Zodiac Entertainment

Last updated
Zodiac Entertainment
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryAnimation, television production and distribution
Founded1989 (1989)
Founder Peter Keefe, Brian Lacey
Defunct1994
FateAcquired by Carlton Communications
HeadquartersStudio City, California, USA
ProductsTelevision series
Parent Central Independent Television

Zodiac Entertainment was an American entertainment company that specialized in the production and distribution of animated cartoons. The company was founded in 1989 by Central Independent Television, a British media company that was aiming to establish a television production company in the United States. Two veterans of the animation industry, Brian Lacey and Peter Keefe helped establish and run the firm. The company's animation studio aimed to produce original television series that could easily be translated and broadcast around the world. To this end, its programs avoided overt Americanisms and references to U.S.-specific culture. [1]

Contents

Despite finding ratings success and notoriety with its first two animated series, the environmentalism-themed Widget and the comedic Mr. Bogus , the company struggled to compete for timeslots and advertising money with larger companies. Its third and final original series was Twinkle, the Dream Being , a Korean-American Co-production originally created to promote the 1993 Taejŏn Expo. In 1994, after its parent company was bought, Zodiac ceased producing original programming and announced that it would function exclusively as a distributor of television shows.

History

The company had its roots in British-based media company Central Independent Television. In 1987, company officials went to the United States with the aim of purchasing a television production company. The company did not find what it was looking for and instead founded its own company, Zodiac Entertainment. Brian Lacey and Peter Keefe, [2] two veterans of the animation industry helped form that company and former Central Independent executive Kevin Morrison was placed as the company's managing director. Keefe served as director of production and creative development, while Lacey headed the company's marketing efforts. [3]

Over the first three years of Zodiac's existence, Central Independent spent $26 million on the company. By 1992, the company had fifteen employees, including five in New York City, where its marketing department was headquartered. Its animation production was done in South Korea by Sei Young Animation. Although one report claimed that the company would begin production on an outer space-based teen soap opera, [4] the company's first television production was Widget , an environmentalism-themed animated series starring a shapeshifting purple alien who saves the earth from evil threats to the environment. The show started out being shown in syndication on weekends before being expanded to five days a week, eventually reaching 80% of the U.S. television market. In keeping with the company's aim of creating programs that could easily be translated and broadcast in other countries, the program was also shown in 90 countries around the world. [1] [3] It was also recognized as recommended viewing for children by the National Education Association. [5]

The company's second production, Mr. Bogus was based on a Belgian character. It became the highest-rated weekly syndicated children's show in the U.S. during May 1992's sweeps week. Despite having early success with its first two series and a projected revenue of $10 million in 1992, Zodiac had yet to turn a profit. [3]

Zodiac then introduced a third series, Twinkle, the Dream Being , which would turn out to be the last animated series the company would produce. By 1994, Central Independent Television had pumped a total of $35 million into the company. That year, Central Independent was acquired by Carlton Communications and shortly after, Zodiac announced that it would leave the television production business. Instead, Zodiac would continue as a distributor of its existing properties and other productions that it might acquire. The company cited difficulty competing for timeslots and advertising money with larger studios in the same business, such as Disney and Warner Bros. as a reason for exiting the industry. Some industry observers remarked that the studio could have done well by producing series for other firms such as toy companies rather than developing its own properties. However, Zodiac president Kevin Morrison rejected the notion as running contrary to the company's philosophy of developing quality original programming. [5]

See also

World Events Productions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hanna-Barbera</span> American animation studio

Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. was an American animation studio and production company that produced animated programming until 2001. It was founded on July 7, 1957, by Tom and Jerry creators and former MGM cartoon studio staff William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Their shows included Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw, The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, The Jetsons, Jonny Quest, Wacky Races, Scooby-Doo and The Smurfs. Its cartoons won a record-breaking eight Emmys.

Animation in the United States in the television era was a period in the history of American animation that slowly set in with the decline of theatrical animated shorts and the popularization of television animation during the late 1950s to 1960s, peaked in the 1970s, and ended in the mid-late 1980s. This era is characterized by low budgets, limited animation, an emphasis on television over the theater, and the general perception of cartoons being primarily for children. Due to the perceived cheap production values, poor animation, and mixed critical and commercial reception, this era is sometimes referred to as the dark ageof American animation by critics.

Modern animation in the United States from the late 1980s to the late 1990s is referred to as the renaissance age of American animation. During this period, many large American entertainment companies reformed and reinvigorated their animation departments, following a dark age during the 1960s to mid 1980s. During this time the United States had a profound effect on animation worldwide.

"Saturday-morning cartoon" is a colloquial term for the original animated series programming that was typically scheduled on Saturday and Sunday mornings in the United States on the "Big Three" television networks. The genre's popularity had a broad peak from the mid-1960s through the mid-1990s; after that point it declined, in the face of changing cultural norms, increased competition from formats available at all times, and heavier regulations. In the last two decades of the genre's existence, Saturday-morning and Sunday-morning cartoons were primarily created and aired to meet regulations on children's television programming in the United States, or E/I. Minor television networks, in addition to the non-commercial PBS in some markets, continue to air animated programming on Saturday and Sunday while partially meeting those mandates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nelvana</span> Animation studio in Toronto, Canada

Nelvana Enterprises, Inc. is a Canadian animation studio and entertainment company owned by Corus Entertainment. Founded in 1971 by Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith, it was named after Nelvana of the Northern Lights, the first Canadian national superhero, who was created by Adrian Dingle. The company's production logo is a polar bear looking at Polaris, the North Star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DIC Entertainment</span> Film and television production company

DIC Entertainment Corporation, branded as The Incredible World of DIC, was an international film and television production company that was mostly associated as an animation studio. As a division of The Walt Disney Company, DIC produced live-action feature films and licensed countless anime series.

<i>Mr. Bogus</i>

Mr. Bogus is an animated American television series created by Peter Keefe, directed and produced by Tom Burton with Claudia Burton of Zodiac Entertainment, which aired in syndication from September 28, 1991 to November 22, 1993. The show also ran in 1998 on Fox Family Channel. It is loosely based on the French / Belgian clay animation series of shorts simply titled, Bogus. Each episode is separated into two distinct parts, one using mostly traditional cel-based animation and another using what the show is based on, which are 42 localized versions of the 300 original clay animation shorts. Characters often walked around on a kitchen counter having various adventures with common household items.

The history of Canadian animation involves a considerable element of the realities of a country neighbouring the United States and both competitiveness and co-operation across the border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marvel Productions</span> Television and film studio

New World Animation Ltd., formerly known as Marvel Productions, was the television and film studio subsidiary of the Marvel Entertainment Group, based in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. It later became a subsidiary of New World Entertainment and eventually of News Corporation.

<i>Widget</i> (TV series) American animated TV series

Widget is an animated television series created by Voltron creator Peter Keefe, directed and produced by Tom Burton of Zodiac Entertainment, which debuted in syndication on September 29, 1990. The series ran for two seasons; in the first season (1990), it aired once a week, and in the second season (1991), the series expanded to weekdays. The show featured environmentalist themes and was recognized by the National Education Association as recommended viewing for children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saban Entertainment</span> US television production company

Saban Entertainment, Inc. was a worldwide-served independent American-Israeli television production company formed in 1980 by Haim Saban and Shuki Levy, which was originally founded as a music production company Saban Productions. The first TV show produced by Saban is the live action/animated show Kidd Video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunbow Entertainment</span> Defunct American production company

Sunbow Entertainment was an American animation studio and distributor, founded on June 23, 1980, and owned until May 4, 1998, by Griffin-Bacal Advertising in New York City and in the United States. Griffin-Bacal's first animations were animated commercials for Hasbro's G.I. Joe toy line. The success of the animated commercials led partners Tom Griffin and Joe Bacal to form the company. Due to their close working relationship with Hasbro, Sunbow came to be recognized as the toy giant's unofficial television arm.

A weekday cartoon is the colloquial term for the animated series programming that was typically scheduled on weekday mornings and afternoons in the United States on many major television networks and in broadcast syndication since the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Events Productions</span> American entertainment company

WEP LLC, doing business as World Events Productions, is an American-based animation and distribution company in St. Louis, Missouri, best known for releasing the anime titles Voltron, Defender of the Universe and Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs, as well as producing the original animated series Denver, the Last Dinosaur.

Toonturama is an American children's programming block that airs on the Spanish-language television network UniMás which debuted on January 15, 2002 and January 19, 2002. The four-hour block—which airs Saturday and Sunday mornings from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time and Pacific Time—features live action and animated series aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 14. It was the network's attempt to have a Saturday morning block.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cartoon Network</span> American cable television channel

Cartoon Network is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., a division that also has the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, Cartoonito, Adult Swim, and Toonami under its purview.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jam Filled Entertainment</span> Canadian animation studio

Jam Filled Entertainment is a Canadian animation studio based in Ottawa, Ontario with additional facilities in Toronto and Halifax and is a division of Boat Rocker Media. It is best known for animating Thomas & Friends between 2013 and 2020, the Netflix adult animated series Inside Job, and the Nicktoons The Loud House and its spinoff The Casagrandes.

Peter Eugene Keefe was an American television producer best known for creating the popular series Voltron, an English dubbed combination of Beast King GoLion, and Armored Fleet Dairugger XV, two similar, but unrelated “mecha” anime series originally created and produced by Toei Animation. Keefe's work on the series is credited with introducing American audiences to Japanese animation and influenced later children's programs like the Dragon Ball, Pokémon, and Power Rangers franchises., although Japanese programs, including such programs as Astro Boy, and Ultraman, had aired on American television prior to the premiere of Voltron.

Brian Lacey is an American entertainment executive best known for being involved in the creation, production, and marketing of original programs for the U.S. and international marketplace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Children's programming on UniMás</span> Historical summary of children’s programming aired on UniMás

Children's programming has played a part in Telefutura/UniMás's programming since its initial roots in television. This article outlines the history of children's television programming on UniMás including the various blocks and notable programs that have aired throughout the television network's history.

References

  1. 1 2 Carter, Bill (June 7, 2012). "MAKING A DIFFERENCE; Catching On In Cartoons". New York Times. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  2. ↑ "In Memoriam: Peter Keefe". Archived from the original on June 3, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 Apodaca, Patrice (November 17, 1992). "Drawing a Niche in Cartoons : Television: After pouring $26 million into Zodiac Entertainment, a British broadcasting concern now has two series on the air". LA Times. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Soaps for Teen-agers?". Los Angeles Daily News. Ocala Star-Banner. November 13, 1989.
  5. 1 2 Heller, Matthew (February 8, 1994). "Animation Company No Longer in 'Toons It will continue as a distributor". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.