Big Idea Entertainment

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Big Idea Productions, LLC
Company type Subsidiary
FoundedFebruary 1989;35 years ago (1989-02) (GRAFx Studios)
August 6, 1993;30 years ago (1993-08-06) (Big Idea)
2022 (as in-name-only unit)
Founders
Headquarters
Universal City, California
,
U.S.
ProductsAnimated direct-to-video programs
Animated television series
Animated theatrical films
Parent Classic Media (2003–2007)
Entertainment Rights (2007–2009)
Boomerang Media (2009–2012)
DreamWorks Animation (2012–present)

Big Idea Productions, LLC (formerly known as Big Idea Productions, Inc., Big Idea, Inc. and Big Idea Entertainment, LLC; also known simply as Big Idea) is an American animation production company, best known for its animated VeggieTales series of Christian-themed home videos.

Contents

Founded in February 1989 as GRAFx Studios by Phil Vischer, the company was renamed as Big Idea Productions in August 1993 and it released its first direct-to-video VeggieTales program in December. In 2002, Big Idea adapted the Biblical story of Jonah for its first theatrical feature film, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie , which was co-produced with FHE Pictures. Its second theatrical film, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie , was co-produced with Starz Animation and released in 2008.

From 1999 to 2004, headquarters of Big Idea Entertainment was in Lombard, Illinois, a suburb outside of Chicago. [1] After Big Idea Entertainment declared bankruptcy in 2003 and the company was sold to Classic Media, headquarters was moved in 2004 to Franklin, Tennessee, a suburb outside of Nashville. [2] In 2012, DreamWorks Animation purchased Classic Media. [3] In 2013, DreamWorks began to oversee productions of Big Idea Entertainment and launched the Netflix series VeggieTales in the House . After production of VeggieTales in the House's sequel series entitled VeggieTales in the City wrapped in 2017, DreamWorks sold the Franklin headquarters to Kingdom Story Company. [4] Big Idea continues to operate as an in-name-only subsidiary of DreamWorks Animation, with Universal Pictures recently giving TBN a license to make The VeggieTales Show . [5] [ non-primary source needed ]

Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber, from VeggieTales, serve as the company's mascots.

History

Big Idea was founded in February 1989 under the name GRAFx Studios by Phil Vischer to create graphics in television commercials. [6] In 1991, Vischer created a 12-second short film called Mr. Cuke's Screen Test. This short inspired him and Mike Nawrocki to create VeggieTales , with Nawrocki coming up with the name. Vischer thought the name "GRAFx" no longer suited a company about to create children's videos, so he renamed it as Big Idea Productions, Inc. on August 6, 1993. [6] The company released its first video, Where's God When I'm S-Scared? in December of the same year.

Rapidly running out of office space, Big Idea relocated to the Chicago suburbs in 1997 with the purchase of the DuPage Theater in Lombard, Illinois. [7] However, renovation delays, unforeseen building conditions, and lengthy zoning battles resulted. In the interim, the company was guided by Lombard Village officials to rent space at the Yorktown Center, a local mall.

In a co-production with FHE Pictures, Big Idea released its first theatrical feature film, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie on October 4, 2002.

On September 2, 2003, Big Idea declared bankruptcy after encountering management and financial issues and a lawsuit by HIT Entertainment in 2001. By the end of the year, it was auctioned off to Classic Media for $19.3 million. [8] [9] [10] After its purchase, the company relocated to Nashville in 2004.

Big Idea partnered with Toronto-based Starz Animation to produce its second theatrical feature film, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie , which was released on January 11, 2008 by Universal Pictures. [11]

In April 2009, Entertainment Rights fell into voluntary administration and sold its UK- and US-based subsidiaries, including Big Idea and its parent company, Classic Media, to Boomerang Media. [12] As of 2011 Big Idea, Inc. has been repackaged officially as Big Idea Entertainment, LLC. In July 2012, Big Idea's parent company, Classic Media, was acquired by DreamWorks Animation and began trading as DreamWorks Classics.

On April 28, 2016, NBCUniversal announced that it would be acquiring DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion. [13] The sale was completed on August 22, 2016. [14] [15]

On July 3, 2018, Vischer confirmed that Big Idea's offices in Franklin were shut down. While marketing employees continued to work for Big Idea during this time, DreamWorks sold the Franklin, Tennessee studio in late 2017. [16]

In 2018, NBCUniversal licensed the properties of the studio to The Trinity Broadcasting Network. They launched the production of a new series entitled The VeggieTales Show in 2019 through a collaboration between NBCUniversal and Trilogy Animation Group. Vischer confirmed on Twitter that he and Nawrocki were both returning to work as head writers for the new series. [17] [ non-primary source needed ] The company reverted back to its original name Big Idea Productions, LLC. On June 29, 2021, Phil Vischer announced that he and Mike Nawrocki were no longer working on VeggieTales due to pay disputes and creative differences, consequently bringing the end of Big Idea Entertainment after the production The VeggieTales Show was completed. [18]

VeggieTales history

VeggieTales is a series of children's animated films featuring anthropomorphic vegetables and conveying moral themes based on Christianity, spliced with joking references to pop culture and current events. VeggieTales was created by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki, who also provide many of the voices. VeggieTales has also been released as books, games, and many other branded items such as toys and clothing. Additionally, the series has been adapted for television broadcast on Qubo (where it aired from September 9, 2006, to September 5, 2009) [19] and on Netflix where DreamWorks Animation Television produced two series, VeggieTales in the House [20] (which ran from November 26, 2014, to September 23, 2016) and VeggieTales in the City (which ran from February 24 to September 15, 2017).

Filmography

Direct-to-video/television series

VeggieTales and spin-offs

#TitleCreator(s)/
Developer(s)		PremiereFinaleNetworkNote(s)
1 VeggieTales Phil Vischer
Mike Nawrocki 		December 23, 1993March 3, 2015 Direct-to-video
2 Larryboy: The Cartoon Adventures Tom BancroftMarch 16, 2002June 10, 2003Direct-to-videoFirst spin-off of VeggieTales
Only 2D-animated series by Big Idea Entertainment
3 VeggieTales in the House Doug TenNapel November 26, 2014September 23, 2016 Netflix Second spin-off of VeggieTales
4 VeggieTales in the City February 24, 2017September 15, 2017Third spin-off of VeggieTales
Sequel to VeggieTales in the House
5 The VeggieTales Show Phil Vischer
Mike Nawrocki		October 15, 2019April 1, 2022 TBN Revival and sequel to the 1993 original series VeggieTales

Miscellaneous

#TitleCreator(s)/
Developer(s)		PremiereFinaleNetworkNote(s)
1 3-2-1 Penguins! Jeff Parker
Nathan Carlson
Phil Lollar
Mike Nawrocki
Phil Vischer
Ron Smith 		November 14, 2000November 13, 2008Direct-to-video
Qubo 		Season 1 originally released in direct-to-video
Seasons 2–3 broadcast on Qubo

Television specials

#TitleRelease dateNetwork
1VeggieTales Christmas Spectacular!December 19, 1998 PAX
2 VeggieTales: The Star of Christmas November 24, 2002 PBS

Feature films

#TitleRelease dateCo-production withBudgetGross Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
1 Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie October 4, 2002 FHE Pictures $14 million$25.6 million65%58
2 The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie January 11, 2008 Universal Pictures
Starz Animation 		$15 million$13.2 million43%49

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Phillip Roger Vischer is an American filmmaker, animator, author, puppeteer, and voice actor. He is the creator of the computer-animated video series VeggieTales alongside Mike Nawrocki. He provided the voice of Bob the Tomato and about half of the other characters in the series. Currently, he owns a small film business, Jellyfish Labs, based in Wheaton, Illinois.

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<i>The Pirates Who Dont Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie</i> 2008 film

The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie is a 2008 Canadian-American computer-animated family adventure comedy film directed by Mike Nawrocki, written by Phil Vischer, produced by Big Idea and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is the second of the two theatrical films to feature characters from the VeggieTales video series following Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie in 2002, and is the only VeggieTales media that deviates from its usual messages about Christianity and biblical morals.

<i>Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie</i> 2002 American film

Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie is a 2002 American animated Christian musical comedy adventure film produced by Big Idea Productions and released by Artisan Entertainment through its F·H·E Pictures label. It is the first of the two theatrical feature films in the VeggieTales series, before The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie (2008). The themes for the film are compassion and mercy, using two stories as illustrations linked by the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything, who were first seen in the Silly Song of the same name in Very Silly Songs!. The first story takes place in the current day and concerns a mishap with Bob the Tomato and Dad Asparagus on the way to a concert; the second, set in ancient times, is based directly on the biblical story of Jonah. Through both stories, compassion and mercy play a role in giving people a second chance.

<i>The Star of Christmas</i> 2002 film

The Star of Christmas is a 2002 American animated film and is the eighteenth episode of the VeggieTales animated series and the second holiday special. It was released on October 26, 2002 in the United States and Canada and released internationally between November and December 2002 and re-released on October 5, 2004, in Holiday Double Feature with its earlier episode The Toy that Saved Christmas. Like the other holiday episodes, it has no usual ”A Lesson in...” subtitle and the countertops. The film's message is that the true Star of Christmas is Jesus Christ. The movie emphasizes that the tale of Jesus Christ's birth is the epitome of real love and should, therefore, serve as society's model for how to love others.

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<i>Larryboy: The Cartoon Adventures</i> Animated series

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<i>VeggieTales in the House</i> American animated childrens television series

VeggieTales in the House is an American animated sitcom developed by Doug TenNapel and produced by Big Idea Entertainment, and animated by Bardel Entertainment. It picks up after VeggieTales, a Christian-themed video and film series, featuring anthropomorphic vegetables.

Michael Louis Nawrocki is an American animator, filmmaker, teacher, and voice actor best known as the co-creator of the Christian video series, VeggieTales where he voiced Larry the Cucumber. He voiced many other main characters on the show, including Jerry Gourd, and Jean-Claude Pea, and other various characters, is the co-founder of Big Idea Entertainment alongside Phil Vischer, and currently serves as the Executive Vice President of the company. He has directed several of their productions, including the award-winning Silly Songs with Larry segments from VeggieTales.

<i>VeggieTales in the City</i> 2017 American television series

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References

  1. ↑ "The Lombard HQ Project with Pictures - Phil Vischer - Official Blog of VeggieTales Creator". Phil Vischer. November 15, 2004. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  2. ↑ "A bunch of pictures from Big Idea's move to Franklin, Tennessee. - Phil Vischer - Official Blog of VeggieTales Creator". Phil Vischer. July 19, 2004. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  3. ↑ "It's Official: DreamWorks Animation Buys Classic Media for $155 Million". The Hollywood Reporter. July 23, 2012. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  4. ↑ The Babylon Bee (May 1, 2020). "Cucumber For Christ: The Mike Nawrocki Interview". YouTube.
  5. ↑ "Phil Vischer on Twitter: "Big Idea isn't open… Universal just gave TBN a license to make some new episodes. I helped with some writing, but those are all done now. Not sure if any more sill ever get made."". Twitter. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Vischer, Phil (2008). Me, Myself, and Bob: A True Story about Dreams, God, and Talking Vegetables. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc. ISBN   978-1-5955-5122-1. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Big Idea Productions, Inc. -- Company History". Funding Universe. Archived from the original on January 24, 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
  8. ↑ "What Happened to Big Idea? (Part 10) - Phil Vischer - Official Blog of VeggieTales Creator". Phil Vischer. January 24, 2005. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  9. ↑ Hertz, Todd. "Big Idea Loses Suit". Christianity Today . Archived from the original on May 16, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  10. ↑ Warren, Hillary (2005). There's Never Been a Show Like Veggie Tales: Sacred Messages in a Secular Market. Lanham, MD: AltMira Press. p. 49. ISBN   978-0-759105690. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  11. ↑ Hetherington, Janet (January 11, 2008). "Seriously Silly: 'The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything'". Animation World Network. AWN, Inc. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Boomerang buys Big Idea". ChristianCinema.com. April 6, 2009. Archived from the original on August 27, 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
  13. ↑ "Comcast's NBCUniversal buys DreamWorks Animation in $3.8-billion deal". Los Angeles Times. April 28, 2016. Archived from the original on November 29, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Comcast Completes Its $3.8B DreamWorks Animation Purchase". Deadline . August 22, 2016. Archived from the original on August 23, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Comcast's NBCUniversal completes purchase of DreamWorks Animation". Los Angeles Times. August 23, 2016. Archived from the original on August 23, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  16. ↑ YouTube (May 1, 2020). "Cucumber For Christ: The Mike Nawrocki Interview". YouTube. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Phil Vischer on Twitter: "Correction - TBN is licensing VT from Universal... they didn't buy it. Bob and Larry still live with Shrek and Donkey and Minions. BUT... TBN is producing new eps and Mike and I are writing!"". Twitter. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Phil Vischer on Twitter: "(Because this tweet confused people… Mike and Kurt were fired 5-7 years ago to save $. Mike and I recently asked to have a larger role in VT - other than freelance voice talent. We were told "no," and our voices are now being recast. Hence the bittersweet theme song tweet.)"". twitter.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  19. ↑ Munoz, Lorenza (September 23, 2006). "NBC Issues New Explanation for VeggieTales Cuts". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 15, 2009.
  20. ↑ Brian, Matt (March 13, 2014). "Netflix's three new originals include 'Shrek' and 'Madagascar' spin-offs". Engadget.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
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