Colossal Pictures

Last updated
(Colossal) Pictures
Industry Media
FoundedMarch 6, 1976;48 years ago (1976-03-06)
DefunctAugust 31, 1999;25 years ago (1999-08-31)
FateClosed; employee base purchased by Wild Brain
SuccessorUSFX
M5 Industries
Wild Brain
Headquarters San Francisco, California, U.S.
New York City, New York, U.S. (1989–1996)
Key people
Drew Takahashi
Gary Gutierrez
Japhet Asher
ProductsAnimation
Stop-motion
Computer graphics
Special effects
Interactive media
Live-action
Subsidiaries USFX
BIG Pictures
Noyes and Laybourne
The evolution of WildBrain
WildBrain logo.svg
1968 FilmFair London is founded
1971DIC Audiovisuel is founded
1972 Strawberry Shortcake brand is first developed
1974 CPLG is founded
1976CINAR and Colossal Pictures are founded
1982DIC Enterprises is founded
1984 Ragdoll Productions is founded
1987DIC Audiovisuel closes
1988 Studio B Productions is founded
1992 Epitome Pictures is founded
1993DIC Enterprises becomes DIC Entertainment
1994 Wild Brain is founded‚ and Red Rover Studios is founded, DIC Entertainment brands as The Incredible World of DIC
1995Platinum Disc Corporation is founded
1996CINAR buys FilmFair's library
1997 Decode Entertainment is founded
1999Wild Brain acquires Colossal Pictures' employee base
2002 Nerd Corps Entertainment is founded
2004Halifax Film Company is founded, CINAR rebrands as Cookie Jar Group
2005Platinum Disc Corporation merge as Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
2006Decode and Halifax Film merge as DHX Media, DIC acquires CPLG, and Ragdoll Worldwide is formed with BBC Worldwide; Wild brain acquires stake in Kidrobot
2007DHX Media buys Studio B Productions and Wild Brain becomes Wildbrain Entertainment
2008Cookie Jar Group merges DIC and House of Cool absorbs Red Rover Studios
2010DHX Media buys Wildbrain Entertainment‚ and Peanuts Worldwide is founded
2011Decode Entertainment and Red Rover Studios closes
2012DHX Media buys Cookie Jar Group, Wildbrain Entertainment acquires Kidrobot as a whole
2013DHX Media acquires Ragdoll Worldwide’s back catalogue
2014DHX Media buys Epitome Pictures, Nerd Corps, and Echo Bridge Home Entertainment's family content library, as well as Family, the Canadian English-language version of Disney Junior, the Canadian French-language version of Disney Junior, and the Canadian version of Disney XD; Cookie Jar Group is merged; National Entertainment Collectibles Association acquires Kidrobot from Wildbrain Entertainment
2016The WildBrain multi-channel network launches and Studio B and Nerd Corps merge as DHX Studios
2017Wildbrain Entertainment closes; DHX Media buys Peanuts Worldwide and Strawberry Shortcake
2018Halifax Film becomes Island of Misfits
2019DHX Media rebrands as WildBrain, Epitome Pictures closes, and the WildBrain MCN becomes WildBrain Spark
2020CPLG becomes WildBrain CPLG
2021Echo Bridge folds into SP Distribution
2023WildBrain acquires House of Cool
2024WildBrain Spark merged into its parent company as WildBrain London

Colossal Pictures (also styled as (Colossal) Pictures or (C)P) was an American entertainment company [1] that developed and produced television programming, advertising, network branding, and visual effects. Colossal's work has won every major industry award, from the Clio, Emmy, and Grammy Awards to the Cannes Gold Lion and Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Top Honor.

Contents

History

In the mid-1970s, Drew Takahashi and Gary Gutierrez were working with John Korty on animated shorts for children's programs such as Vegetable Soup . When Vegetable Soup was renewed for a second season, Korty began working on a movie, and suggested to Drew and Gary that they start their own production company. The two founded Colossal Pictures in 1976 and worked on projects such as shorts for Vegetable Soup, the opening sequence of The Grateful Dead Movie and commercials for Boise Cascade, KQED, KSAN-FM, and Gap Inc. [2] The Boise Cascade commercial received national attention and attracted many businesses to Colossal.

In 1981, Colossal began producing dozens of network IDs for MTV, which led to the company receiving more high-profile clients including Nickelodeon, Levi's, and Coca-Cola. The following year, Gary Gutierrez launched USFX, a new division of Colossal, while he was working on The Right Stuff . Colossal started producing computer animation in 1983, when they collaborated with Pacific Data Images to produce a commercial for the Atari game Joust and a network ID for MTV. In 1986, Colossal began working with Western Images using a Quantel Harry unit, resulting in Colossal being able to create state-of-the-art computer graphics. Colossal also launched a new division, BIG Pictures, which produced television programs. In January 1989, New York City production company Noyes & Laybourne became Colossal's East Coast division. In September, Colossal began representing Pixar to produce CGI-animated commercials. As part of the deal, Colossal would receive a project and develop the storyboards, while Pixar animated the project. [3] Colossal terminated its relationship with Pixar in 1992 when they started production on Toy Story for Walt Disney Pictures.

During the early 1990s, well-known artists like Caroline Leaf and Henry Selick were hired to direct commercials at Colossal. In 1991, Colossal began representing Sculptoons and the Brothers Quay, but their relationships with Colossal did not last very long. That same year, after Colossal's relationship with Pixar ended in 1992, Stuart Cudlitz and Brad DeGraf launched a new digital media division, which produced projects such as The Moxy Show , RoboCop: The Ride , and a Living Books game. Colossal closed BIG Pictures in 1994; that October, Colossal employees John Hays, Phil Robinson, and Jeff Fino left the company and launched a new animation studio, Wild Brain.

Earlier in 1994, Colossal created exhibits for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Due to cost overruns, production delays and other problems, the museum refused to pay all of Colossal's bills. In April 1996, Colossal laid off a third of its staff, including co-founder Gary Gutierrez, and on May 30, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Colossal sued the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for $1,200,000 in damages plus $10,000,000 in punitive damages. That year, Colossal signed a development deal with the Disney Channel to produce content for the network. Colossal produced the interstitial series Frankenguy and the Professor and The Mix-Ups plus the Zoog Disney block for the Disney Channel. After Colossal decided to restructure itself into a smaller company, consolidating all of its activities into one building in the process, they emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy on December 1, 1997. Jamie Hyneman, manager of Colossal's model shop, took over the facility and turned it into M5 Industries. [4]

Although Colossal was able to sustain itself the following year with a lean work force, the company experienced a downturn in revenue at the beginning of 1999. On August 31, Colossal closed after 23 years in business. The decision was made in order to liquidate property and honor outstanding debts. Many of Colossal's employees, such as Ed Bell, Charlie Canfield, and George Evelyn moved to Wild Brain as a result.

Work

Filmography

TitleYearNotesClient
The Grateful Dead Movie 1977Opening sequence Grateful Dead
Vegetable Soup 1978"Children's Questions" (season 2) New York State Education Department
What Is An American?1979Short filmPyramid Films
The Black Stallion Title sequence and storyboards American Zoetrope
One from the Heart 1982Title sequenceZoetrope Studios
The State of the Language1983Pilot (main titles)Power Rector Productions
Playboy's Hot RocksBumper The Playboy Channel
The Right Stuff Special photographic effects and storyboards The Ladd Company
FlicksAnimation, opening titles, and film dating Edward R. Pressman
The Cotton Club 1984Title sequence and photographyAmerican Zoetrope
Seven Minutes in Heaven 1985Title sequence Warner Bros.
Stroh's Circle of SportsOpening sequenceOhlmeyer Communications
The Twilight Zone Main titles and special effects CBS Productions
A Chorus Line "Surprise, Surprise" music video Columbia Pictures
Fast Times 1986Main titles Universal Television
Children of a Lesser God Title sequence Paramount Pictures
Peggy Sue Got Married Title sequence and productionAmerican Zoetrope
Top Gun Special effectsParamount Pictures
The Rock 'n Roll Evening NewsMain titlesAndy Friendly Productions
Soul Man "Soul Man" music video New World Pictures
Eyes on the Prize 1987Main titlesBlackside
Gardens of Stone Title sequenceAmerican Zoetrope
The Running Man Special visual effects Taft Entertainment
The Serpent and the Rainbow 1988Special visual effects Universal Pictures
Tucker: The Man and His Dream Title sequenceZoetrope Studios
The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley [5] Hanna-Barbera
Dead Pan AlleySet design for TV pilot KQED
D-TV²Title The Walt Disney Company
New York Stories 1989Titles for Life Without ZoëAmerican Zoetrope
The All-New Mickey Mouse Club Main titles Walt Disney Television
Lunch BoxMain titles and bumpersThe Walt Disney Company
Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt Title sequence and soundstage New Yorker Films
The Betty Boop Movie Mystery As BIG Pictures King Features
Saturday Night Live 1990Main titles Broadway Video
Big Beast QuintetTV pilot Nickelodeon
Liquid Television 1991–1994 MTV
Back to the Future 1991–1992As BIG Pictures Universal Cartoon Studios
Fresh Arithmetic1991Interstitial series Fox Kids
The Wonderful World of Disney
Disney Family Films Presents		1991
1994		Opening sequencesThe Walt Disney Company
The Wish That Changed Christmas 1991 Children's Television Workshop
Bram Stoker's Dracula 1992Special effectsAmerican Zoetrope
GTV Planetary ManagerVideodisc National Geographic Society
The Great Depression1993Main titlesBlackside
Demolition Man Virtual reality sex scene Silver Pictures
RoboCop: The Ride Ridefilm Iwerks
The Moxy Show 1993–1995 Cartoon Network
Natural Born Killers 1994Animation Regency Enterprises
Mickey's Fun Songs Opening sequence Walt Disney Home Video
Living Books: Ruff's Bone Video game Random House/Broderbund
Tank Girl 1995Animation United Artists
Psychic Detective Video game [6] Electronic Arts
Æon Flux MTV
Jack 1996Title sequenceAmerican Zoetrope
Play-Doh CreationsVideo game Hasbro Interactive
Koala Lumpur: Journey to the Edge 1997Video game Broderbund
Frankenguy and the ProfessorInterstitial series Disney Channel
ZOOB ToonsShort filmPrimordial Toys
Showtime Championship Boxing 1998Main titles Showtime Networks
The Mix-UpsInterstitial seriesDisney Channel
Super ChunkShow packagingCartoon Network
Zoog Disney 1998–1999First season only; co-produced with Mondo Media Disney Channel

Noyes and Laybourne

Formerly known as Cyclops Films (1969–1978) and Eliott Noyes Productions (1978–1983).

TitleYearNotesClient
Sesame Street 1971–1972
1974		"Mad Painter" and "Sand Alphabet" shorts Children's Television Workshop
The Fable of He and She1974short film Learning Corporation of America
Pinwheel 1979–1982animation Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment
Braingames 1983pilot HBO
About Alcohol1984short filmChanning L. Bete Company
MTV Top 20 Video Countdown1984openingMTV
The Great Ape Activity Tape1986 Karl-Lorimar Home Video
Colorforms Learn 'n' Play1986two kits Karl-Lorimar Home Video
Scholastic Productions
Clifford's Sing Along Adventure1986Karl-Lorimar Home Video
Scholastic Productions
About Drinking and Driving
About Drug Abuse
About Cocaine and Crack
Young People & AIDS		1987short filmsChanning L. Bete Company
Eureeka's Castle 1989–1992 Nickelodeon
Stories to Remember 1990"Beauty and the Beast" (animation production) Lightyear Entertainment
Liquid Television 1991–1994 MTV
Adventures in Wonderland 1992opening title sequence Walt Disney Television
Top Gun: Fire at Will 1996video game Spectrum HoloByte

Music videos

Commercials

Noyes and Laybourne

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References

  1. ↑ "Colossal Pictures Proves There is Life After Chapter 11".
  2. ↑ Cohen, Karl (September 1999). "Colossal Memories". ASIFA San Francisco. Retrieved 2016-12-11.
  3. ↑ Walls, Jeannette (September 10, 1990). "Imitation Of Life". New York Magazine. pp. 22–23.
  4. ↑ "Jamie Hyneman". MythBusters: Jamie and Adam Unleased. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Wild Brain=>Company=>Bios=>Bigwigs=>Hays". www.wildbraininc.com. Archived from the original on 29 February 2000. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  6. ↑ "Psychic Detective". Next Generation (11). Imagine Media: 108–9. November 1995.
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