Glitch Productions#former

Co-founder Luke Lerdwichagul started making videos in 2009. On 7 May 2011, at the age of 11, Luke created his first web series; a Super Mario 64-based machinima later to be known as SMG4 (an acronym of his YouTube channel name, "SuperMarioGlitchy4").{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/smg4|title=SMG4|website=YouTube|access-date=19 May 2024|archive-date=19 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519005008/https://www.youtube.com/smg4|url-status=live}} Produced using footage from an emulated version of Super Mario 64, the series originally focused Mario and other characters from the greater Mario franchise going on adventures that often involve parodies of internet memes and pop culture. Over time, the series would begin using Garry's Mod (which uses the game engine Source as a base), and featured a more prominent cast of original characters. Between 2014 and 2016, the channel would experience significant growth in popularity going from 100,000 subscribers at the beginning of 2014 to 1,000,000 subscribers by the end of 2016.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Around 2016, Luke's older brother, Kevin Lerdwichagul, had observed the channel and its wide audience. He saw the potential to form a business around the channel, later joining SMG4 as a full-time writer and producer. Luke took on a directing role, as well as voicing his titular author surrogate character.{{cite web |author=Walker |first=Alex |date=July 26, 2019 |title=Inside The Mario House That SMG4 Built |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2019/07/smg4-youtube-meta-runner-glitch-productions-australian-anime/ |website=Kotaku |access-date=27 April 2022 |archive-date=17 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117201658/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2019/07/smg4-youtube-meta-runner-glitch-productions-australian-anime/ |url-status=dead}} In interviews, the brothers have acknowledged their use of copyrighted characters from Nintendo and other third-parties in their videos. However, they were always careful to never place such characters in hateful or defamatory context.{{Cite web |last=Asarch |first=Steven |date=26 January 2022 |title=The trippiest gamer on YouTube reveals the one line he'll never cross |url=https://www.inverse.com/gaming/smg4-luke-lerdwichagul-interview |access-date=31 March 2024 |website=Inverse |language=en |archive-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204161231/https://www.inverse.com/gaming/smg4-luke-lerdwichagul-interview |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=SMG4 |url=https://www.glitchprod.com/smg4 |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=Glitch Productions |language=en |archive-date=21 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421160528/https://www.glitchprod.com/smg4 |url-status=live}}

File:Glitch Productions Logo.jpeg

On 24 May 2017, Luke uploaded a fan mail video to the SMG4 channel, where he briefly mentioned that he founded a company, dubbed Glitchy Boy, to represent the SMG4, Hobo Bros., and "TheAwesomeMario" YouTube channels.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snpdbj3pX2M|title=Big Things Are Happening (AND TONS OF AWESOME FAN ART!) - SMG4 Mail Time #10|date=24 May 2017|website=YouTube|access-date=6 May 2022|archive-date=17 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117192933/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snpdbj3pX2M|url-status=live}} On 5 September 2018, a more formal announcement video was uploaded called "SMG4 Direct (HUGE CHANNEL UPDATE)", where Luke and Kevin fully explained the concept of their company, now rebranded as Glitch Productions. During the video, they also unveiled Hitbox, a live-action series starring Kevin and Luke acting as various Nintendo characters.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dc5hJE-pVY|title=SMG4 Direct (HUGE CHANNEL UPDATE)|website=YouTube|date=5 September 2018|access-date=6 May 2022|archive-date=17 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117194531/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dc5hJE-pVY|url-status=live}}

On 5 December 2018, following multiple teasers on the SMG4 channel, Glitch released the trailer for Meta Runner, and the first series premiered on 25 July 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/southern-courier/youtubers-kevin-and-luke-lerdwichagul-bring-the-world-of-gaming-to-life-in-meta-runner/news-story/f552592ad6ca4da40f1938bcbb87f670|website=Daily Telegraph|title=Youtubers Kevin, Luke Lerdwichagul release Meta Runner online animated series|date=July 16, 2019|access-date=9 November 2023|archive-date=8 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108013737/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/southern-courier/youtubers-kevin-and-luke-lerdwichagul-bring-the-world-of-gaming-to-life-in-meta-runner/news-story/f552592ad6ca4da40f1938bcbb87f670|url-status=live}} The series was funded by Screen Australia, and became the top-performing online investment from the company, racking up 10 million+ viewers across its first season. Meta Runner was later posted on Glitch Productions.

{{cite web |author=Hennessy |first=James |date=21 February 2020 |title=The world of film and TV is changing rapidly. Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason explains how the funding body keeps up. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com.au/screen-australia-new-content-2020-2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221162622/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/screen-australia-new-content-2020-2 |archive-date=21 February 2020 |website=Business Insider Australia}} The first season was also financed with support from Crunchyroll and AMD,{{cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Steve |date=25 June 2019 |title=Meta Runner is an anime funded by Screen Australia, Epic, AMD |url=https://stevivor.com/news/meta-runner-anime-funded-screen-australia-epic-amd/ |access-date=27 September 2020 |newspaper=Stevivor |archive-date=27 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127171057/https://stevivor.com/news/meta-runner-anime-funded-screen-australia-epic-amd/ |url-status=live }} and financed in association with Epic Games.{{cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=18 March 2019 |title=Epic Games awards $500,000 in final Unreal Dev Grants |url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/03/18/epic-games-awards-500000-in-final-unreal-dev-grants/ |access-date=27 September 2020 |website=VentureBeat |publisher= |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703033521/https://venturebeat.com/2019/03/18/epic-games-awards-500000-in-final-unreal-dev-grants/ |url-status=live }} On 20 April 2020, Screen Australia announced that they would be funding a second season of Meta Runner.{{cite web|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2020/04/screen-australia-funding-meta-runner/|title=Screen Australia Funds Second Series For Aussie Esports Drama Meta Runner|website=Kotaku|date=20 April 2020|author=Leah Williams|access-date=6 May 2022|archive-date=25 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225201521/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2020/04/screen-australia-funding-meta-runner/|url-status=dead}}

On 27 August 2020, Glitch officially separated the SMG4 channel from Glitch, and created the GLITCH channel to focus on its non-SMG4 projects. Its first videos released that day would be an announcement video and the first season of Meta Runner remade in Movie format.{{cite web |last=Glitch Productions |date=27 August 2020 |title=WELCOME TO GLITCH! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHPOIVODy54 |website=YouTube |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=23 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123103127/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHPOIVODy54 |url-status=live }} They would soon after release the pilot to Ultra Jump Mania (a spin-off of Meta Runner that would later be cancelled) and season 2 of Meta Runner.

On 12 March 2021, Glitch unveiled an SMG4 spin-off centered on the SMG4 character Meggy Spletzer called Sunset Paradise. The pilot would be released on 26 March 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv8onGun_lI|date=12 March 2021|title=Sunset Paradise (Official Trailer)|website=YouTube|access-date=6 May 2022|archive-date=23 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123103126/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv8onGun_lI|url-status=live}} On 12 May 2021, the show received online production funding from Screen Australia.{{cite web|url=https://www.if.com.au/screen-australia-announces-1-3-million-in-online-production-funding-across-five-projects/|website=IF Magazine|author=Sean Slatter|date=12 May 2021|title=Screen Australia announces $1.3 million in online production funding across five projects.|access-date=6 May 2022|archive-date=17 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117200750/https://if.com.au/screen-australia-announces-1-3-million-in-online-production-funding-across-five-projects/|url-status=live}}

On 9 October 2021, it was announced that Glitch would be releasing a pilot titled Murder Drones on 29 October, created, written, and directed by Liam Vickers. While earlier Glitch projects were essentially created on a monetary loss, Murder Drones greatly outperformed expectations and received millions of views per episode.{{cite web |last=Rouse |first=Lauren |date=26 October 2021 |title=This Aussie Animation Studio Has Made a New Horror Comedy About Murder Drones |url=https://gizmodo.com.au/2021/10/murder-drones-animated-series-glitch/ |website=Gizmodo |access-date=10 November 2023 |archive-date=23 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123004514/https://gizmodo.com.au/2021/10/murder-drones-animated-series-glitch/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.bubbleblabber.com/glitch-productions-reveals-murder-drones-complete-with-new-teaser/|title=Glitch Productions Reveals Murder Drones Complete With New Teaser|author=John Schwarz|date=9 October 2021|website=BubbleBlabber|access-date=6 May 2022|archive-date=29 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129183621/https://www.bubbleblabber.com/glitch-productions-reveals-murder-drones-complete-with-new-teaser/|url-status=live}}

On 1 September 2023, Glitch announced that they would be hosting a livestreaming event called "GlitchX" on 9 November 2023; where they would announce their upcoming show, The Gaslight District, in collaboration with animator Nick Szopko which went on to release it's pilot episode on 18 April 2025.{{cite web |author=Jamie Lang |date=7 November 2023 |title=Glitch Expo Will Live Stream Conversations With Indie Animation's Hottest Creators This Thursday |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/events/glitch-expo-independent-animation-showcase-234550.html |website=Cartoon Brew |access-date=9 November 2023 |archive-date=18 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118092859/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/events/glitch-expo-independent-animation-showcase-234550.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC8KsZniulw |title=THE GASLIGHT DISTRICT: PILOT |date=2025-04-17 |last=GLITCH |access-date=2025-04-18 |via=YouTube}}

On 13 October 2023, the pilot for The Amazing Digital Circus was released, a series created in collaboration with Gooseworx. The pilot would garner 100 million views in its first month, becoming the most popular indie animation video. The Amazing Digital Circus would also increase Glitch's notoriety, garnering news coverage, as well as their YouTube channel eventually reaching 10 million subscribers and 1 billion total views.{{cite web |last=Schwarz |first=John |date=27 January 2023 |title=GLITCH PRODUCTIONS DATES MURDER DRONES EPISODE THREE ; ANNOUNCES NEW SERIES |url=https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2023/01/glitch-productions-dates-murder-drones-episode-three-announces-new-series/ |website=BubbleBlabber |access-date=9 November 2023 |archive-date=17 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117195408/https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2023/01/glitch-productions-dates-murder-drones-episode-three-announces-new-series/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Valens |first=Ana |date=25 October 2023 |title=Where and How To Watch 'The Amazing Digital Circus' |url=https://www.themarysue.com/where-can-i-watch-the-amazing-digital-circus-explained/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=The Mary Sue |language=en |archive-date=2 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102165406/https://www.themarysue.com/where-can-i-watch-the-amazing-digital-circus-explained/ |url-status=live }}

On 7 June 2024, the company would launch a subscription service to help fund their programming called "Glitch Inn".{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

On 5 July 2024, Glitch launched 'FinalFinal_Project', a merchandise company that helps funding with other shows, with Iron Circus Animation, the producers of the Lackadaisy animated adaptation, being their first partners.{{Cite tweet |number=1809302870564757984 |user=glitch_prod |title=80% of the funding of our shows comes from the merch we sell. It's wholeheartedly what makes this all possible. And that's why we decided to not only do our own merch, but also help other indie creators with their merch too! Introducing FinalFinal_Project, our new merch company, with our first partners being @LackadaisyCats |date=2024-07-05 |access-date=2024-09-23}}

On 4 October 2024, following prior rumours, Glitch officially announced the debut of The Amazing Digital Circus to Netflix. It is the first Glitch production to be available on the platform. Glitch has stated that Netflix will have no creative control over the series, and new episodes would continue to premiere on YouTube first.{{Cite tweet |author=Glitch Productions |user=glitch_prod |number=1837929867729330444 |title=BIG NEWS GUYS!!! - From October 4th, The Amazing Digital Circus is also coming to Netflix with Episodes 1-3 available to stream both there AND on YouTube! And to be clear; We're still independently funding everything, we still get full control of the show, and episodes will continue to ALWAYS come out on YouTube first. Honestly feel that this is a HUGE step for indie animation and we couldn't have done it without you all ❤️ SEE YOU WHEN EPISODE 3 RELEASES 👀 |date=September 22, 2024 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}

On 17 January 2025, Glitch announced their first 2D animated series Knights of Guinevere in collaboration with The Owl House alumni Dana Terrace, John Bailey Owen, and Zach Marcus that is tentatively scheduled to premiere sometime in 2025. The show would also be Glitch's first co-production, being co-produced by the Irish animation company Studio Meala.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgwHNno1WvM |title=Knights Of Guinevere [TEASER] |date=2025-01-17 |last=GLITCH |access-date=2025-01-17 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/01/glitch-prod-teases-knights-of-guinevere-from-owl-house-creator-writers/ |title=Glitch Prod. Teases 'Knights of Guinevere' from 'Owl House' Creator & Writers |last=Milligan |first=Mercedes |date=17 January 2025 |access-date=17 January 2025 |website=Animation Magazine}}

On 10 March 2025, it was announced that the web animation group ZAMination would be partnering with Glitch to creatively direct Glitch's future marketing campaigns.{{Cite tweet |title=EXCITING NEWS! 🎉 ZAMination is teaming up with @glitch_prod to creatively direct their marketing campaigns! Huge thanks to the Glitch team for this opportunity. And don't worry—ZAMination videos aren’t slowing down. BIG things are coming soon, so stay tuned! 👀✨ |user=zaminationyt |number=1898738411407634766 |date=March 9, 2025 |access-date=11 March 2025}}

In March 2024, Glitch was accused of firing Celeste Notley-Smith, the voice actress for Tari from Meta Runner and SMG4, in a callous manner, and recasting her with Lottie Bourne, which led to allegations against the studio and confusion among fans. Notley-Smith wrote on Twitter that she was not notified of her role being recast. Several days later, she released a statement in which she explained that after discovering she had been recast, she reached out to the Lerdwichaguls, asking why she was removed from her role without contact from the team. It was later stated by general manager Jasmine Yang that it was down to a communication error on her (Yang's) part. Despite this, Robyn Barry-Cotter, the voice actress for Theo from Meta Runner, left Glitch Productions due to the controversy, which also left one of the SMG4 characters without a voice.{{Cite web |last=Ulatowski |first=Rachel |date=2024-03-12 |title=Breaking Down the Toxic Work Environment Allegations Against Glitch Productions |url=https://www.themarysue.com/glitch-productions-controversy-explained/ |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=The Mary Sue |language=en |archive-date=30 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330030057/https://www.themarysue.com/glitch-productions-controversy-explained/ |url-status=live }}

The studio was additionally alleged of longer work hours, blacklisting of ex-employees, and harassment, largely from Kevin Lerdwichagul. On 4 March 2024, Kevin released a statement via Glitch's social media outlets addressing the controversies, doubling as an apology to workers who had negative experience with the company. Kevin additionally claimed the studio had faced prior issues due to being short-staffed, but had largely resolved worker conditions by 2023. The response was accepted by the majority of Glitch's employees and fans, though some were still concerned that Notley-Smith's firing was never addressed.{{Cite web |last=Schwarz |first=John |date=2024-03-06 |title=Glitch Productions CEO Releases Statement Following Allegations |url=https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2024/03/glitch-productions-ceo-releases-statement-following-allegations/ |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=Bubbleblabber |language=en-US |archive-date=30 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330030057/https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2024/03/glitch-productions-ceo-releases-statement-following-allegations/ |url-status=live }}

{{Reflist}}{{Primary sources references section}}

• {{Official website|https://www.glitchprod.com/}}

{{Glitch Productions}}

{{Animation industry in Australia}}

Category:2017 establishments in Australia

Category:Animation-related YouTube channels

Category:Australian companies established in 2017

Category:Australian animation studios

Category:Companies based in Sydney

Category:YouTube channels

Category:YouTube channels launched in 2018

Category:Adult animation studios