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House of Cool

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House of Cool Studios
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryAnimation
PredecessorRed Rover Studios
Founded1994; 31 years ago (1994)[1]
Founder
  • Ricardo Curtis
  • Wes Lui
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario, Canada
Key people
Services
  • Animation production
  • Storyboard
  • Design
ParentWildBrain (2023–present)
Websitewww.houseofcool.com
The evolution of WildBrain
1968FilmFair London is founded
1971DIC Audiovisuel is founded
1972Strawberry Shortcake brand is first developed
1974CPLG is founded
1976CINAR and Colossal Pictures are founded
1982DIC Enterprises is founded
1984Ragdoll Productions is founded
1986/1987Andy Heyward takes over DIC Enterprises and renames it DIC Animation City with help from both Bear Stearns & Co and Prudential Insurance Co
Jean Chalopin retains DIC Audiovisuel and establishes Créativité et Développement
1988Studio B Productions is founded
1992Epitome Pictures is founded
1993Capital Cities/ABC purchases DIC Animation City, renaming it DIC Entertainment
1994Both Wild Brain and Red Rover Studios were founded
1995Platinum Disc Corporation is founded
1996The Walt Disney Company purchases Capital Cities/ABC, which included DIC Entertainment as well
CINAR buys FilmFair's library
1997Decode Entertainment is founded
1999Wild Brain acquires Colossal Pictures' employee base
2000Andy Heyward re-acquires DIC Entertainment from The Walt Disney Company with help this time around from both Bain Capital and Chase Capital Partners
2002Nerd Corps Entertainment is founded
DIC Entertainment rebrands themselves onscreen as The Incredible World of DIC
2004Halifax Film Company is founded
Michael Hirsh takes over CINAR and renames it as Cookie Jar Group
2005Platinum Disc Corporation merge as Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
2006Decode and Halifax Film merge as DHX Media
DIC Entertainment acquires CPLG
Ragdoll Productions forms a joint-venture with BBC Worldwide called Ragdoll Worldwide
Wildbrain acquires stake in Kidrobot
2007DHX Media buys Studio B Productions
Wild Brain becomes Wildbrain Entertainment
2008Cookie Jar Group purchases and folds DIC Entertainment
House of Cool absorbs Red Rover Studios
2010DHX Media buys Wildbrain Entertainment
Peanuts Worldwide is founded
2011Decode Entertainment, Studio B Productions and Red Rover Studios close
2012DHX Media buys Cookie Jar Group
Wildbrain Entertainment acquires Kidrobot as a whole
2013DHX Media acquires Ragdoll Worldwide from Ragdoll Productions and BBC Worldwide; despite that though, Ragdoll Productions themselves remain independent
2014DHX Media buys Epitome Pictures, Nerd Corps, and Echo Bridge Home Entertainment's family content library, as well as Family, the Canadian English and French Disney Junior channels, and the Canadian version of Disney XD
Cookie Jar Group shuts down
National Entertainment Collectibles Association acquires Kidrobot from Wildbrain Entertainment
2016The WildBrain multi-channel network launches
Studio B and Nerd Corps merge as DHX Studios
Wildbrain Entertainment closes
2018Halifax Film becomes Island of Misfits
2019DHX Media rebrands as WildBrain
Epitome Pictures closes
the WildBrain MCN becomes WildBrain Spark
2020CPLG becomes WildBrain CPLG
2021Echo Bridge folds into SP Distribution
2023WildBrain acquires House of Cool
2024WildBrain Spark merged into its parent company as WildBrain London

House of Cool Studios[2] is a boutique animation studio based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and founded as a pre-production studio in 1994 by animation veteran Ricardo Curtis and finance expert Wes Lui, specializing in designing and storyboarding of films, series and commercials.

On March 29, 2023, Canadian media company WildBrain announced its intent to acquire the company for CA$18.3 million.[3] The acquisition was completed in July 19, 2023.[4]

Red Rover Studios

Red Rover Studios was founded in London by Andy and Linzi Knight in 1994. It was a full production studio that focused on 2D and CGI animation. They later moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. However, in July 2008, Red Rover was acquired by House of Cool after Andy Knight died, three months earlier.[5][6]

Filmography

As House of Cool

As Red Rover Studios

References

  1. ^ "Our Story". House of Cool.
  2. ^ "House of Cool – Toronto Animation Studio". House of Cool. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
  3. ^ Lang, Jamie (March 29, 2023). "Wildbrain Acquires Canadian Pre-Production Studio House Of Cool". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  4. ^ Ltd, WildBrain. "WILDBRAIN COMPLETES HOUSE OF COOL ACQUISITION, SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDING AND ENHANCING ITS PRE-PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  5. ^ "Andy Knight, RIP | Cartoon Brew". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
  6. ^ "House Of Cool Studios Acquires Red Rover Studios". Awn.com. 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
  7. ^ Hey Arnold Test
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