Wild Brain
Encyclopedia
Wild Brain is an award-winning entertainment company that develops and produces television programming, motion pictures, commercial content and licensed merchandise. Originally known as BIG Pictures until 1995, they have offices in Los Angeles and New York.
Film productions include the Annie Award
-winning CGI short Hubert's Brain
, while television work includes Nick Jr. series Yo Gabba Gabba!
and highly rated Disney Channel
series Higglytown Heroes
. and the popular award-winning Monster High
for Nickelodeon
.
They have produced national commercials for clients like Esurance
, Chicklets, 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 has stores in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami.
. It became well known in the 1980s and 1990s for its innovative design work. Many of it's clients included MTV
, Nickelodeon
, Disney, and Coca-Cola
.
In 1991, (Colossal) Pictures created a subsidiary called BIG Pictures so they could produce a television show called Back to the Future: The Animated Series
for CBS. Also created at the studio was Liquid Television
for MTV
and BBC Two
.
In 1994, John Hays
, Phil Robinson
& Jeff Fino came to the studio and renamed it to WildBrain. Five years later, Wildbrain's owner, (Colossal) Pictures
shut down in 1999. WildBrain continued to work as an independent company until 2009, when DHX Media
purchased Wildbrain.
The same year, WildBrain's San Francisco studio became Special Agent Productions.
shorts for the Hanna Barbera-produced Cartoon Network
series Cow and Chicken
, in 1997. I Am Weasel
later spun off to become a separate show. In 2000, Wild Brain launched Mr. Baby and Poochini's Yard
; the second series aired globally, but did not appear in the United States until 2002, airing as Poochini. Wild Brain produced two animated series for Disney Channel
's preschool-friendly programming block Disney Junior
(formerly Playhouse Disney
), Higgytown Heroes and the forthcoming Oki's Oasis, and is currently producing The Aquabats Super Show!
for Hub. The studio has also done commercials and promos for companies like MTV
, Noggin, Locomotion
, Coca-Cola
and Cartoon Network
.
Kidrobot (Wildbrain subsidiary) was the first to hit shelves with apparel and collectible merchandise.
Season 1-2.
Film productions include the Annie Award
Annie Award
The Annie Awards have been presented by the Los Angeles, California branch of the International Animated Film Association, ASIFA-Hollywood since 1972...
-winning CGI short Hubert's Brain
Hubert's Brain
Hubert's Brain, made in 2001, is the first computer-generated film made by San Francisco digital media company Wild Brain. The movie is 17 minutes long, took one year and $3,000,000 to produce, and won the 2001 Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Short Subject...
, while television work includes Nick Jr. series Yo Gabba Gabba!
Yo Gabba Gabba!
Yo Gabba Gabba! is an American children's television show currently airing on the Nick Jr. cable network in the United States and the Nick Jr. networks in the United Kingdom & Ireland, Italy, France and Australia as well as Treehouse TV network in Canada and RTE2 on RTEjr see Raidió Teilifís...
and highly rated Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
series Higglytown Heroes
Higglytown Heroes
Higglytown Heroes is a children's television series currently airing on the Disney Junior portion of the Disney Channel, or, on some cable networks, the Playhouse Disney channel...
. and the popular award-winning Monster High
Monster High
Monster High is an American line of fashion dolls created by Garrett Sander with the illustrations done by Kellee Riley. They were officially released in July 2010 but made in 2007....
for Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
.
They have produced national commercials for clients like Esurance
Esurance
Esurance Inc. is an American auto insurance provider headquartered in San Francisco, California. Esurance has 1,700 employees in 14 offices nationwide.-History:...
, Chicklets, Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
, Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
, Kraft
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
, the Wall Street Journal and Lamisil, (featuring Digger the Dermatophyte
Dermatophyte
Dermatophytes are a common label for a group of three types of fungus that commonly causes skin disease in animals and humans. These anamorphic genera are: Microsporum, Epidermophyton and Trichophyton. There are about 40 species in these three genera...
). Their ad work has won Clio Awards
Clio Awards
The Clio Awards are annual awards bestowed to reward innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design and communication. The categories include work in nearly all types of media, and the judges are advertising professionals from around the world....
, Addy Awards
Addy Awards
The ADDY Awards is the world's largest advertising competition with over 50,000 entries annually. Founded in Florida in 1960 it was adopted by the American Advertising Federation, a not-for-profit industry association, as a national competition in 1968....
, BDA Awards, and Annie Awards.
A subsidiary, Kidrobot
Kidrobot
Kidrobot is a producer and retailer of designer toys founded in 2002 by Paul Budnitz, specializing in artist-created toys and imports from Japan, Hong Kong, and Europe. Kidrobot also makes Kidrobot Mascots, which are figures of their main logo. These figures are usually nicknamed KR and the number...
, creates limited edition toys, clothing, artwork, and books. It has stores in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami.
History
In 1976, two men named Drew Takahashi and Gary Gutierrez created a company named (Colossal) Pictures(Colossal) Pictures
Pictures was an award-winning entertainment company that developed and produced television programming, network branding, and film titles....
. It became well known in the 1980s and 1990s for its innovative design work. Many of it's clients included MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon is a US cable TV channel.Nickelodeon may also refer to:-In television:*Spinoffs of the Nickelodeon channel:** Nickelodeon Magazine, a children's magazine.** Nickelodeon Universe, an amusement park....
, Disney, and Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
.
In 1991, (Colossal) Pictures created a subsidiary called BIG Pictures so they could produce a television show called Back to the Future: The Animated Series
Back to the Future: The Animated Series
Back to the Future: The Animated Series is an animated series for television based on the Back to the Future trilogy of feature films. The series lasted two seasons, each featuring 13 episodes, and ran on CBS from September 7, 1991 to November 28, 1992. It reran until August 14, 1993...
for CBS. Also created at the studio was Liquid Television
Liquid Television
Liquid Television is an Emmy Award–winning 1990s animation showcase that appeared on MTV. The first season of Liquid Television also aired on BBC Two in co-production with MTV. Ultimately, MTV commissioned three seasons of the show, which was produced by Colossal Pictures...
for MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
.
In 1994, John Hays
John Hays
John Hays is the only Jew known to have come to Illinois prior to its admission in the Union . He was the son of Baruch Hays, a lieutenant in the American Revolution and scion of one of the oldast American Jewish families. John Hays settled in Illinois as early as 1793 and served for twenty years...
, Phil Robinson
Phil Alden Robinson
Phil Alden Robinson is an American film director and screenwriter whose films include Field of Dreams, Sneakers and The Sum of All Fears.-Life and career:...
& Jeff Fino came to the studio and renamed it to WildBrain. Five years later, Wildbrain's owner, (Colossal) Pictures
(Colossal) Pictures
Pictures was an award-winning entertainment company that developed and produced television programming, network branding, and film titles....
shut down in 1999. WildBrain continued to work as an independent company until 2009, when DHX Media
DHX Media
DHX Media Ltd. is a Canadian media production company formed in 2006 by the merger of Halifax Film Company and Decode Entertainment. The DHX name derives from the combination of Decode and Halifax. Studio B Productions was acquired by DHX Media in December 2007...
purchased Wildbrain.
The same year, WildBrain's San Francisco studio became Special Agent Productions.
Wildbrain Entertainment
Wild Brain's first venture into television was 13 I Am WeaselI Am Weasel
I Am Weasel is an American animated television series produced by Cartoon Network Studios in co-production with Hanna-Barbera, created by David Feiss, and broadcast on Cartoon Network....
shorts for the Hanna Barbera-produced Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
series Cow and Chicken
Cow and Chicken
Cow and Chicken is an American animated series, created by David Feiss. The series shows the surreal adventures of a cow, named Cow, and her chicken brother, named Chicken. They are often antagonized by "The Red Guy", who poses as various characters to scam or hurt them...
, in 1997. I Am Weasel
I Am Weasel
I Am Weasel is an American animated television series produced by Cartoon Network Studios in co-production with Hanna-Barbera, created by David Feiss, and broadcast on Cartoon Network....
later spun off to become a separate show. In 2000, Wild Brain launched Mr. Baby and Poochini's Yard
Poochini's Yard
Poochini's Yard is an animated children's television series which originally aired globally in 2000, but was not shown in the United States for the first time until September 1, 2002...
; the second series aired globally, but did not appear in the United States until 2002, airing as Poochini. Wild Brain produced two animated series for Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
's preschool-friendly programming block Disney Junior
Disney Junior
Disney Junior is a current program block on Disney Channel and an upcoming American basic cable and satellite television network intended to replace SOAPnet in February 2012. It began airing on February 14, 2011, replacing Playhouse Disney....
(formerly Playhouse Disney
Playhouse Disney
Playhouse Disney was Disney Channel's television block for programs aimed at entertaining preschool aged children, often airing as its own channel outside the United States. It was introduced in 1997 after Disney Channel's move to basic cable from premium cable, with a target audience of children...
), Higgytown Heroes and the forthcoming Oki's Oasis, and is currently producing The Aquabats Super Show!
The Aquabats Super Show!
The Aquabats Super Show! is an upcoming comedy television series created by Yo Gabba Gabba! producers Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz, which will air as part of The Hubs 2011-2012 schedule....
for Hub. The studio has also done commercials and promos for companies like MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, Noggin, Locomotion
Locomotion (TV channel)
Sony Spin is a Latin American cable television channel, launched on May 1, 2011, replacing the local version of Animax.-History:Animax, being Sony's first attempt to offer a 24-hour anime channel in Latin America, it was planned to broadcast the series in two formats...
, Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
and Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
.
TV shows
- Betty Boop's Hollywood MysteryBetty BoopBetty Boop is an animated cartoon character created by Max Fleischer, with help from animators including Grim Natwick. She originally appeared in the Talkartoon and Betty Boop film series, which were produced by Fleischer Studios and released by Paramount Pictures. She has also been featured in...
(1990) (as BIG Pictures) - Back to the Future: The Animated SeriesBack to the Future: The Animated SeriesBack to the Future: The Animated Series is an animated series for television based on the Back to the Future trilogy of feature films. The series lasted two seasons, each featuring 13 episodes, and ran on CBS from September 7, 1991 to November 28, 1992. It reran until August 14, 1993...
(1991–1992) (as BIG Pictures) - Liquid TelevisionLiquid TelevisionLiquid Television is an Emmy Award–winning 1990s animation showcase that appeared on MTV. The first season of Liquid Television also aired on BBC Two in co-production with MTV. Ultimately, MTV commissioned three seasons of the show, which was produced by Colossal Pictures...
(1991–1994) (as BIG Pictures) - Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child is an American animated television series that premiered March 26, 1995, on HBO. Narrated by Robert Guillaume, the series aired 39 episodes from 1995 to 2000, and is currently airing on the HBO Family digital cable television channel in the United...
(storyboards) (1995-2000) - Freakazoid (pre-production) (1995-1997)
- KaBlam!KaBlam!KaBlam! is an American animated television series that ran on Nickelodeon from 1996 to 2000. Then it moved to The N on April 15, 2002 as part of its The N's Saturday Nights block...
("The Brothers Tiki" shorts) (1997) - I Am WeaselI Am WeaselI Am Weasel is an American animated television series produced by Cartoon Network Studios in co-production with Hanna-Barbera, created by David Feiss, and broadcast on Cartoon Network....
(1997–2000) - O CanadaO Canada (TV series)O Canada was an animated television anthology series, broadcast in the United States on Cartoon Network.Shown mainly on Sunday nights at 12:00 midnight ET, O Canada featured a selection of animated shorts from Canada, mostly from the archives of the National Film Board of Canada.The title of the...
(opening title) (1997) - Spawn (1998)
- Space is Dum (1999-2001)
- Poochini's YardPoochini's YardPoochini's Yard is an animated children's television series which originally aired globally in 2000, but was not shown in the United States for the first time until September 1, 2002...
(2000–2002) - Higglytown HeroesHigglytown HeroesHigglytown Heroes is a children's television series currently airing on the Disney Junior portion of the Disney Channel, or, on some cable networks, the Playhouse Disney channel...
(2004–2008) - Yo Gabba Gabba!Yo Gabba Gabba!Yo Gabba Gabba! is an American children's television show currently airing on the Nick Jr. cable network in the United States and the Nick Jr. networks in the United Kingdom & Ireland, Italy, France and Australia as well as Treehouse TV network in Canada and RTE2 on RTEjr see Raidió Teilifís...
(2007–present) - Team Smithereen (2009–2011)
- The Ricky Gervais ShowThe Ricky Gervais ShowThe Ricky Gervais Show is a comedy audio show in the UK starring Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Karl Pilkington, later adapted into an animated televised version debuting for HBO and Channel 4 in 2010. The show started in November 2001 on Xfm, and aired in weekly periods for months at a time...
(2010–present) - The Hard Times of RJ BergerThe Hard Times of RJ BergerThe Hard Times of RJ Berger is a United States television comedy series created by David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith for MTV. The show's central character is RJ Berger an unpopular sophomore at the fictional Pinkerton High School in Ohio who has an exceptionally large penis...
(2010–present) - Monster HighMonster HighMonster High is an American line of fashion dolls created by Garrett Sander with the illustrations done by Kellee Riley. They were officially released in July 2010 but made in 2007....
(2010) - OctonautsThe OctonautsThe Octonauts is a Children's TV Series, produced by Silvergate Media for Cbeebies and animated by Brown Bag Films. The TV series was based on the children's books written by Vicki Wong and Michael Murphy of Meomi Design Inc....
(2010) - Bubble GuppiesBubble GuppiesBubble Guppies is an American preschool children's television series produced for Nickelodeon and created by Jonny Belt and Robert Scull. The series revolves around the underwater adventures of a group of mermaid-like preschoolers...
(2011–present) - Happiness Is A Warm Blanket, Charlie BrownHappiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie BrownHappiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown is a Peanuts television special animated by Wild Brain that was released in 2011. The special is the 45th in the series and the first without the late Bill Melendez on the production team...
(2011) - Oki's Oasis (2012)
Commercials
- Coca-ColaCoca-ColaCoca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
"Major League Baseball" (1996) - NTBNTBNTB may refer to:* Non-tariff barriers to trade* Norsk Telegrambyrå, the leading news agency in Norway* The IATA code for Notodden Airport, Tuven, in Norway* National Tire and Battery* Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesian province of West Nusa Tenggara...
"Campaign" (1996) - MainstayMainstayMainstay is a Christian rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band was formed in 2003 and is signed to BEC Recordings. While a lot of the band's music has decidedly Christian lyrics and messages, their music appeals to a large secular fanbase as well. Their music style has been compared to...
"Up, Down, Up" (1997) - NikeNikeNike may refer to:* Nike , Greek goddess who personifies victory**The Nike of Samothrace, an ancient statue of the goddess Nike* Nike, Inc., major U.S. manufacturer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment...
"Destination Moon" (1997) - LocomotionLocomotion (TV channel)Sony Spin is a Latin American cable television channel, launched on May 1, 2011, replacing the local version of Animax.-History:Animax, being Sony's first attempt to offer a 24-hour anime channel in Latin America, it was planned to broadcast the series in two formats...
"Startup" (1997) - LocomotionLocomotion (TV channel)Sony Spin is a Latin American cable television channel, launched on May 1, 2011, replacing the local version of Animax.-History:Animax, being Sony's first attempt to offer a 24-hour anime channel in Latin America, it was planned to broadcast the series in two formats...
"Retromotion Intro" (1997) - Cartoon NetworkCartoon NetworkCartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
"Acme Hour" (1997) - AnimaxAnimaxis a Japanese anime satellite television network, dedicated to broadcasting anime programming. A subsidiary of Japanese media conglomerate Sony, it is headquartered in in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with its co-founders and shareholders including Sony Pictures Entertainment and the noted anime studios...
"Station ID's" (1998) - CokeCokeCoke may refer to:* Coca-Cola, a soft drink originally based on coca leaf extract** The Coca-Cola Company, makers of this drink** Cola, any soft drink similar to Coca-Cola** Soft drink, any non-alcoholic carbonated beverage* Coca, a plant...
"Super Mom" (1998) - KFCKFCKFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
"Colonel Sanders" (1998) - Levi's "Sensitive" (1998)
- NestleNestléNestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
"Chewy Runts" (1998) - XeroxXeroxXerox Corporation is an American multinational document management corporation that produced and sells a range of color and black-and-white printers, multifunction systems, photo copiers, digital production printing presses, and related consulting services and supplies...
"Two Cities" (1998) - Noggin "Chia" (1999)
- Parfums De Couer "Juice Babes" (1999)
- PillsburyPillsburyPillsbury may refer to:* Pillsbury Company, a brand name used by Minneapolis-based General Mills, with The J.M. Smucker Co. as licensee for baking products....
"Moon" (1999) - NikeNikeNike may refer to:* Nike , Greek goddess who personifies victory**The Nike of Samothrace, an ancient statue of the goddess Nike* Nike, Inc., major U.S. manufacturer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment...
"Playa's Delight" (2001) - EsuranceEsuranceEsurance Inc. is an American auto insurance provider headquartered in San Francisco, California. Esurance has 1,700 employees in 14 offices nationwide.-History:...
"Campaign" (2004-2009) - Lamisil "It's Alive" (2006)
Short films
- Out In Space (1997)
- Humanstein (1998)
- A Dog Cartoon (1998)
- El Kabong Rides Again (2000)
- Hubert's BrainHubert's BrainHubert's Brain, made in 2001, is the first computer-generated film made by San Francisco digital media company Wild Brain. The movie is 17 minutes long, took one year and $3,000,000 to produce, and won the 2001 Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Short Subject...
(2001) - Erin Esurance in "Carbon Copy" (2007)
Wildbrain Consumer Products
YO GABBA GABBA! apparel, accessories, books, electronics, games, home décor and toys are available at retail through top licensees, including Kidrobot, Spin Master, Ltd., Simon & Schuster, Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment, Nickelodeon/Sony BMG and others.Kidrobot (Wildbrain subsidiary) was the first to hit shelves with apparel and collectible merchandise.
Web animation
The studio was one of the pioneers of web-based flash animation series, which were offered to the public from their website in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The studio was also the animation provider of Happy Tree FriendsHappy Tree Friends
Happy Tree Friends is an American Flash cartoon and made by Mondo Mini Shows, created and developed by Aubrey Ankrum Rhode Montijo Kenn Navarro and Warren Graff. The show has become a popular Internet phenomenon and it's since debut and has also won a cult following.As indicated on the official...
Season 1-2.
Directors
- George Evelyn
- Paul Fierlinger
- Christian Jacobs
- Denis Morella
- Scott Schultz
- Phil Robinson