Wildbrain Entertainment

For the studio formerly known as DHX Media, which acquired Wildbrain Entertainment in 2010, see WildBrain.

Wildbrain Entertainment, Inc.

Final logo used from August 20, 2007 to February 24, 2016.
Formerly	Colossal Pictures (1976-1999) BIG Pictures (1989-1994) Wild Brain (1994–2007)
Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Animation Entertainment
Predecessor	Colossal Pictures BIG Pictures
Founded	March 6, 1976 (1976-03-06)
Founders	John Hays Phil Robinson Jeff Fino
Defunct	February 24, 2016 (2016-02-24)
Fate	Folded into DHX Media
Successors	WildBrain London WildBrain WildBrain Studios
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California, U.S. New York City, New York, U.S. San Francisco, California, U.S.
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Television series, specials, television commercials, licensed merchandise
Parent	DHX Media (2006–2016)
Divisions	Wildbrain Animation Ghostbot
Website	wildbrain.com

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 animation studio and entertainment company 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, 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. In 2016, DHX revived the Wildbrain trademark for a new YouTube multi-channel network serving its properties and others, known as WildBrain. In 2019, DHX announced that it would rebrand as WildBrain to reflect the division's growth and prominence within the company.

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 "Meal of Two Cities", "Mantelope", and numerous web series including Joe Paradise, Glue, Graveyard, and Space is Dum. These were made to compete with Mondo Media's "Mondo Mini Shows" program who were located in their area and is where some of the employees went to work for after leaving the company.

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 2003, employees at the company Roque Ballesteros (creator of Joe Paradise), Alan Lau and Brad Rau left the company to form their own studio, Ghostbot Inc. Their most known for their work on Happy Tree Friends and Star Wars.

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 and Mondo Media 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.

In 2016, DHX Media revived the Wildbrain name for a new London-based multi-channel network known as WildBrain. The division would focus on YouTube channels aimed towards children, including content and original series drawn from DHX's properties, as well as other forms of educational and toy-oriented content. 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

• The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat (1995) (layouts)
• What a Cartoon! (1995–1997) (some shorts)
• Freakazoid! (1996-1997) (layouts)
• Acme Hour (1997) (opening, bumpers and closing)
• KaBlam! (1997) (The Brothers Tiki shorts)
• O Canada (1997) (opening title and bumpers)
• I Am Weasel (1997-1999) (layouts)
• Oh Yeah! Cartoons (1998) ("Fathead")
• Toonsylvania (1998) (layouts)
• Frank Tripper: The Perfect Weapon (2000)
• Glue (2000)
• Groove Monkee (2000)
• Joe Paradise (2000)
• Pajama Party (2000) (opening title)
• The Motion-Enhanced Chronodirectional Adventures of Romanov (2000)
• Space is Dum (2000–2001)
• Uncle Squirly (2000-2001)
• Poochini (2000–2002)
• Hong Kong Phooey (2001)
• 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)
• Deputy Duck (2000)
• Fight or Flea (2000)
• Jim Fu (2000)
• Pillowman (2000)
• The Perfect Pet (2000)
• Anita Bomba (2001)
• Captain Distraction (2001)
• El Kabong Rides Again (2001)
• Hermann and Vermin (2001)
• Hubert's Brain (2001)
• Mantalope (2001)
• Meal of Two Cities (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

• 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)
• Fruitsnackia (2012–2016)
• 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)

Staff

Executives

• Michael Polis
• Marge Dean
• Adrian Card
• David Graber
• Bob Higgins
• Nancy Evelyn
• Diane Tateishi
• Amy Capen
• Katie Rauh
• Holly Edwards
• 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
• Alan Lau (2000-2001)
• Dave Fremont
• Jance Allen
• Russ Mooney
• Charlie Canfield
• Alex Hauser
• Dave Marshall
• Roman Laney
• Pat Shinagawa
• Cindy Ng
• Aubrey Ankrum
• Dan Fraga
• Tod Polson
• Robert Scull
• Jeff Nevins
• Rhode Montijo
• Dave Thomas
• Ken Kaiser
• Bryan Arnett
• Dave Feiss (2000–2002)
• Sam Hood
• Roque Ballesteros (2000–2001; 2006–2007)

Animators

• Dave Thomas
• Sean Dicken (August 1999–August 2001; July 2003–September 2006; May 2007–October 2009)
• Jeff Nevins
• Alex Currier
• Sam Hood
• Rob Lily (2009–2010)
• Nick Butera (2010–2012?)
• Lyndon Ruddy
• John Korellis
• Gordon Clark
• Dave Vandervoort
• Roque Ballesteros (1998–2000)
• Bob Jeffery
• Lyla Warren
• Robin Steele
• Alan Lau (2000-2003)
• Pam Stalker
• Elena Neilich
• Barbara Bayne
• Kris Lacore-Toscanini
• Gooby Herms
• Ken Kaiser
• Celeste Moreno
• Tod Polson
• Daisy Church
• Stefan Gustafsson
• John Cimino
• Bob Rutan
• Ariel Pendergast
• Greg Araya
• Nica Lorber
• Steve McClure
• Christine Johnson
• Joel Reid
• Steve Schwertner
• Brian Fee
• Philippe Ames
• Ivan Spiridonov
• Anna Blomfield
• David Zhang
• Erhard Falk
• Chris Petrocchi
• Darren Bunch
• Jim Richardson
• Bill Hunt
• Glenn Motowidlak
• Kristen Borges
• Natalie Long
• Diane Tateishi
• Shawn Toshikian
• Jason Sadler
• Dan McHale
• Mike Longden
• Bill Reed
• Valerie Jeanne
• Tim Blair
• Paul Schmidt
• Amanda Tsoukanelis
• Tiffanie Ragasa
• Sara Anderson
• Dave DiMatteo
• Greg Gaw
• Pat Shinagawa
• Casey Mitchum
• Robert Romero
• David Winn
• Michael E. Cole
• Granger Davis
• Russell Jamison
• Douglas Gray
• Sean Pendergrass
• Cesar Henriquez
• Ramiro Olmos
• Michael Huang
• Randy Sanchez
• John Dusenberry
• Ted Pratt
• Joey Adams
• Anna Hollingsworth
• Rachel Young
• Daniel Hopper
• Aaron Sonerson
• Brad Rau (1998-2003)
• Danya O'Brien
• Christina Kelley
• Isaac Payne
• Claude Wilner
• Natalie Kim
• Stephen Curley
• Aaron Blecha
• Catherine Dingman
• Dick Hill
• Antonio Toro
• Phil Robinson
• Corrine Wong
• Edward Artinian
• James Munro
• Marc Crisafulli
• Amber MacLean
• Chris Mitchell
• Jeff Zikry
• Elaine Reali
• Amy Naura
• Kenn Navarro
• Rick Acosta
• Sam Chi
• Michael Lipman
• Heiko Dregenberg
• Achiu So
• Patricia Ross
• Jance Allen
• Chris Wiler
• Stephen H. Wilson
• Anthony Sipsas
• Jeff Biancalana
• Matthew Grinnell
• Cindy Ng
• Marcelo de Souza
• Nick Hewitt
• Joe Sloan
• Billy Burger
• Marc Perry
• Scott Morse

External links

• Official website (archived October 22, 2014)
• Animation Insider Article
• SF Weekly "The Little Animation Company That Could" by Ryan Blitstein