new-home-channel-frederator-networks/|archive-date=2015-04-05|url-status=dead}} Since its start, Channel Frederator Network has generated more than one billion views, and averages more than 30 million views a month, across its network of more than 200 channels.{{cite web |url=http://www.awn.com/news/simon-s-cat-joins-frederator-network |title='Simon's Cat' Joins Frederator Network | Animation World Network |access-date=2014-03-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329005756/http://www.awn.com/news/simon-s-cat-joins-frederator-network |archive-date=2014-03-29 }} Some of its leading channels are FilmCow (just over 1 million subscribers), Cartoon Hangover (over 1 million subscribers),{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-fred-seibert-bee-puppycat-20131217-story.html|title=Fred Seibert foresees 'next golden age of animation' on Internet|last=Verrier|first=Richard|website=Los Angeles Times|date=18 December 2013|access-date=2018-08-22}} and Simon's Cat (over 2,800,000 subscribers),{{Cite news|url=https://www.thewrap.com/simons-cat-youtubes-second-biggest-animation-channel-new-home/|title=YouTube's 'Simon Cat' Finds a New Home|date=2014-02-19|work=TheWrap|access-date=2018-08-22|language=en-US}} which is YouTube's #2 animated channel.{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2014/02/youtubes-channel-frederator-network-forms-animation-pact-with-simons-cat-685586/|title=YouTube's Channel Frederator Network Forms Animation Pact With 'Simon's Cat'|last=Lieberman|first=David|date=2014-02-19|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-08-22|language=en-US}} Once part of the network, Frederator handles all advertising and distribution for its channels on YouTube, promoting the show and its licensed merchandise.{{Cite web|url=http://streamdaily.tv/2014/02/19/simons-cat-joins-animation-mcn-frederator/|title=StreamDaily » Archive » Simon's Cat joins animation MCN Frederator|website=streamdaily.tv|access-date=2018-08-22|archive-date=2018-08-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822213942/http://streamdaily.tv/2014/02/19/simons-cat-joins-animation-mcn-frederator/|url-status=dead}}

As of 2016, Mexican animation studio Ánima Estudios and Frederator Studios have launched a new YouTube network, called Átomo Network, focusing on Spanish-language content.{{cite news|last1=Spangler|first1=Todd|title=Frederator, Anima Estudios Launch Spanish-Language YouTube Animation Network (Exclusive)|url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/frederator-anima-estudios-youtube-spanish-animation-1201709330/|access-date=18 February 2016|work=Variety|publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC.|date=18 February 2016}}

=Acquisition by Rainmaker; Wow Unlimited merger, and Kartoon Studios ownership=

In December 2016, Canadian studio Rainmaker Entertainment (now, and originally known as, Mainframe) acquired Frederator Networks. Together with Ezrin Hirsh Entertainment (EHE), the three would be merged into the holding company Wow Unlimited Media, Inc..{{Cite news|url=https://www.awn.com/news/rainmaker-entertainment-acquires-frederator-rebranding-wow|title=Rainmaker Entertainment Acquires Frederator, Rebranding As WOW!|last=Wolfe|first=Jennifer|date=October 26, 2016|access-date=June 22, 2018|publisher=Animation World Network}}

In August 2020, it was announced Fred Seibert would resign as CEO of Frederator Studios. Michael Hirsh, co-founder of Canadian studio Nelvana, would take over.{{Cite web|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/features/news-bytes-archer-clips-taafi-call-d23-dives-into-howard-wow-reorg/|title = News Bytes: 'Archer' Clips, TAAFI Call, D23 Dives into 'Howard', WOW! Reorg|date = 27 August 2020}}

On October 27, 2021, Genius Brands (now Kartoon Studios) announced that it had agreed to acquire Wow Unlimited Media for C$66 million (US$53 million), with the transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022.{{cite news|title=Genius Brands International to Acquire WOW! Unlimited Media|url=https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101022|date=October 27, 2021|access-date=December 29, 2021}} The acquisition was completed on April 7, 2022.{{cite web|title=Genius Brands International, Inc. Completes Acquisition of Wow Unlimited Media Inc.|url=https://www.gnusbrands.com/news/press-releases/detail/1158/genius-brands-international-inc-completes-acquisition-of|website=Genius Brands|date=April 7, 2022}}

In January 2023, 50% of the rights to Bravest Warriors and Bee and Puppycat was sold to Japanese studio Toho International.{{cite web | url=https://worldscreen.com/tvkids/toho-invests-in-frederator-brands/ | title=TOHO Invests in Frederator Brands | date=4 January 2023 }}

Filmography

{{see also|Frederator cartoon shorts filmography}}

=Television series=

For Nickelodeon:

For Nicktoons:

  • Nicktoons Film Festival (2004–2009) (co-produced with Nickelodeon Animation Studio)
  • Random! Cartoons (2008–2009) (co-produced with Nickelodeon Animation Studio)
  • Ape Escape (2009) (co-produced with Hawaii Film Partners, Project 51 Productions and Showcase Entertainment)

For Netflix:

For Max:

Other productions

  • Adventure Time (2010–2018) (co-produced with Cartoon Network Studios for Cartoon Network)
  • Bravest Warriors (2017–2018) (co-produced with Nelvana for Teletoon){{Cite web|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/nelvana-brings-first-bravest-warriors-broadcast-season-on-mip-quest/|title=Nelvana Brings First 'Bravest Warriors' Broadcast Season on MIP Quest|website=www.animationmagazine.net|date=3 April 2017|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-22}}{{cite web|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/top-stories/vrv-heralds-bravest-warriors-s4-with-documentary/|title=VRV Heralds 'Bravest Warriors' S4 with Documentary|date=13 December 2017|website=Animationmagazine.net|access-date=13 December 2017}}
  • Costume Quest (2019) (co-produced with Wellsville Pictures, Double Fine Productions and Amazon Studios for Amazon Prime Video){{Cite news|url=http://kidscreen.com/2017/02/13/amazon-orders-pair-of-new-originals/#|title=Amazon orders pair of new originals|access-date=2018-08-22}}
  • Chikn Nuggit (TBA) (co-produced with BuzzFeed Animation Lab for BuzzFeed){{Cite web|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/06/buzzfeed-animation-and-frederator-to-serve-up-a-new-series-called-chikn-nuggit/|title=BuzzFeed Animation and Frederator to Serve Up a 'Chikn Nuggit' Show|website=www.animationmagazine.net|date=20 June 2023|language=en-US|access-date=20 June 2023}}

===YouTube series===

Channel Frederator:

  • The Meth Minute 39 (September 5, 2007)
  • Cartoon Conspiracy (April 24, 2014)

Cartoon Hangover:

=Films=

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{Official website|http://frederator.com/}}
  • [http://www.imdb.com/company/co0070267/ Frederator @ IMDB]
  • "Fred Seibert foresees 'next golden age of animation' on Internet" [https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-fred-seibert-bee-puppycat-20131217-story.html#page=1 Los Angeles Times, December 18, 2013] interview (2013)
  • "The Story of Kids TV Mastermind Fred Seibert: Cultivating a whole new generation of weird in animation" [http://www.adweek.com/news/television/story-kids-tv-mastermind-fred-seibert-156165 Adweek] interview (2013)

{{Frederator Studios}}

{{Animation industry in the United States}}

Category:American animation studios

Category:Adult animation studios

Category:Television production companies of the United States

Category:Mass media companies based in New York City

Category:American companies established in 1997

Category:Mass media companies established in 1997

Category:Wow Unlimited Media

Category:2016 mergers and acquisitions