Glitch Productions

Last updated

Glitch Productions Pty. Ltd.
Glitch Productions
FormerlyGlitchy Boy (2017–2018)
Company type Private
Industry Animation
Founded24 May 2017;6 years ago (2017-05-24) (As Glitchy Boy)
5 September 2018;5 years ago (2018-09-05) (As Glitch Productions)
Founders
  • Kevin Lerdwichagul
  • Luke Lerdwichagul
Headquarters
Sydney, New South Wales
,
Australia
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Products
Services Computer animation
Web series
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2020–present
Subscribers10 million [1]
Total views929 million [1]
YouTube Silver Play Button 2.svg100,000 subscribers2020
YouTube Gold Play Button 2.svg1,000,000 subscribers2022
YouTube Diamond Play Button.svg10,000,000 subscribers2024
Last updated: 11 May 2024
Website glitchprod.com

Glitch Productions Pty. Ltd., also known as Glitch, and formerly Glitchy Boy or Glitchy Boy Productions, is an Australian independent computer animation studio based in Sydney, New South Wales. The studio was founded as Glitchy Boy in 2017 by Luke and Kevin Lerdwichagul, who had previously created their web series SMG4 . The studio has since become known for computer-animated web series, including Meta Runner , Murder Drones, and The Amazing Digital Circus . The company was featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Media, Marketing, and Advertising in 2023. [2]

Contents

History

Co-founder Luke Lerdwichagul started making videos in 2009 and on 7 May 2011, he created his first web series, SMG4, at the age of 11. The web series often focuses on animated bloopers originally surrounding mostly characters from the Mario franchise and more recently original characters, along with using an emulated version of Super Mario 64 and then later using Garry's Mod . Around 2016, Luke's older brother, Kevin Lerdwichagul, who had observed the channel and its wide audience saw the potential to form a business around the channel, later joining the series as a full-time writer and producer, while Luke took on a directing role as well as voicing the titular character. [3] They are aware that they are using copyrighted characters in their videos and acknowledged that they are always careful to never place third-party characters in hateful or defamatory context. As of 2022, the web series has videos featuring Mario and a cast of characters going on wacky adventures such as going to school, reacting to memes, and competing in their version of Squid Game . [4] [5]

The studio logo, used from September 2018 to November 2023 Glitch Productions Logo.jpeg
The studio logo, used from September 2018 to November 2023

On 24 May 2017, Luke released a fan mail video to the SMG4 channel, where he briefly mentioned that a company, dubbed Glitchy Boy, was founded to represent his channels SMG4, Hobo Bros., and TheAwesomeMario. [6] On 5 September 2018, a formal direct was released on the same channel, where Luke and Kevin fully explained the concept of Glitchy Boy, now rebranded as Glitch Productions. In the same direct they also unveiled Hitbox, a live-action series starring Kevin and Luke acting as various Nintendo characters. [7]

On 5 December 2018, Glitch released the trailer for Meta Runner after multiple teasers that would air on the SMG4 channel on 25 July 2019. [8] The series, funded by Screen Australia, became the top-performing online investment from the company, racking up 10 million+ viewers across its first season. [9] The first season was also financed with support from Crunchyroll and AMD, [10] and financed in association with Epic Games. [10] [11] On 20 April 2020, Screen Australia announced that they would be funding a second season of Meta Runner. [12] On 27 August 2020, the studio moved their operations to their own official YouTube channel. [13]

As of 2021, SMG4 became uncredited from Glitch Productions and it was spun-off back into a separate channel. On 12 March 2021, Glitch Productions unveiled Sunset Paradise, an SMG4 spin-off centred on the breakout character Meggy Spletzer, which released its pilot on 26 March 2021. [14] On 12 May 2021, the series received online production funding from Screen Australia. [15] On 9 October 2021, it was announced that Glitch would be releasing a pilot titled Murder Drones , created, written, and directed by Liam Vickers on 29 October. [16] [17] On 1 September 2023, Glitch announced that they would be hosting GlitchX, an indie animation expo on 9 November 2023. [18] Ahead of the convention, Glitch Productions released the pilot for The Amazing Digital Circus , a series created in collaboration with Gooseworx on 13 October 2023. [19] [20]

Around March 2024, Glitch was accused of firing the voice actress for Tari in Meta Runner and SMG4, Celeste Notley-Smith, in a callous manner after she was recast with Lottie Bourne in which led additional allegations against the studio, and confusion among the fans. Notley-Smith wrote on Twitter that she was not notified of her role being recast. Several days later, she released a statement in which she explained that after discovering she had been recast, she reached out to Luke and Kevin, asking why she was removed from her role without contact from the team. [21] The studio also has allegations of longer hours, blacklisting of ex-employees, and harassment, though those claims have been considered dubious. Kevin Lerdwichagul released a statement claiming that the studio had issues prior due to being short-staffed, but had largely solved worker conditions issues by 2023. The response to worker's rights was largely accepted, though many fans were still concerned that Notley-Smith's firing was never addressed. [22]

Programming

Current

TitleCreator(s)Premiere dateCurrent seasonNote(s)Ref(s)
SMG4Luke Lerdwichagaul8 May 2011—Produced as an independent project from 2011-2017 [3]
Murder Drones Liam Vickers29 October 20211 [17]
The Amazing Digital Circus Gooseworx13 October 20231 [23]

Upcoming

TitleCreator(s)Premiere dateRef(s)
The Gaslight DistrictNick SzopkoTBA [24]

Former

TitleCreator(s)Premiere dateFinale dateNote(s)
Hobo Bros.Kevin Lerdwichagul
Luke Lerdwichagul		3 December 201631 December 2020 (On indefinite hiatus)YouTube channel involving Let's Play and reactions
HitboxKevin Lerdwichagul21 September 201820 December 2019Live action series
Meta Runner Kevin Lerdwichagul
Luke Lerdwichagul		25 July 20199 September 2022The first season was uploaded on the SMG4 channel, with two subsequent seasons uploaded on the GLITCH channel
Sunset Paradise26 March 202130 July 2021Spin-off of SMG4

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References

  1. 1 2 "About GLITCH". YouTube.
  2. ↑ "Forbes 30 Under 30 2023: Media, Marketing, and Advertising". Forbes.
  3. 1 2 Walker, Alex (26 July 2019). "Inside The Mario House That SMG4 Built". Kotaku .
  4. ↑ Asarch, Steven (26 January 2022). "The trippiest gamer on YouTube reveals the one line he'll never cross". Inverse. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  5. ↑ "SMG4". Glitch Productions. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  6. ↑ "Big Things Are Happening (AND TONS OF AWESOME FAN ART!) - SMG4 Mail Time #10". YouTube. 24 May 2017.
  7. ↑ "SMG4 Direct (HUGE CHANNEL UPDATE)". YouTube. 5 September 2018.
  8. ↑ "Youtubers Kevin, Luke Lerdwichagul release Meta Runner online animated series". Daily Telegraph. 16 July 2019.
  9. ↑ Hennessy, James (21 February 2020). "The world of film and TV is changing rapidly. Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason explains how the funding body keeps up". Business Insider Australia. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020.
  10. 1 2 Wright, Steve (25 June 2019). "Meta Runner is an anime funded by Screen Australia, Epic, AMD". Stevivor. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  11. ↑ Takahashi, Dean (18 March 2019). "Epic Games awards $500,000 in final Unreal Dev Grants". VentureBeat . Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  12. ↑ Leah Williams (20 April 2020). "Screen Australia Funds Second Series For Aussie Esports Drama Meta Runner". Kotaku.
  13. ↑ Glitch Productions (27 August 2020). "WELCOME TO GLITCH!". YouTube.
  14. ↑ "Sunset Paradise (Official Trailer)". YouTube. 12 March 2021.
  15. ↑ Sean Slatter (12 May 2021). "Screen Australia announces $1.3 million in online production funding across five projects". IF Magazine.
  16. ↑ Rouse, Lauren (26 October 2021). "This Aussie Animation Studio Has Made a New Horror Comedy About Murder Drones". Gizmodo.
  17. 1 2 John Schwarz (9 October 2021). "Glitch Productions Reveals Murder Drones Complete With New Teaser". BubbleBlabber.
  18. ↑ Jamie Lang (7 November 2023). "Glitch Expo Will Live Stream Conversations With Indie Animation's Hottest Creators This Thursday". Cartoon Brew.
  19. ↑ Schwarz, John (27 January 2023). "GLITCH PRODUCTIONS DATES MURDER DRONES EPISODE THREE ; ANNOUNCES NEW SERIES". BubbleBlabber.
  20. ↑ Valens, Ana (25 October 2023). "Where and How To Watch 'The Amazing Digital Circus'". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  21. ↑ Ulatowski, Rachel (12 March 2024). "Breaking Down the Toxic Work Environment Allegations Against Glitch Productions". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  22. ↑ Schwarz, John (6 March 2024). "Glitch Productions CEO Releases Statement Following Allegations". Bubbleblabber. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  23. ↑ Valens, Ana (25 October 2023). "Where and How To Watch 'The Amazing Digital Circus'". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  24. ↑ "GLITCHX 2023". YouTube. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
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