Rough Draft Studios

Last updated
Rough Draft Studios, Inc.
Company type Private
Industry Hand-drawn animation
Television production
FoundedMarch 20, 1991;33 years ago (1991-03-20) in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Founder Gregg Vanzo
Nikki Vanzo
Headquarters615 Allen Avenue
Glendale, California
91201, U.S.
Key people
Divisions Rough Draft Korea
Rough Draft Feature Animation
Website roughdraftstudios.com
Rough Draft Korea Rough Draft Korea Office.jpg
Rough Draft Korea

Rough Draft Studios, Inc. is an American animation production studio based in Glendale, California, [1] with a second studio in Glendale [2] and its sister studio Rough Draft Korea located in Seoul, South Korea. [3] The studio was founded in Van Nuys, Los Angeles by Gregg Vanzo in 1991.

Contents

Rough Draft Studios and its divisions have produced specials, commercials and direct-to-video work for companies such as Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, 20th Television Animation, MTV Animation, Film Roman, Disney Television Animation and Nickelodeon Animation Studio.

Founding

Rough Draft Studios was founded in a Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California garage by Gregg and Nikki Vanzo. While working on The Ren & Stimpy Show , Nikki approached John Kricfalusi, creator of The Ren & Stimpy Show, about taking the animation to Korea. [4] Nikki founded and runs Rough Draft Korea. [4]

Growth in business

After working on The Ren & Stimpy Show, many other shows requested the assistance of Rough Draft Korea in animation and ink & paint. In 1992, Rough Draft Studios had produced animation for its first feature film, FernGully: The Last Rainforest . In the same year, the studio began producing animation for The Simpsons and then for Beavis and Butt-Head in 1993. Also in 1993, Gregg's brother Scott Vanzo was brought on board. Rough Draft Korea quickly built a strong portfolio in the animation business with shows like their first series produced outside of South Korea The Maxx in 1995, which was nominated for an Annie Award. [5] Claudia Katz, who had joined Rough Draft Studios in 1994 to produce The Maxx, and Rich Moore, joining in 1995 after having worked with Gregg on The Simpsons, completed the core of a Rough Draft Studios which would help "drive the cartoon boom of the late ‘90s". [6] It was also in 1995 that Rough Draft Studios moved to Glendale, California, where they enjoyed further success.

Technology

Rough Draft Studios is known for its blending of 2-D with computer animation, or non-photorealistic rendering which it first used on The Maxx and further utilized with Matt Groening's projects like Futurama, The Simpsons Movie and Disenchantment.

Filmography

Rough Draft Studios

Most projects produced by Rough Draft Studios, Inc. in Glendale, California are also animated overseas by Rough Draft Korea Co., Ltd. in Seoul, South Korea.

TV series

ShowYear(s)ClientNotes
1990s
The Maxx 1995 MTV Animation
Futurama 1999–2003; 2008–2013; 2023–present [7] The Curiosity Company
20th Television Animation [lower-alpha 1]
2000s
Baby Blues 2000 Warner Bros. Animation 5 episodes
Star Wars: Clone Wars 2003–2005 Lucasfilm
Cartoon Network Studios
Drawn Together 2004–2007Double-Hemm Productions
Comedy Partners
Korgoth of Barbaria 2006 Williams Street TV pilot
Sit Down Shut Up! 2009 Adelaide Productions
20th Century Fox Television
2010s
Good Vibes 2011 Rough House Pictures
Warner Horizon Television
MTV Production Development
"Pilot" [8]
Napoleon Dynamite 2012Hess Films
Scully Productions
20th Century Fox Television
Full English Two Brothers Pictures
Coffin Dodgers2013 Williams Street TV pilot
Clash-a-Rama2014–2018Tolerable Entertainment
Supercell
Web series
Tarantula 2017 Rough House Pictures
Solid Brass
Studio T
Disenchantment 2018–2023 The ULULU Company
Netflix
[9]
2020s
Fired on Mars 2023–presentPat & Mike Productions
NN Productions
[10]

Films/specials

TitleYearClientNotes
1990s
The Thief and the Cobbler 1992The Completion Bond Companyink-and-paint
RoboCop 3 1993 Orion Pictures "Johnny Rehab" commercial animation
2000s
The Whizzard of Ow 2003 Warner Bros. Animation theatrical short
Duck Dodgers: Attack of the Drones 2004theatrical short
produced in 2003
Futurama: Bender's Big Score 2007 The Curiosity Company
20th Century Fox Television [lower-alpha 1]
direct-to-video
Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs 2008
Futurama: Bender's Game
The Pink Panther 2 2009 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Columbia Pictures
opening title sequence only
Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder The Curiosity Company
20th Century Fox Television [lower-alpha 1]
direct-to-video
2010s
How Murray Saved Christmas 2014 Universal Television TV special
2020s
King Star King!/!/!/ [11] 2023 Williams Street TV special

Other

Rough Draft Korea

Rough Draft Korea, RDS' sister studio based in Seoul, South Korea, has produced animation for the following series, features and specials:

TV series

ShowYear(s)ClientNotes
1990s
The Ren & Stimpy Show 1992–1995 Spümcø
Games Animation
[12]
The Simpsons 1992–present Gracie Films
Film Roman (1992-2016)
20th Television Animation (2016-present)
season 4–present [13]
Beavis and Butt-Head 1993–1997;
2011
MTV Animation
The Critic 1994–1995 Gracie Films
Film Roman
[14]
The Brothers Grunt A.k.a. Cartoon
Timon & Pumbaa 1995 Walt Disney Television Animation 8 shorts
Eek! Stravaganza Film Roman Klutter! segments only
The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat 1995–1996
The Nanny 1995 TriStar Television "Oy to the World"
Rocko's Modern Life 1996 Joe Murray Productions
Games Animation
"Fatal Contraption" and season 4 only
with Sunwoo Entertainment
Dexter's Laboratory 1996–1999;
2001–2003
Hanna-Barbera (1996-1998)
Cartoon Network Studios (2001-2003)
Pinky and the Brain 1996–1998 Warner Bros. Animation
Jumanji 1996 Adelaide Productions 6 episodes of season 1
What a Cartoon! 1996–1997 Cartoon Network Studios "Buy One, Get One Free*", "The Zoonatiks, in Home Sweet Home"
King of the Hill 1997–2001 Deedle-Dee Productions
Judgemental Films
3 Arts Entertainment
20th Television Animation
30 episodes
The Angry Beavers Gunther-Wahl Productions
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child 1997 HBO 8 episodes of season 2
Johnny Bravo Hanna-Barbera Season 1 alongside Sunwoo Entertainment
Cow and Chicken 1997–1999
I Am Weasel 1997–2000
Daria 1998 MTV Animation Season 2
CatDog 1998–2001 Peter Hannan Productions Nickelodeon Animation Studio with Saerom Animation
Oh Yeah! Cartoons 1998–2001 Frederator Studios
The Powerpuff Girls 1998–2005 Hanna-Barbera (1998-2001)
Cartoon Network Studios (2002-2005)
Dilbert 1999–2000 Adelaide Productions 11 episodes
SpongeBob SquarePants 1999–present United Plankton Pictures Nickelodeon Animation Studio
ChalkZone 1999–2000 Frederator Studios season 1
Dragon Tales 1999–2005 Adelaide Productions
2000s
Family Guy 2000–2001 Fuzzy Door Productions
20th Television Animation
eight episodes of season 2 (production order)
The Cartoon Cartoon Show Cartoon Network Studios
Sammy 2000 Adelaide Productions
Jackie Chan Adventures 2000–200213 episodes of seasons 1 and 2
Sheep in the Big City Curious Pictures
The Oblongs 2001 Film Roman
Samurai Jack 2001–2004;
2017
Cartoon Network Studios seasons 1-4 and "XCVIII"
Grim & Evil 2001–2004
Harold and the Purple Crayon Adelaide Productions
Kim Possible 2002–2007 Walt Disney Television Animation 22 episodes
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law 2002–2003 Williams Street episodes 2-9
Whatever Happened to... Robot Jones? Cartoon Network Studios
3-South Hentemann Films
Warner Bros. Animation
MTV Animation
Clone High Touchstone Television
Doozer
Lord Miller Productions
Nelvana
My Life as a Teenage Robot 2002–2006 Frederator Studios Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Codename: Kids Next Door 2002–2008 Curious Pictures
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy 2001–2005 Cartoon Network Studios seasons 1-5
Evil Con Carne 2001–2004
Danny Phantom 2004–2007 Billionfold Inc. Nickelodeon Animation Studio
American Dad! 2005Underdog Productions
Fuzzy Door Productions
20th Television Animation
Unaired pilot episode only
The Life & Times of Juniper Lee 2005–2007 Cartoon Network Studios
Catscratch Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Camp Lazlo 2005–2008 Cartoon Network Studios
Sunday Pants2005"Periwinkle Around the World"
The X's 2005–2006 Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Squirrel Boy 2006–2007 Cartoon Network Studios
Korgoth of Barbaria 2006 Williams Street TV pilot
American Dragon: Jake Long 2006–2007 Walt Disney Television Animation Season 2
Class of 3000 2006–2008 Cartoon Network Studios 14 episodes
Random! Cartoons 2006–2007 Frederator Studios Nickelodeon Animation Studio
The Modifyers2007TV pilot
Tom and Jerry Tales 2007–2008 Warner Bros. Animation 5 episodes of season 2
Phineas and Ferb 2007–2012 Disney Television Animation Seasons 1-3
The Replacements 2008–2009Season 2
The Mighty B! 2008–2011 Paper Kite Productions
Polka Dot Pictures
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
The Cartoonstitute 2009 Cartoon Network Studios
2010s
Adventure Time 2010–2018 Frederator Studios Cartoon Network Studios with Saerom Animation
Sym-Bionic Titan 2010–2011 Orphanage Animation Studios
The Looney Tunes Show 2011–2013 Warner Bros. Animation
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 2012"The Night the Clown Cried" and "The Night the Clown Cried II"
Gravity Falls 2012–2016 Disney Television Animation 23 episodes
Ben 10: Omniverse 2012–2014 Cartoon Network Studios
Nickelodeon Animated Shorts Program 2013–2018 Nickelodeon Animation Studio "Bug Salad", "Ice Station Zedonk", "Magic Children Doing Things", "Someone Needs to Stop Aunt Phyllis", "Camp Weedonwantcha"
Uncle Grandpa 2013–2017 Cartoon Network Studios
Steven Universe 2013–2019with Sunmin Image Pictures
Star vs. the Forces of Evil 2015–2019 Disney Television Animation "Blood Moon Ball", Season 2 until season 4
We Bare Bears 2015–2019 Cartoon Network Studios with Saerom Animation
Wabbit 2015–2016 Warner Bros. Animation Season 1
Bug Salad2016 Nickelodeon Animation Studio web shorts
Billy Dilley's Super-Duper Subterranean Summer 2017 Disney Television Animation
Craig of the Creek 2017–present Cartoon Network Studios
Summer Camp Island 2017–2022
Big City Greens 2018–present Disney Television Animation with Sugarcube Animation
Amphibia 2019–2022with Saerom Animation and Sunmin Image Pictures
Steven Universe Future 2019–2020 Cartoon Network Studios with Sunmin Image Pictures
2020s
The Owl House 2020–2023 Disney Television Animation with Sunmin Image Pictures and Sugarcube Animation
Chibi Tiny Tales 2020–presentinterstitial series
Tig n' Seek 2020–2022 Cartoon Network Studios
Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years 2021 United Plankton Pictures
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
"Kitchen Sponge", "Outhouse Outrage" and "Help Not Wanted" (2D sequences only)
The Patrick Star Show 2021–present
We Baby Bears 2022–present Cartoon Network Studios with Saerom Animation
Chibiverse 2022–present Disney Television Animation
Hailey's On It! 2023–presentwith Saerom Animation
Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake 2023–present Frederator Studios Cartoon Network Studios
Jessica's Big Little World 2023–2024 Cartoon Network Studios with Saerom Animation

Films/specials

TitleYearClientNotes
1990s
FernGully: The Last Rainforest 1992 20th Century Studios
Kroyer Films
P. J. Sparkles Mike Young Productionsopening titles
The Bears Who Saved Christmas1994 Film Roman
Izzy's Quest for Olympic Gold1995
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America 1996 Paramount Pictures
MTV Films
Geffen Pictures
Judgemental Films
overseas animation, 3-D sequences
The Story of Santa Claus Film Roman
A Day in the Life of Ranger Smith 1999 Spümcø
Boo Boo Runs Wild Uncredited
Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip Hanna-Barbera
2000s
The Flintstones: On the Rocks 2001 Cartoon Network Studios
The Powerpuff Girls Movie 2002 Warner Bros. Pictures
Cartoon Network Studios
Globehunters: An Around the World in 80 Days Adventure Nickelodeon Animation Studio produced in 2000
The Electric Piper 2003
Polly Pocket: Lunar Eclipse Mike Young Productions
Stitch! The Movie Disney Television Animation
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie 2004 Paramount Pictures
Nickelodeon Movies
United Plankton Pictures
Inside the CIA 2005 20th Century Studios
Underdog Productions
Fuzzy Door Productions
Short
Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama Disney Television Animation
How to Eat Fried Worms New Line Cinema
Walden Media
Animated sequences
The Simpsons Movie 2007 20th Century Studios
20th Century Animation
Gracie Films
also co-produced overseas with AKOM
Phineas and Ferb's Musical Cliptastic Countdown 2009 Disney Television Animation
2010s
Phineas and Ferb: Summer Belongs To You! 2010 Disney Television Animation
Achmed Saves America 2012 Anchor Bay Entertainment
Hotel Transylvania Columbia Pictures
Sony Pictures Animation
End title sequence
Madea's Tough Love 2015 Lionsgate
Tyler Perry Studios
Bento Box Entertainment
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water Paramount Pictures
Paramount Animation
Nickelodeon Movies
United Plankton Pictures
2D hand-drawn animated sequences only [15]
Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run Warner Bros. Animation
Hotel Transylvania 2 Columbia Pictures
Sony Pictures Animation
End title sequence
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation 2018
Steven Universe: The Movie 2019 Cartoon Network Studios
2020s
We Bare Bears: The Movie 2020 Cartoon Network Studios

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Credited as 30th Century Fox Television and 30th Television Animation

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