Wildbrain Entertainment
{{For|the studio formerly known as DHX Media, which acquired Wildbrain Entertainment in 2010|WildBrain}}
{{Short description|American entertainment company and animation studio}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Wildbrain Entertainment, Inc.
| logo =
| type = Subsidiary
| logo_caption = Logo used in 2007 as Wildbrain
| former_name = Wild Brain (1994–2007)
| fate = Folded into DHX Media
| defunct = {{end date and age|2016|2|24}}
| predecessor = Colossal Pictures
BIG Pictures
| founded = {{start date and age|1994|5|19}}
| founders = John Hays
Phil Robinson
Jeff Fino
| hq_location = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
New York City, New York, U.S.
San Francisco, California, U.S.
| area_served = Worldwide
| industry = Entertainment
Animation
| products = Television series, specials, television commercials, licensed merchandise
| successors = {{Plainlist|
}}
| parent = DHX Media (2010–2017)
| divisions = Wildbrain Animation
Ghostbot
| website = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20141022204238/http://www.wildbrain.com/|wildbrain.com}} (archived October 22, 2014)
}}
{{Wildbrain evolution}}
Wildbrain Entertainment, Inc. (commonly known as Wildbrain, stylized as W!LDBRAIN, formerly known as Wild Brain, and later known as DHX Media Los Angeles) was an American entertainment company and animation studio that developed and produced television programming, motion pictures, commercial content, and licensed merchandise. Established in 1994, it maintained offices in Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco.
Its film productions included the Annie Award-winning computer-animated short film Hubert's Brain, while its television work included the Nick Jr. series Bubble Guppies and Yo Gabba Gabba!, and the Disney Channel series Higglytown Heroes. Wildbrain also produced earlier animated shorts and television specials of Monster High for Mattel.
They have produced national commercials for clients such as Esurance,Alex Miller, "[http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=40045 Cross-Media Case Study: Secret Agent of Change]", OMMA, March 2006. Chiclets, Target, Nike, Honda, Kraft, The Wall Street Journal, and Lamisil (featuring Digger the Dermatophyte). Their ad work has won Clio Awards, ADDY Awards, BDA Awards, and Annie Awards. A subsidiary, Kidrobot, creates limited edition toys, clothing, artwork, and books. It had stores in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami.
The studio was sold to DHX Media in 2010 for US$8 million, and was dissolved in 2012.https://www.licenseglobal.com/entertainment/dhx-media-acquires-wildbrain-entertainment In 2016, DHX revived the Wildbrain trademark (changing it slightly to WildBrain) for its streaming video network. Following the success of the video network, DHX changed its name to WildBrain in 2019.{{Cite web|url=http://kidscreen.com/2019/09/23/dhx-rebrands-as-wildbrain/|title=DHX rebrands as WildBrain|work=Kidscreen|date=September 23, 2019|access-date=2019-09-23}}
History
In 1994, John Hays, Phil Robinson, and Jeff Fino founded Wild Brain in the Castro District of San Francisco, California. The new company bootstrapped with contract work from local game companies such as Broderbund, LucasArts, and Living Books. In 1996, Wild Brain moved to a 17,000 square foot warehouse at the corner of 18th St. and York St. in the Mission District spearheading the growth of what came to be known in San Francisco as Multimedia Gulch. In 1999, Austin, Texas-based Interfase Capital invested almost $17 million in Wild Brain.
Over the next few years, Wild Brain's staff ballooned from a staff of about 20 to about 250. It struck deals with Yahoo! and Cartoon Network to produce animated shorts for the web. It launched wildbrain.com, creating animated web shorts such as "Groove Monkee", "Mantelope", and numerous web series including Joe Paradise, Glue, Graveyard, and Space is Dum.
After legendary studio Colossal Pictures closed down in 1999, and with the financial backing of the Interfase companies, Wild Brain expanded further, providing employment for former Colossal directors and staff. Around this period, they produced the series Higglytown Heroes and Poochini.
In 2004, Charles Rivkin, former CEO of The Jim Henson Company, joined Wild Brain as president and CEO. Rivkin oversaw the creation and development of the series Yo Gabba Gabba! for Nick Jr.
In 2007, former founder Jeff Fino left to start Nuvana, an educational web-based company with former Colossal Pictures producer, Joe Kwong. Wild Brain rebranded to Wildbrain Entertainment that same year.
In 2008, Rivkin left Wildbrain after being named U.S. ambassador to France and Monaco. Michael Polis, the marketing director of Wildbrain, then became the new CEO.
Around this time, John Hays left Wildbrain to work on indie features La Mission and Howl, which opened the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
By 2009, the original founders of the company had all left Wildbrain. The company expanded its animation studios to Sherman Oaks in March, then closed its San Francisco office in June. It had been an independent company until Canadian studio DHX Media purchased Wildbrain in 2010. That same year, Phil Robinson and Amy Capen, executive producer of Wildbrain's San Francisco studio, started an independent company called Special Agent Productions. Robinson died in 2015 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.{{Cite web|url=http://www.james-baker.com/news/phil-robinson/|title=Phil Robinson|website=FALLOUT: JaMie BaKeR's BLOG|date=29 January 2015 |language=en-AU|access-date=2017-03-19}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/rip/wild-brain-co-founder-phil-robinson-rip-108406.html|title=Wild Brain Co-Founder Phil Robinson, RIP|date=2015-01-29|work=Cartoon Brew|access-date=2017-03-19|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/people/director-and-studio-co-founder-phil-robinson-dies/|title=Director and Studio Co-Founder Phil Robinson Dies|date=2015-01-29|work=Animation Magazine|access-date=2017-03-19|language=en-US}}
In 2016, DHX Media announced the formation of a new London-based multi-channel network under the name WildBrain, focusing primarily on YouTube channels aimed towards children, such as content and original series from DHX's properties, as well as other forms of educational and toy-oriented content.{{Cite web|url=http://kidscreen.com/2016/04/25/dhx-media-unveils-online-kids-net-wildbrain/|title=DHX Media unveils online kids net WildBrain|work=Kidscreen|date=April 25, 2016|access-date=2019-09-23}} This would cause Wildbrain Entertainment to fold into DHX Media. In September 2019, DHX Media announced that it would change its name to WildBrain outright, with the MCN unit being renamed WildBrain Spark.
Filmography
=Television series=
- I Am Weasel (1997–2000)
- KaBlam! (1997) (The Brothers Tiki shorts)
- O Canada (1997) (opening title and bumpers)
- Acme Hour (1997) (opening, bumpers and closing)
- Oh Yeah! Cartoons (1998) ("Fathead")
- Space is Dum (1999–2001)
- Pajama Party (2000) (opening title)
- Poochini (2000–2002)
- The Chuck Jones Show (2001) (opening title)
- Higglytown Heroes (2004–2008)
- Yo Gabba Gabba! (2007–2015)
- Team Smithereen (2009–2011)
- The Ricky Gervais Show (2010–2012)
- The Hard Times of RJ Berger (2010–2011)
- Monster High (2010–2012)
- Bubble Guppies (2011) (season 1)
- The Aquabats! Super Show! (2012–2014)
- UMIGO (2012–2014)
- Sheriff Callie's Wild West (2014–2015) (season 1)
=Films=
- FernGully 2: The Magical Rescue (1998)
- Dudley Do-Right (1999) (animation)
- The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000) (2D traditional animation)
- Cats & Dogs (2001) (Egypt animation)
- Rat Race (2001) (opening title sequence)
- Dopamine (2003) (CGI animation)
- Howl (2010) (animation)
- Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown (2011) (television special)
=Short films=
- Out in Space (1997)
- Humanstein (1998)
- A Dog Cartoon (1998)
- Web Premiere Toons (1999-2001)
- El Kabong Rides Again (2001)
- Hubert's Brain (2001)
- Anita Bomba (2001)
- Erin Esurance in "Carbon Copy" (2007)
- Disrespectoids (2010)
=Video games=
- Living Books: The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight (1995) (animation)
- Living Books: Green Eggs and Ham (1996)
- NeoHunter (1996) (character design and animation)
- Play-Doh Creations (1996) (animation)
- Flying Saucer (1997)
- Rugrats Adventure Game (1998) (additional art and animation)
- Star Wars: Jar Jar's Journey Adventure Book (1999)
- Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? Treasures of Knowledge (2001) (character design)
- The Oregon Trail 5th Edition (2001) (character design)
- Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean (2003) (2D animation)
- Sideway: New York (2011) (animation)
=Commercials=
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
- Animax (1998) (with Mercury Filmworks)
- Cap'n Crunch (2003–2007)
- Cartoon Network/Tennis Industry Association (1997)
- Century Theatres (2000)
- Cheetos (2001)
- Chicago Transit Authority (2004)
- Chiclets (2004)
- Chips Ahoy! (1999)
- Coca-Cola (1996, 1998, 2005)
- Sprite (1998)
- Dreyer's (2002)
- Esurance (2004–2009)
- Ford Motor Company (1999, 2001)
- Green Giant (1999, 2003)
- Helados (1998) (with Mercury Filmworks)
- Hershey's Kisses (1998–1999, 2002)
- Honda Element (2005–2008)
- KFC (1998–2000)
- Kraft Singles (2003)
- Jolly Rancher (2001)
- Kid Cuisine (2001)
- Lamisil (2003–2005)
- Levi's (1998)
- Locomotion (1997)
- Lunchables (2004–2008)
- Mainstay Mutual Funds (1996) (with Little Fluffy Clouds)
- Nike (1996, 1999)
- NTB (1997–1998)
- Noggin (1999)
- Norfolk Southern (2001)
- Oreo O's (2002)
- Parfums de Coeur (1999, 2001)
- PBS Kids (2005)
- Pebbles (2002–2004)
- Reese's Sticks (1999)
- Rice Krispies (1998)
- Ritz Crackers (2000–2001)
- Scandinavian Designs (2000)
- Secret Central (2003)
- Sony Music Entertainment (2000)
- The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)
- STP (1996)
- Target Corporation (2001)
- Tropicana (2003)
- The Wall Street Journal (2002)
- The Willy Wonka Candy Company (1998–2000, 2004)
- Winterfresh (2001)
- Virgin America (2007)
- Visine (2001)
- Xerox Document Centre (1997)
{{div col end}}
Staff
= Executives =
- Michael Polis
- Marge Dean
- David Graber
- Bob Higgins
- Amy Capen
- Jeff Fino (1994–2007)
- Scott Hyten
- Jeff Ulin
- Charles Rivkin (2004–2008)
- Paul Golden (1996-2001)
= Directors =
- Chris Hauge
- George Evelyn
- Paul Fierlinger
- Denis Morella
- Scott Schultz
- Phil Robinson (March 1995–July 2009)
- John Hays
- Ed Bell
- Robin Steele
- Dave Marshall
- Dave Thomas
- Dave Feiss (2000–2002)
- Roque Ballesteros (2000–2001; 2006–2007)
- Denis Morella
=Animators=
- Dave Thomas
- Sean Dicken (August 1999–August 2001; July 2003–September 2006; May 2007–October 2009)
- Jeff Nevins
- Alex Currier
- Sam Hood
- Roque Ballesteros (1998–2000)
- Rob Lily (2009–2010)
- Nick Butera (2010–2012?)
- Lyndon Ruddy
- John Korellis
- Gordon Clark
- Achiu So
- Patricia Ross
- Cindy Ng
- Marcelo de Souza
- Nick Hewitt
- Marc Perry
- Scott Morse
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20141022204238/http://www.wildbrain.com/}} (archived October 22, 2014)
- [http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=1755 Animation Insider Article]
- [http://www.sfweekly.com/2005-10-12/news/the-little-animation-company-that-could/ SF Weekly "The Little Animation Company That Could" by Ryan Blitstein]
{{DHX Media}}
{{Animation industry in the United States}}
Category:Companies based in San Francisco
Category:American animation studios
Category:Mass media companies established in 1994
Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 2017
Category:1994 establishments in California
Category:2017 disestablishments in California
Category:2010 mergers and acquisitions
Category:Television production companies of the United States