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Disney Television Animation
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryAnimation Television
FoundedDecember 1984 (1984-12)
FounderGary Krisel
Headquarters,
Number of locations
2
Key people
Eric Coleman (SVP)
Products
  • Animated television series
  • Direct to video films
  • specials
ParentDisney Channels Worldwide[1]
(Disney–ABC Television Group)

Disney Television Animation (DTVA) is the television animation production arm of the Disney Channels Worldwide dedicated to creating, developing and producing animated television series, films, specials and other projects.

Established in 1984 during the reorganization and subsequent re-incorporation of The Walt Disney Company following the arrival of then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner, the entity was formerly known as The Walt Disney Pictures Television Animation Group, the name was then later changed, shortened to Walt Disney Television Animation starting in 1987 and was its name up until 2011, when it has been shortened again to Disney Television Animation.[2]

Background[]

The Walt Disney Company first ventured into the television industry as early as 1950, beginning with the one-hour Christmas special, One Hour in Wonderland. This was followed by the 1951 Christmas special, The Walt Disney Christmas Show, the long-running (1954–2008) anthology series, The Wonderful World of Disney (which was Disney's first regular series as a whole), the children's variety show The Mickey Mouse Club, and the 1957-1959 adventure series, Zorro. However, one element was missing from Disney's expansion into television: An original animated television series. Until the early 80's, the studio had never produced its own original animated shows in-house, because Walt Disney felt it was economically impossible. Nearly all pre-1985 TV animation was wrap-around segments made to bridge the gaps on existing theatrical material on The Wonderful World of Disney. Osamu Tezuka met Walt at the 1964 World's Fair, at which time Disney said he hoped to "make something just like" Tezuka's Astro Boy someday, but unfortunately nothing came of it.

History[]

File:811SonoraAvenue.jpg

Disney Television Animation's Glendale site

The Walt Disney Television Animation department was started in November 1984 with Gary Krisel as president[3] and Michael Webster as senior vice president.[4]

This was considered a risky move, because animated TV series were generally considered low-budget investments for most of the history of TV cartoons up through the 1980s. Many critics say that Disney's own animation studio had lost most of its luster during the period from Walt Disney's passing through the 1980s. However, the studio took a number of risks that paid off handsomely. The studio successfully gambled on the idea that a substantially larger investment into quality animation could be made back through both network television and over-the-air in syndication, as well as cable. The final result is a string of higher budgeted animated television productions which proved to be profitable ventures and raised the standard for the TV medium.

With the hiring of a new CEO for Disney Production in 1984, Michael Eisner, lead him to push to expand Disney into new areas thus the establishment of a television animation division that year. The cartoon would be shop to all markets: networks, Disney Channel and syndication. Eisner held a meeting at his home in which he brought up the concept of doing a series on Gummi bear as his kids like the candy. Original the staff was told that they could not use the principal Disney cartoon characters in the new shows.[5]

The Disney television animation cycle began in mid-1985, with The Wuzzles and Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears,[5] both which are based upon funny animal-based conceptions. The supposedly (and possibly) final third series in the incidentally so-called "magic animal"-based "trilogy" of original character sets was going to be[citation needed] Fluppy Dogs (which premiered only as an hour-long TV movie pilot on ABC on Thanksgiving 1986), itself loosely based a series of children's books and line of toys about a race of anthropomorphic pastel-colored dimension-hopping alien (fluppy) dogs.[6] It was not a successful hit (due to low viewership and support) however, as the proposed series was not picked up after it never went beyond that one pilot episode, and the studio instead quickly fell into a routine of adapting its old properties into the new use, which ultimately, Disney coincidentally really did.

In 1987, Disney finally unveiled the newest series yet in its cycle, and the first in their successful long-time line of syndicated animated shows, DuckTales.[5] The show was successful enough to spawn a feature film, DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp, and two spin-off series: Darkwing Duck and Quack Pack. 1990 release Treasure of the Lost Lamp was the first movie from TV Animation's Disney MovieToon unit.[7] DTVA hired a director of specials, Sharon Morrill, in 1993.[8]

The success of DuckTales also paved the way for a new wave of high-quality animated TV series, including Disney's own The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in 1988. Later, early that spring, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers debuted on March 4, 1989, and was paired with DuckTales in an hour-long syndicated show through the 1989-1990 television season. In the 1990-1991 season, Disney expanded the idea even further, to create The Disney Afternoon, a two-hour long syndicated block of half-hour cartoons, which premiered much later on September 10, 1990. DuckTales was one of the early flagship cartoons in the series.

On August 24, 1994 with Jeffrey Katzenberg's resignation, Richard Frank became head of newly formed Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications (WDTT), which included WDTA, from units of The Walt Disney Studios.[9] Morrill was in charge of the first Aladdin DTV film launching Disney Video Premiere/Direct to Video unit.[10]

Three overseas Disney studios were set up to produce the company's animated television series.[11] Disney Animation Australia was started in 1988.[12] In 1989, the Brizzi brothers sold Brizzi Films to Disney Television Animation and was renamed Walt Disney Animation France.[13] Also that year, Disney Animation Japan was started.[14] Walt Disney Animation Canada was opened in January 1996 to tap Canada's animator pool and produce direct-to-video.[15] As direct-to-video increased in importance, the overseas studios moved to making feature films.[11]

WDTT chair Frank left Disney in March 1995. With Krisel expecting to be promoted to head up WDTT but passed over, Krisel left WDTA at the end of his contract in January 1996.[16] At the time the Walt Disney Company merged with Capital Cities/ABC, TV Animation was a unit of Walt Disney Television within the Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications group (WDTT).[17] With the retirement of WDTT group president Dennis Hightower in April 1996 and ongoing post-merger reorganization, the unit (along with its Disney TV parent) was transferred to the Walt Disney Studios.[18] By April 1998, Movietoons was folded in with Disney Video Premiere films and network TV specials of Disney TV Animation as Morrill was promoted to executive vice president over her existing unit of Disney Video Premiere films, network TV specials and Movietoons. At the same time, Barry Blumberg was elevated to executive vice president for network and syndicated animated TV series. Both reported to Disney Television president Charles Hirschhorn.[8]

In the second quarter of 2000, due to weak financial performance, Disney Animation Canada was closed.[15] David Stainton took charge of the company as executive vice president in then as president in under Thomas Schumacher.[19]

In , Disney initiated a reorganization of its theatrical and animation units to improve resource usage and continued focus on new characters and franchise development. TV Animation was transferred to Disney Channels Worldwide.[1] In this reorganization, the Disney MovieToons/Disney Video Premieres unit was transferred from Television Animation to Feature Animation.[20][21] While Stainton took over as President of Disney Feature Animation from Schumacher, while Blumberg returned to DTA as president.[21]

Management[]

DTVA is headed by Eric Coleman,[22][23] Senior Vice President, Original Series, he reports to Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer of Disney Channels Worldwide.[citation needed]

Prior presidents of Television Animation were Meredith Roberts and Barry Blumberg. Blumberg announced his resignation in November 2005.[24]

Tom Ruzicka, now at Universal Animation Studios, was one of the original executives in charge of this fledgling group. Other animation executives that worked at Television Animation over the years were Barbara Ferro, Sharon Morrill, Bill Gross (former President of Jumbo Pictures, creators of Doug), Maia Mattise, Lenora Hume.

Filmography[]

Television[]

Disney television series (with "The Disney Afternoon")[]

Title Original running Notes
Adventures of the Gummi Bears 1985–91
DuckTales 1987–90
Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers 1989–90
TaleSpin 1990–91
Darkwing Duck 1991–92
Goof Troop 1992–93
Bonkers 1993–94
Aladdin 1994–95
Gargoyles 1994–97
Timon & Pumbaa 1995–99
The Shnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show 1995
Quack Pack 1996
The Mighty Ducks 1996–97

Disney television series (with "Disney's One Saturday Morning")[]

Title Original running Notes
101 Dalmatians 1997–98 co-production with Jumbo Pictures
Recess 1997–2003 co-production with Paul & Joe Productions
Pepper Ann 1997–2000
Hercules 1998–99
Mickey Mouse Works 1999–2000
The Weekenders 2000–04
Teacher's Pet 2000–02 Winner of 4 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Special Class Animated Program of 2001 and 2002
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command 2000–01 co-production with Pixar Animation Studios
House of Mouse 2001–03
Lloyd in Space 2001–04 co-production with Paul & Joe Productions
The Legend of Tarzan 2001–03
Teamo Supremo 2002–04

Other Disney television series[]

Title Original running Notes
The Wuzzles 1985
The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh 1988–91 Winner of 2 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program of 1988 and 1989.
The Little Mermaid 1992–94
Raw Toonage 1992
Marsupilami 1993 in association with Dupuis Audiovisuel and Marsu Productions
Disney's Doug 1996–99 acquired from Nickelodeon, co-production with Jumbo Pictures
Jungle Cubs 1996–98
Nightmare Ned 1997
Fillmore! 2002–04

Disney Channel original series[]

Title Original running Notes
Kim Possible 2002–07
Lilo & Stitch: The Series 2003–06
Dave the Barbarian 2004–05
Brandy & Mr. Whiskers 2004–06
American Dragon: Jake Long 2005–07
The Buzz on Maggie 2005–06
The Emperor's New School 2006–08
The Replacements 2006–09
Shorty McShorts' Shorts 2006–07
Phineas and Ferb 2007–15
Fish Hooks 2010–14 [25]
Take Two with Phineas and Ferb 2010–11
Gravity Falls 2012–16 [26][27]
Mickey Mouse 2013–present [28]
Wander Over Yonder 2013–16 [29]
Gravity Falls Shorts 2013–14
Descendants: Wicked World 2015–present
The Lion Guard [30]
Elena of Avalor 2016–present [31]
Tangled: The Series 2017 [32]

Disney XD original series[]

Title Original running Notes
Phineas and Ferb 2009–15
Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil 2010–12 co-production with Chris Savino Productions[33]
Motorcity 2012–13 co-production with Titmouse, Inc.[27][34]
Tron: Uprising co-production with Sean Bailey Productions
Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja 2012–15 co-production with Titmouse, Inc. Boulder Media Limited and Rough Draft Studios Korea Co., Ltd. Season 2-present
Wander Over Yonder 2014-16 Previously aired on Disney Channel. Now on Disney XD
The 7D
Gravity Falls Season 2 as a Disney XD Original Series
Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero 2014–present [35][36] Executive Produced and created by Jared Bush and Sam Levine.[37]
Star vs. the Forces of Evil 2015–present [38][39][40]
Two More Eggs co-production with Citywide Hoop Champs, Inc.[41]
Wander Over Yonder Shorts 2015
Pickle and Peanut 2015–present [42]
Future-Worm! 2016–present [43][44]
Milo Murphy's Law [45][46]
DuckTales 2017
Big Hero 6: The Series
Billy Dilley's Super-Duper Subterranean Summer
Country Club 2018

Playhouse Disney/Disney Junior original series[]

Title Original running Notes
PB&J Otter 1998–2000 co-production with Jumbo Pictures
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 2006–16 Computer Animation

School And Home The Series 2007-20

My Friends Tigger & Pooh 2007–10
Special Agent Oso 2009–12
Jake and the Never Land Pirates 2011–present
Sofia the First 2012–present Computer Animation
The Lion Guard 2016–present [47]
Mickey and the Roadster Racers 2017–present Computer Animation[48]

ABC television series[]

Title Original running Notes
Clerks: The Animated Series 2000 uncredited; co-production with Miramax Television, View Askew Productions, and Touchstone Television[49]

Television specials[]

Title Original air date Notes
Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too December 14, 1991
Boo to You Too! Winnie the Pooh October 25, 1996
A Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving November 22, 1998
Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You February 13, 1999
The O.W.C.A. Files November 9, 2015 Final Phineas and Ferb special.
Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special December 9, 2016 First Mickey Mouse half-hour special.
Haunted Mansion[50] TBA

Feature Films[]

Television films[]

  • Fluppy Dogs (1986) pilot film
  • DuckTales: The Treasure of the Golden Suns (1987)
  • DuckTales: Time is Money (1989)
  • Super DuckTales (1989)
  • TaleSpin: Plunder & Lightning (1990)
  • Darkwing Duck: Darkly Dawns the Duck (1991)
  • Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time (2003)
  • Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama (2005)
  • The Proud Family Movie (2005) co-production with Hyperion Animation
  • Leroy & Stitch (2006)
  • Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension (2011)
  • The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2015)
  • Tangled: Before Ever After (2017)

Direct-to-video films[]

  • Gargoyles the Movie: The Heroes Awaken (1995)
  • Mighty Ducks the Movie: The First Face-Off (1997)
  • Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World (1998)
  • Hercules: Zero to Hero (1998)
  • Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (2000; co-production with Pixar Animation Studios)
  • Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001)
  • Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street (2001) co-production with Paul & Joe Productions
  • Tarzan & Jane (2002)
  • Mickey's House of Villains (2002)
  • Stitch! The Movie (2003)
  • Atlantis: Milo's Return (2003)
  • Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade (2003) co-production with Paul & Joe Productions
  • Recess: All Growed Down (2003) co-production with Paul & Joe Productions

Theatrical films[]

  • Doug's 1st Movie (1999; co-production with Jumbo Pictures)
  • The Tigger Movie (2000)[51]
  • Recess: School's Out (2001; co-production with Paul & Joe Productions)
  • Teacher's Pet (2004)
  • Phineas and Ferb (TBA)

See also[]

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  • Jetix Animation Concepts
  • DisneyToon Studios
  • Walt Disney Television
  • List of Disney Television series
  • Walt Disney Animation Japan

References[]

  • Cotter, Bill, The Wonderful World of Disney Television: A Complete History, California: Disney Editions, 1997, ISBN 978-0-7868-6359-4
  1. 1.0 1.1 Godfrey, Leigh (January 3, 2003). "Disney Streamlines Television Animation Division". AWN News. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  2. "36th Annual Annie Nominations and Awards Recipients". AnnieAwards.org. January 30, 2009. Archived from the original on August 15, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2011. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. Smith, Dave (1998). Disney A to Z - The Updated Official Encyclopedia. p. 594.
  4. "Michael Webster". Variety. February 3, 2000. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Bentley, Rick (November 19, 2014). "Disney TV Animation Is 30 Years Old, and It's Going Strong". Valley News. The Fresno Bee. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
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  29. BETTER GRAB SOME SUNGLASSES, THE FUTURE AROUND HERE IS BRIGHT, Disney Channel Medianet
  30. http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/disney-announces-lion-guard-tv-movie/
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  49. Stabile, Carol (April 20, 2003). Prime Time Animation: Television Animation and American Culture. Routledge. p. 69. Beneath the tower of intra-organizational title credits for ABC's short-lived Clerks — Miramax Films, Miramax Television, Touchstone Television, View Askew Productions — resides the Walt Disney television animation studio.
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  51. Newman, Kim (2000). "The Tigger Movie (2000)". Sight & Sound. British Film Institute. Retrieved September 8, 2015.

External links[]

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