Smiley Guy Studios

Smiley Guy Studios is a Canadian television production company founded in 1998 by graduates of the Canadian Film Centre including Jeremy Diamond, Adrian Carter and Denny Silverthorne;{{cite web|url=https://playbackonline.ca/1999/06/28/26079-19990628/|title=Guys plot revolution|date=1999-06-28|access-date=2024-06-15|website=Playback}} Jonas Diamond joined in 1999.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/canadian-screen-awards-digital-nominee-jonas-diamond-is-delighted/article_ebea54e9-9f3d-5f7a-a992-c291e51f0906.html|website=Toronto Star|first=Linda|last=Barnard|title=Canadian Screen Awards: Digital nominee Jonas Diamond is delighted|date=2013-02-25|access-date=2024-06-15}} It is one of the most prominent creators of adult animation in Canada,{{cite web|url=http://www.canadiananimationresources.ca/2020/05/from-the-internets-animation-is-booming-during-covid/|title=from the internets: Animation is Booming During Covid|first=Mike|last=Valiquette|date=2020-05-13|access-date=2024-06-14|website=Canadian Animation Resource}} with shows like Odd Job Jack, The Dating Guy, Sons of Butcher and Corner Gas Animated,{{cite web|url=https://www.toonboom.com/corner-gas-animated-is-canadas-answer-to-the-adult-animation-trend|title=Corner Gas Animated is Canada's answer to the adult animation trend|first=Philip|last=Mak|date=2018-09-25|access-date=2024-06-14|website=Toon Boom}} unlike most studios which focus primarily on shows targeting children's or family demographics. Smiley Guy also produces family content.{{cite web|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2012/03/12/the-brothers-sandhu-coming-to-kids-cbc/|title=The Brothers Sandhu coming to Kids' CBC|first=Danielle|last=Ng See Quan|website=Playback|date=2012-03-12|access-date=2024-06-14}}

Working with clients on a variety of animated television, film and new media projects such as Odd Job Jack{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/odd-job-jack-comes-full-circle/article20403035/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240611025747/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/odd-job-jack-comes-full-circle/article20403035/|title=Odd Job Jack comes full circle|first=Victoria|last=Ahearn|website=The Globe and Mail|archive-date=2024-06-11|date=2007-10-10|access-date=2024-06-10}} and Hotbox for The Comedy Network, The Ascent of Man with the National Film Board of Canada,{{cite web|url=https://collection.onf.ca/film/the_ascent_of_man|title=Mobile Stories: The Ascent of Man|website=National Film Board of Canada|access-date=2024-06-15}} Pillars of Freedom for TVO,{{cite web|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2011/10/12/smiley-guy-studios-jeremy-diamond-says-the-kids-are-alright/|title=Smiley Guy Studios' Jeremy Diamond says the kids are alright|first=Etan|last=Vlessing|website=Playback|date=2011-10-12|access-date=2024-06-14}} The Dating Guy, Skatoony, and Sons of Butcher for Teletoon, Steve Jobs Resurrected for Mondo Media,{{cite web|title=Steve Jobs rises from the dead to launch the new iPhone|url=https://digitalsynopsis.com/buzz/steve-jobs-rises-from-the-dead-to-launch-the-iphone-5/|website=Digital Synopsis|date=12 September 2012 |access-date=2024-06-15}} The World of Bruce McCall,{{cite web|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/biz/canadas-cbc-picks-up-animated-series-based-on-new-yorker-cartoonist-bruce-mccall-45728.html|title=Canada's CBC Picks Up Animated Series Based on "New Yorker" cartoonist Bruce McCall|first=Chris|last=Arrant|date=2011-07-07|access-date=2024-06-15|website=Cartoon Brew}}{{cite web|url=http://www.canadiananimationresources.ca/2011/07/press-release-ithenticbruce-mccallcbckickstarter-whew/|title=press release: iThentic/Bruce McCall/CBC/Kickstarter…whew|website=Canadian Animation Resources|first=Mike|last=Valiquette|date=2011-06-07|access-date=2024-06-15}} The Curse of Clara: A Holiday Tale,{{cite web|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2015/11/25/smiley-guys-hockey-ballet-holiday-mashup-set-for-cbc/|title=Smiley Guy's hockey-ballet holiday mashup set for CBC|first=Julianna|last=Cummins|date=2015-11-25|access-date=2024-06-15|website=Playback}}{{cite web|url=http://www.canadiananimationresources.ca/2015/11/press-release-smiley-guys-unleashing-the-curse-of-clara-just-in-time-for-the-holidays-on-cbc/|title=press release: Smiley Guys unleashing the CURSE OF CLARA, just in time for the holidays, on CBC!|first=Mike|last=Valiquette|date=2015-11-20|access-date=2024-06-15|website=Canadian Animation Resources}} Canada's Smartest Person,{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/mediacentre/press-release/how-smart-are-you-canada-play-along-with-canadas-smartest-person-sunday-mar|title=HOW SMART ARE YOU, CANADA? PLAY ALONG WITH CANADA'S SMARTEST PERSON SUNDAY, MARCH 18 AT 8 P.M. ON CBC-TV|website=CBC Media Centre|date=2012-03-16|access-date=2024-06-15}} Turbo Dogs, and The Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town for CBC, "The Politics Episode" of One Day at a Time for Pop,{{cite web|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2020/06/qa-smiley-guys-jonas-diamond-helps-toon-up-one-day-at-a-time/|website=Animation Magazine|title=Q&A: Smiley Guy's Jonas Diamond Helps Toon-Up 'One Day at a Time'|first=Ramin|last=Zahed|date=2020-06-15|access-date=2024-06-15}} Beethoven's Wig,{{cite web|url=https://whatsupnewp.com/2017/07/beethovens-wig-coming-to-newport-friday/|title= Beethoven's Wig Coming to Newport Friday|first=Ken|last=Abrams|date=2016-06-11|access-date=2024-06-15|website=What's Up News}}{{cite web|url=https://beethovenswig.com/about/bio/About_Beethoven-rsquo-s_Wig/476/|title=Smiley Guy Studios Animations|website=Beethoven's Wig|access-date=2024-06-15}} Psi Cops, and Captain Canuck.{{cite web|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2012/02/08/operation-unplugged-plugs-in-with-website-launch/|title=Operation Unplugged plugs in with website launch|first=Danielle|last=Ng See Quan|date=2012-02-08|access-date=2024-06-14|website=Playback}}{{cite web|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2011/03/02/the-rise-of-the-web-series/|title=The rise of the web series|first=Emily|last=Claire Afan|date=2011-02-02|access-date=2024-06-14|website=Playback}} It produced the animation for the UK adult animated series Warren United by Baby Cow Productions in 2014,{{cite web|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/features/2014/05/13/20192/an_animated_discussion...|title=An animated discussion...|website=Chortle|access-date=2024-06-14|date=2014-05-13}}{{cite web|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2014/06/23/bite-tv-debuts-smiley-guy-studios-cartoon-warren-united/|title=Bite TV debuts Smiley Guy Studios' cartoon Warren United|first=Etan|last=Vlessing|date=2014-06-23|access-date=2024-06-14|website=Playback}} as well as the proposed children's show What a Croc! with Whole Hog Creations in 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/biz/smiley-guy-studios-whole-hog-crreations-team-up-for-live-actionanimated-game-show-what-a-croc-57048.html|website=Cartoon Brew|title=Smiley Guy Studios & Whole Hog Crreations Team Up For Live Action/Animated Game Show "What A Croc!"|first=Chris|last=Arrant|date=2012-02-11|access-date=2024-06-14}}{{cite web|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2012/02/10/smiley-guy-studios-partnering-with-u-k-based-whole-hog-on-what-the-croc/|title=Smiley Guy Studios partnering with U.K.-based Whole Hog on What a Croc!|website=Playback|first=Etan|last=Vlessing|date=2012-02-10|access-date=2024-06-14}}

Along with Vida Spark Productions, it was co-producer of Corner Gas Animated, a revival of the hit live action situation comedy Corner Gas. Its first episode, "Bone Dry", which aired on April 2, 2018, is currently the highest rated premier ever for The Comedy Network.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cornergas.com/corner-gas-animated-becomes-watched-series-premiere-history-comedy-network/|title=CORNER GAS ANIMATED Becomes the Most-Watched Series Premiere in the History of The Comedy Network|date=April 9, 2018|publisher=CornerGas.com|accessdate=April 9, 2018}} The fourth and final season aired in 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7949887/corner-gas-animated/|title='Corner Gas Animated' to end after 4th season|date=2021-06-14|publisher=Global News|first=Victoria|last=Ahearn|access-date=2024-06-16}}

The studio has also pioneered an experimental form of described video, wherein rather than a neutral narrator, descriptions are provided by actors in-character.{{cite journal|url=https://cjc.utpjournals.press/doi/full/10.22230/cjc.2011v36n3a2363|date=November 2011|title=Death Comes to Town, Irreverent Humour, and Accessibility for the Blind and Low-Visioned|first1=Kristen|last1=Aspevig|first2=Isabel|last2=Pedersen|journal=Canadian Journal of Communication|volume=36 |issue=3 |pages=359–376 |doi=10.22230/cjc.2011v36n3a2363 |access-date=2024-06-24}}