Atkinson Film-Arts
Encyclopedia
Atkinson Film-Arts was an animation studio based in Ottawa
, Ontario
, The company is best known for the first two Care Bears
television specials, The Land Without Feelings
and The Freeze Machine
, and the four syndicated specials that inspired The Raccoons
(as well as first season episodes of the show itself). Atkinson also produced the 1978 Christmas special The Little Brown Burro and the 1987-88 series The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
(with DIC Enterprises).
They also worked on the 1981 science fiction anthology, Heavy Metal
and also the "Body Electric" Movie video featuring Rush
.
The company acquired one of Canada's oldest film studios, Crawley Films (and its Graphic Films subsidiary), in 1982 for the price of just C$
1.
In 1987, the company was renamed Crawleys Animation. It produced the special The Nightingale (with Shanghai Animation Film Studio
) and 13 episodes of Dennis the Menace
for DIC
, and worked with French studio Belokapi on an unrealized series Ys the Magnificent, before shutting down in 1989.
Because of debt problems, Atkinson Film-Arts was Officially shut down in 1989.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, The company is best known for the first two Care Bears
Care Bears
The Care Bears are characters created by American Greetings in 1981 for use on greeting cards. The original artwork for the cards was painted by artist Elena Kucharik. In 1983, Kenner turned the Care Bears into plush teddy bears...
television specials, The Land Without Feelings
The Care Bears in the Land Without Feelings
The Care Bears in the Land Without Feelings is the first television special to feature the Care Bears characters. Made by Atkinson Film-Arts of Canada, it was premiered on syndication in April 1983...
and The Freeze Machine
The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine
The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine is the second television special to feature the Care Bears characters. Made by Atkinson Film-Arts of Canada, it premiered in syndication in April 1984.-Overview:...
, and the four syndicated specials that inspired The Raccoons
The Raccoons
The Raccoons is a Canadian animated television series which was originally broadcast from 1985 to 1991 with four preceding television specials beginning in 1980. The series was created by Kevin Gillis, and produced at Atkinson Film-Arts first-hand from 1984 to 1985, then at Hinton Animation Studios...
(as well as first season episodes of the show itself). Atkinson also produced the 1978 Christmas special The Little Brown Burro and the 1987-88 series The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin is an American animated television series based on Teddy Ruxpin, an animatronic teddy bear created by Ken Forsse and distributed by toy manufacturer Worlds of Wonder...
(with DIC Enterprises).
They also worked on the 1981 science fiction anthology, Heavy Metal
Heavy Metal (film)
Heavy Metal is a 1981 Canadian fantasy-animated film directed by Gerald Potterton and produced by Ivan Reitman and Leonard Mogel, who also was the publisher of Heavy Metal magazine....
and also the "Body Electric" Movie video featuring Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
.
The company acquired one of Canada's oldest film studios, Crawley Films (and its Graphic Films subsidiary), in 1982 for the price of just C$
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
1.
In 1987, the company was renamed Crawleys Animation. It produced the special The Nightingale (with Shanghai Animation Film Studio
Shanghai Animation Film Studio
Shanghai Animation Film Studio is the animation division of the Shanghai Film Group Corporation in Shanghai, China. It is responsible for the production of Chinese animations.-History:...
) and 13 episodes of Dennis the Menace
Dennis the Menace (1986 TV series)
Dennis the Menace is an American animated series produced by DIC Entertainment , based on the comic strip by Hank Ketcham....
for DIC
DiC Entertainment
DIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...
, and worked with French studio Belokapi on an unrealized series Ys the Magnificent, before shutting down in 1989.
Because of debt problems, Atkinson Film-Arts was Officially shut down in 1989.