This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Industry | Animation |
---|---|
Founded | June 21, 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada [1] |
Founder | Clint Eland [1] |
Headquarters | , Canada [1] |
Key people | Clint Eland (CEO, President) [2] |
Number of employees | 250 [1] (2016) |
Divisions | Lighthouse Studios (50%) |
Website | mercuryfilmworks |
Mercury Filmworks is a Canadian independent animation studio based in Ottawa, Ontario. The studio was originally founded in Vancouver by Clint Eland, the current CEO, in 1997. Mercury Filmworks has produced animated television series and feature films for a variety of companies, including Disney, Netflix, Amazon Studios, and Warner Bros. Its recent projects include Kid Cosmic , Centaurworld , Hilda , The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse , and The Ghost and Molly McGee . The studio has won Emmy Awards for its work in several categories, most recently for Hilda. [3]
Mercury has over 340 employees employed at its Ottawa location, and continues to show steady growth. [4] In 2020, it was named one of the best offices in Ottawa by the Ottawa Business Journal . [5]
Mercury Filmworks was founded in 1997 in Vancouver by current chief executive officer Clint Eland. [6] The studio started with a small investment from friends and family, including Reg Eland, who became a partner overseeing finances from 1997 to 2002 and managing partner of the Vancouver studio from 2003 to 2006.[ citation needed ]
In the late 1990s, technology was evolving to allow artists to paint and render images at a much faster pace and with greater and more consistent results. Mercury Filmworks was one of the first companies in North America to specialize in digital ink and paint services in Canada.[ citation needed ]
In 2000, Mercury opened a studio location on King Street East in Toronto to satisfy a multi-year output deal for its services. Meanwhile, in its Vancouver studio, they produced D'Myna Leagues using digital ink & paint plus CG integration, creating the first Canadian animated television series to integrate 3D locations in a 2D series.
In 2004, Mercury moved its Toronto studio to Ottawa, where local animation director, Jerry Popowich, joined the company as a partner. [7]
The studio was already a leader in the field of computer assisted traditional animation. However, in its Ottawa studio with the help of people like Director Christian Larocque, Rob Buchanan, Anthony Ng, Dave Merrit, Phil Lafrance, Graham Macdonald, Emma Gignac, and Craig Berry, it leveraged this to become one of the world's first companies to produce an animated television series entirely in one studio using the beta version of Toon Boom Animation's Harmony software. Using this software, they produced the series Mischief City for Shaftesbury Films and YTV.
The following year, the studio animated Gerald McBoing-Boing. This production was widely regarded as a new benchmark for quality in digital animation.
In 2007, the studio developed and co-produced Toot & Puddle with National Geographic for the Nick Jr. Channel. This was the first use of advanced builds and rigging techniques resulting in a level of animation that was indistinguishable from hand drawn. This series set the new world bar for digital animation. Toot & Puddle was also one of Mercury's first proprietary series.
In 2008, Mercury Filmworks collaborated with Walt Disney Television Animation on Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil . The series was the first full television series project with Disney and one of Mercury's first hybrid productions where characters were animated interchangeably and indistinguishably in both 2D and 3D. The series was one of the first examples of character-based CG Assists in a long form series.
The studio again collaborated with Disney on Jake and the Never Land Pirates in 2009. The animation project pushed advanced builds and rigging techniques to a new level.
From 2012 to this day, Mercury Filmworks animates the Mickey Mouse shorts and television specials for Disney Television Animation, [8] once again collaborating with Disney and Director Paul Rudish on the award-winning reinvention of the character. The shorts have been widely regarded as the new benchmark when it comes to making digital animation look indistinguishable from the highest quality hand drawn animation.
2013 brought the fourth Disney-Mercury production, The Lion Guard , based on the theatrical animated film The Lion King . The series involved advanced builds and rigging and heavy use of CG integration techniques for character and location assists. The series set the standard for feature-quality animation in long form television animation.
Two years later, the studio produced Disney's Repunzel's Tangled Adventure, a television adaptation of another Disney theatrical animated film, Tangled . The production methodologies used in the production were built upon the innovative techniques developed for The Lion Guard, and was to push animation and character performance levels to a new high.
Mercury Filmworks has been producing Hilda for Silvergate Media and Netflix since 2017. The series is one of the first that didn't push the bar in terms of process or technology. The artists involved focused on art, craft, and storytelling. The series has gone on to critical acclaim and is one of Netflix's best and most successful animated series. It is widely referenced as a benchmark in storytelling.
Show | Year(s) | Co-production with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The Harveytoons Show | 1998 | Harvey Films | Intro and film restoration |
Ned's Newt | 1998–1999 | Nelvana Studio B Productions | Season 2 |
Yvon of the Yukon | 1999–2003 | Studio B Productions | Digital ink and paint |
Mega Babies | 2000 | CinéGroupe | |
Rainbow Fish | 2000–2001 | Decode Entertainment | |
Rescue Heroes | 2000–2002 | Nelvana | Seasons 2–3 |
D'Myna Leagues | 2001–2002 | Studio B Productions | Digital paint |
Undergrads | 2001 | Decode Entertainment | Digital ink and paint |
Maggie and the Ferocious Beast | 2002 | Nelvana | Season 3 |
The New Woody Woodpecker Show | Universal Cartoon Studios | Season 3 (digital ink and paint) | |
Dark Oracle | 2004–2005 | Cookie Jar Entertainment | Season 1 |
6teen | 2004–2006 | Nelvana | Seasons 1–2 |
Mischief City | 2005 | Shaftesbury Films | |
Krypto the Superdog | Warner Bros. Animation | Compositing, ink and paint | |
Gerald McBoing-Boing | 2005–2007 | Cookie Jar Entertainment | |
Class of the Titans | 2005–2008 | Studio B Productions Nelvana | Digital ink and paint |
Grossology | 2006–2007 | Nelvana | Season 1 |
Ruby Gloom | |||
Weird Years | 2006 | Lenz Entertainment | |
Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs | 2007–2008 | CCI Entertainment | Season 2 |
Wilbur | Chilco Productions | ||
Wayside | Nelvana | ||
World of Quest | 2008–2009 | Cookie Jar Entertainment | |
Toot and Puddle | 2008 | National Geographic Kids | |
Jimmy Two-Shoes | 2009–2011 | Breakthrough Entertainment | |
Producing Parker | |||
Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil | 2010–2012 | Disney Television Animation | |
Doodlebops Rockin’ Road Show | 2010 | Cookie Jar Entertainment | |
Fish Hooks | 2010–2014 | Disney Television Animation | |
Jake and the Never Land Pirates | 2011–2015 | Seasons 1–3 | |
Bad Seeds | 2013 | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | Pilot |
Mickey Mouse | 2013–2019 | Disney Television Animation | |
Stella and Sam | 2013–2014 | Radical Sheep Productions | Season 1 and specials |
Wander Over Yonder | Disney Television Animation | Season 1 | |
Fangbone! | 2014 | Radical Sheep Productions | Pilot |
Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero | 2014–2015 | Disney Television Animation | Season 1 |
Star vs. the Forces of Evil | 2015 | Season 1 | |
Pickle and Peanut | "Pilot-Greg" | ||
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie | 2015–2021 | Amazon Studios | Season 2 co-animated with Lighthouse Studios |
The Lion Guard | 2016–2019 | Disney Television Animation | |
Atomic Puppet | 2016–2017 | Gaumont Animation Technicolor Animation | |
Tangled: The Series | 2017–2020 | Disney Television Animation | |
Legend of the Three Caballeros | 2018 | Disney Digital Network | Co-animated with Atomic Cartoons and Six Point Harness |
Hilda | 2018–2023 | Silvergate Media | Season 1 co-animated with Atomic Cartoons |
Guardians of the Galaxy | 2019 | Marvel Animation | "Black Vortex, Part 1" |
The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse | 2020–2023 | Disney Television Animation | |
Centaurworld | 2021 | Netflix Animation | |
Kid Cosmic | 2021–2022 | Animation services | |
The Ghost and Molly McGee | 2021–2024 | Disney Television Animation | |
Interrupting Chicken | 2022–present | Apple Studios | |
Strange Planet | 2023–present | ||
Octicorn & Friends | TBA | Stim Studio | |
Pangors of Puddle Peak | TBA | [9] | |
Badjelly the Witch | Mukpuddy Animation | [10] |
Lighthouse Studios
Show | Year(s) | Client | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The Bug Diaries | 2019 | Amazon Studios | |
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie | 2019–2021 | Season 2 | |
Little Ellen | 2021–2022 | Warner Bros. Animation | |
The Cuphead Show! | 2022 | Netflix Animation | |
El Deafo | Apple Video Programming | ||
Rick and Morty | 2023 | Williams Street | Season 7; 5 episodes |
Feature | Year(s) | Client | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Little Witch | 1999 | Sony Wonder | digital paint and effects |
Something Else | 2000 | Pearson Television | short pilot |
Santa Mouse and the Ratdeer | Sony Wonder | digital ink and paint | |
Timothy Tweedle the First Christmas Elf | Evening Sky | ||
Animated American | 2008 | James Baker and Joe Haidar | short film |
Rapscallions | 2012 | Disney Television Animation | pilot |
Shred Force | |||
The Thunderbeards | |||
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar | 2015 | ||
Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special | 2016 | ||
Tangled: Before Ever After | 2017 | ||
The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular! | |||
Oh Canada! A Coast to Coast Celebration of 150 Years | short film | ||
The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar | Disney Television Animation | ||
Canticos | 2018–2020 | Encantos Media | |
Mercury Shorts | 2021–present | ||
A Mouse Called Julian | TBA | Flying Eye Books |
Film | Year | Client | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The Tigger Movie | 2000 | Disneytoon Studios | "Someone Like Me" sequence |
Joseph: King of Dreams | 2000 | DreamWorks Animation | |
The Kid | 2001 | Nelvana | |
The Little Bear Movie | 2001 | Nelvana | |
The Powerpuff Girls Movie | 2002 | Cartoon Network Studios | |
Looney Tunes: Back in Action | 2003 | Warner Bros. Feature Animation | |
Fat Albert | 2004 | 20th Century Studios | animation |
The Legend of Frosty the Snowman | 2005 | Classic Media | additional digital ink and paint, compositing |
Curious George | 2006 | Universal Animation Studios | digital ink and paint services |
Team Hot Wheels: The Origin of Awesome | 2014 | Mattel | |
Hilda and the Mountain King | 2021 | Silvergate Media | |
The Bob's Burgers Movie | 2022 | 20th Century Studios Bento Box Entertainment Wilo Productions | co-animated with Lighthouse Studios |
Once Our Land | TBA | Goodbye Productions | [11] |
Attraction | Year | Client | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway [12] | 2020 | Walt Disney Imagineering | Animated sequences |
Animation is a filmmaking technique by which still images are manipulated to create moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets (cels) to be photographed and exhibited on film. Animation has been recognized as an artistic medium, specifically within the entertainment industry. Many animations are computer animations made with computer-generated imagery (CGI). Stop motion animation, in particular claymation, has continued to exist alongside these other forms.
While the history of animation began much earlier, this article is concerned with the development of the medium after the emergence of celluloid film in 1888, as produced for theatrical screenings, television and (non-interactive) home video.
Mainframe Studios is a Canadian animation company owned by Wow Unlimited Media and based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in 1993 as Mainframe Entertainment Inc. by Christopher Brough, Ian Pearson, Phil Mitchell, Gavin Blair and John Grace, the company established itself as a leading contributor to the introduction of computer-generated imagery (CGI) live action in animation, film and television.
Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS), sometimes shortened to Disney Animation, is an American animation studio that creates animated features and short films for The Walt Disney Company. The studio's current production logo features a scene from its first synchronized sound cartoon, Steamboat Willie (1928). Founded on October 16, 1923, by brothers Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney, it is the oldest-running animation studio in the world. It is currently organized as a division of Walt Disney Studios and is headquartered at the Roy E. Disney Animation Building at the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California. Since its foundation, the studio has produced 62 feature films, from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) to Wish (2023), and hundreds of short films.
Rough Draft Studios, Inc. is an American animation production studio based in Glendale, California, with a second studio in Glendale and its sister studio Rough Draft Korea located in Seoul, South Korea. The studio was founded in Van Nuys, Los Angeles by Gregg Vanzo in 1991.
Disney Television Animation (DTVA) is an American animation studio that serves as the television animation production arm of Disney Branded Television, a division of Disney General Entertainment Content, which is a division of Disney Entertainment. The studio was originally established in 1984, by Gary Krisel during the reorganization and subsequent re-incorporation of Disney following the arrival of then CEO Michael Eisner that year.
Atomic Cartoons, Inc. is a Canadian animation studio founded in 1999 by Trevor Bentley, Mauro Casalese, Olaf Miller, and former Warner Bros. Animation employee Rob Davies. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, it produces service animation for a wide variety of clients, as well as creating its own properties. Since 2015, the company has been owned by Thunderbird Entertainment.
Polygon Pictures, Inc. is a Japanese 3DCG animation studio.
Xilam is a French production company which specializes in making animated television series and feature films. Marc du Pontavice and his wife Alix founded it in 1999 as a replacement for the animation division of Gaumont Multimédia. Gaumont continued to have a deal with Xilam until 2003. Gaumont Multimédia was a video game publisher until closing in 2004.
Mickey Mouse is an American animated television series produced by Disney Television Animation. Featuring Disney cartoon characters Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy and Pluto in contemporary settings such as Paris, Venice, Tokyo and New York, the series has the slapstick feel of the earliest Mickey Mouse shorts while providing a modern update, and "presents Mickey in a broad range of humorous situations that showcase his pluck and rascality, along with his long-beloved charm and good heartedness". The animation is provided by Mercury Filmworks.
Dawn of the Croods is an American 2D-animated television series that is produced by DreamWorks Animation. The series is based on the 2013 animated film The Croods, taking place before the events of the film. It premiered on December 24, 2015, on Netflix. The second season premiered on August 26, 2016, third season on April 7, 2017, and fourth and final season on July 7, 2017. Sam Riegel was the voice director for the first two seasons, and Brendan Hay replaced him for the last two. It also aired on Family Channel and Family Chrgd in Canada.
Silvergate Media Limited, operating as Sony Pictures Television – Kids, is a television production and brand licensing company based in New York City and London. The company was founded in 2011 by Waheed Alli, Elizabeth Dampier and William Astor and was acquired by Sony Pictures Television in 2019.
Ollie! The Boy Who Became What He Ate is an animated children's television series by Radical Sheep. Each segment is 11 minutes, aired every morning, except for Sunday. It debuted on CBC Kids, Canada on February 18, 2017. The second season premiered on February 2, 2019. It is produced by Keyframe Animation Inc. who created Tee and Mo and Pinky Dinky Doo.
Hilda is an animated television series based on the graphic novel series of the same name by Luke Pearson. Produced by Sony Pictures Television Kids and Mercury Filmworks, the series follows the adventures of fearless Hilda, an 11-year-old blue-haired girl who, along with her mother Johanna and her deerfox Twig, moves to the fictional city of Trolberg after their old residency in the outskirts of a forest is destroyed by a giant. Though moving away from the wild and into a bustling city, Hilda still manages to befriend even the most dangerous of monsters.
Go Away, Unicorn! is an animated children's television series produced for YTV and Disney Channel by Sonar Entertainment in association with Nelvana. Evan Thaler Hickey and Alex Ganetakos provide story editing services for the series, with Jason Groh directing. The series aired from September 7, 2018, to June 8, 2019.
Ronald J. Diamond is an American film producer from Los Angeles, CA. He is the founder of Acme Filmworks, the Animation Show of Shows and the co-founder of Animation World Network.
Iwájú is an animated miniseries produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and the Pan-African British-based entertainment company Kugali Media for the streaming service Disney+. It was written by Olufikayo Adeola and Halima Hudson from a story by Adeola, Hamid Ibrahim, and Toluwalakin Olowofoyeku and directed by Adeola, and is the first "original long-form animated series" produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. The title of the series, iwájú, roughly translates to "the future" in the Yoruba language.