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Film Roman
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Key Information
Film Roman was an American animation studio based in Burbank, California and later in Woodland Hills, California. The company had several owners including Digital Production Services, Ltd., IDT Entertainment, Starz, Inc. and Waterman Entertainment.[1]
Founded by veteran animator and director Phil Roman[2][3] on October 26, 1984, it is best known for providing animation for the Garfield primetime specials, based on Jim Davis' comic strip of the same name. The studio also produced the animated series The Simpsons, The Critic, King of the Hill, Family Guy, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, The Goode Family, and Dan Vs..[3]
History
[edit]Background
[edit]Phil Roman, veteran alumnus of MGM Animation/Visual Arts and Bill Melendez Productions, founded Film Roman on October 26, 1984 as a means to continue the production of the Garfield television specials, since Melendez's own studio was unable to work on both the Peanuts and Garfield specials. Peanuts executive producers Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez and their aforementioned studio had produced the first two Garfield specials, but due to both Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz' and Garfield creator Jim Davis' concerns about conflicting interests in allocating production priority at Melendez's boutique studio, the production had to be moved. While Roman was leaving for his already-established studio, he was offered the opportunity to produce the next Garfield prime time special, Garfield in the Rough (1984), for CBS by Mendelson, which he accepted and went on to produce and direct by himself, winning an Emmy in the process.
Formation
[edit]In 1985, CBS' head of children's programming Judy Price had commissioned an animated television series based on the Garfield prime time special series, later ultimately titled Garfield and Friends, which took three years for Roman to decide developing and producing the program before it eventually aired on the network's Saturday morning time slot, premiering on September 17, 1988. The aforementioned show was Film Roman's first regular series. In 1986, in an effort to expand and diversify the studio, Roman hired Marvel Productions VP of Business Affairs and his own personal attorney, Michael Wahl, as President and Bill Schultz, Marvel's Director of Development, to join in the company as the fledgling studio's VP of Production and Development. Garfield and Friends was expanded to an hour on CBS' number one rated Saturday Morning block and the studio grew to increase its capacity.
In 1988, the new management team developed, sold and produced a new series, Bobby's World, to the brand new Fox Kids Network, headed up by former Marvel Productions president Margaret Loesch. In 1992 to 2016, Film Roman took over the source production of 20th Century Fox's The Simpsons from Klasky-Csupo who had produced the one-minute teaser cartoon shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show as well as the animation for the first three seasons and the first two episodes of the fourth season (in total 61 episodes).[4][5] The studio went on to grow and produce many popular animated series now seen all around the world.
In 1999, Film Roman's founder Phil Roman left and sold the company to form Phil Roman Entertainment, the studio that produced Christmas television specials including Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (2000), but he remained a shareholder of the company and then subsequently rejoined in 2001 as a member of the company's board of directors[6][7]
At the same time, it attempted to get into the syndication market with the launch of Max Degree TV, which would have consisted of three shows, Mission Extreme from Steve Tisch, Skins from the Deep from SFX artist Steve Wang, and a new Wes Archer cartoon Victor,[8][9] but it never got off the ground.[10]
In April 2000, The Harvey Entertainment Company became Film Roman's international sales representative and distributor in an effort for the former to branch out of its existing properties.[11] Within the same year, India-based software firm Pentamedia Graphics attempted to acquire 51% stake in the studio for $15 million, but the deal later terminated in 2001.[12][13][14]
IDT Entertainment and Starz ownership
[edit]In May 2003, the Digital Production Solutions division of IDT Corporation (formed in 2002) announced that it would acquire a 51% controlling interest and stake in Film Roman, which would temporarily renamed as DPS Film Roman, and the studio later became part of the newly-formed IDT Entertainment division in November that year.[15] [16]
In May 2006, IDT sold the IDT Entertainment division, which includes Film Roman, to Liberty Media for $186 million, the sale was completed on August 31, 2006, which resulted in IDT Entertainment becoming part of Starz Entertainment Group and renamed as Starz Media.[17]
Waterman Entertainment ownership
[edit]In 2015, Film Roman was acquired from its parent company Starz Distribution by Waterman Entertainment, the production company of executive producer Steve Waterman. As such, it now it did business with Starz, which retained the company's in-house catalogue (currently held by Lionsgate Television).[1]
On November 22, 2016, the company formed a joint venture based in Tijuana, called Film Roman Baja J.V. (also known as Film Roman Baja Productions), with Boxel Studios, a Baja California-based animation facility.[18]
On October 9, 2017, the Secretary of State of California forfeited Film Roman, LLC, and the California Franchise Tax Board followed suit on May 1, 2018, effectively closing the company. Business records show the company failed to produce a required Statement of Information for the year 2016. Waterman Entertainment shut down the following year after Steve Waterman terminated the company.[19]
Location
[edit]The original studio was located on Riverside Drive in Toluca Lake, California, where Roman was also joined by Melendez producer Lee Mendelson. Years later, the studio moved to a new location on Chandler Blvd. in Studio City, before moving to another location at Starz Plaza on Hollywood Way in Burbank, which it shared with the former Hub Network and Hasbro Studios/Allspark, and then in Woodland Hills.
Television series
[edit]Films and specials
[edit]Miscellaneous
[edit]- Get in Line (Barenaked Ladies music video)
- Frijolero (Molotov music video)
- Unaired American Dad! pitch pilot (2003)
- The Simpsons Game (2007, produced by Electronic Arts) (cutscenes only)
- The Simpsons Ride (2008, amusement simulator ride film produced for the attraction of the same name at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood)
- The Simpsons: Tapped Out (2012, freemium mobile game produced for Fox Digital Entertainment and Electronic Arts) (cutscenes only)
Commercials
[edit]- Alpo
- Ask Jeeves (2000) (five-minute branding reel)
- Burger King (2001–2003)
- Butterfinger (1992–1994, 1998–2001, 2007)
- CC's (1998)
- C.C. Lemon (2000–2002)
- Embassy Suites Hotel
- Expedia (2003)
- Garfield Fruit Snacks[23]
- General Foods
- Honey Nut Cheerios (1993) (Garfield ad only)[24]
- Intel (1998)
- Matchbox (2002) (CGI sales presentation animated by Forum Visual Effects)
- Microsoft (2003)
- Mirinda (2005–2006, 2008)
- Partnership for a Drug-Free America (2002)
- RC Cola (1999)
- SeaWorld (1998)
- SHO Too (2002)[25]
- Toyota (1992–1993)
- Trix (1991)
Unreleased projects
[edit]- Blues Brothers: The Animated Series[26] (Canceled due to irreplaceable casting of the original actors)
- Max Degree TV[10] (Cancelled due to lack of international backers)
- Heathcliff (CGI animated television series adaptation of the comic strip by George Gately, cancelled following the studio's shutdown, would have been co-produced by Creators Syndicate and Foothill Entertainment)
- This Modern World (Animated television series adaptation of the comic strip by Tom Tomorrow, cancelled following the studio's shutdown)
- The Untamed (Based on the graphic novel by Sebastian A. Jones and Peter Bergting, cancelled following the studio's shutdown)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c McNary, Dave (November 12, 2015). "'Simpsons' Animator Film Roman Bought by Waterman Entertainment". Variety. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
- ^ DataBase, The Big Cartoon. "Film Roman Productions Studio Directory". Big Cartoon DataBase (BCDB). Archived from the original on June 24, 2014. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ a b Hofmeister, Sallie (April 2, 1998). "COMPANY TOWN; Drawing on Creativity; A Struggling Film Roman Tries to Reanimate Itself". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
- ^ Kirkland, Mark (2004). The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Kamp Krusty" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Bernstein, Sharon (1992-01-21). "'The Simpsons' Producer Changes Animation Firms". Los Angeles Times. p. 18. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
- ^ "Film Roman founder resigns". Animation World Network. February 18, 1999. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
- ^ "Phil Roman Returns to Film Roman Studios". Animation World Network. February 20, 2002. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
- ^ Schlosser, Joe (July 19, 1999). "Film Roman on syndie march" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. p. 48. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- ^ Pursell, Chris (1999-07-19). "Film Roman to ride teen wave". Variety. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- ^ a b "No Max deal" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. December 13, 1999. p. 118. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- ^ "Harvey To Rep Film Roman Overseas". Animation World Network. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ "India's Pentamedia Buys 51% of Film Roman". Animation World Network. October 24, 2000. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
- ^ "Film Roman Agrees to Sell 51% Stake to Firm in India". Los Angeles Times. October 31, 2000. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
- ^ "Pentamedia bids to rescue Film Roman deal". Screen Daily. April 23, 2001. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
- ^ "IDT Media's Digital Production Solutions Unit To Acquire Controlling Interest in Film Roman, Inc" (Press release). IDT Corporation. May 15, 2003. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
- ^ "IDT Media Calls Controlling Interest in Film Roman Inc". Animation World Network. May 15, 2003. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ "IDT Entertainment sold to Liberty". San Fernando Valley Business Journal. May 16, 2006. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (21 November 2016). "Film Roman Teams With Boxel Studios To Form Film Roman Baja J.V." Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ California Secretary of State https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/api/report/GetImageByNum/080196113209227017164099103139180057077127029206. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Film Roman To Produce Animation For The Man Show". June 5, 2001.
- ^ Head, Steve (May 6, 2003). "Angels Ready for Animated Debut". IGN. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- ^ "AdamKlein_resume.qxd" (PDF).
- ^ "Credits". Archived from the original on 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Honey Nut Cheerios with Garfield (1993)". YouTube. 12 February 2013.
- ^ "Film Roman Gets Shagged For Sho Too". May 29, 2002.
- ^ "Blues Brothers - The Animates Series". Blues Brothers Central. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009.
External links
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Film Roman
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Film Roman was an American animation studio founded in 1984 by veteran animator and director Phil Roman in Los Angeles, California.[1] Specializing in television animation production and services, the company gained prominence for its work on The Simpsons (seasons 4–27, 1992–2016), King of the Hill, X-Men: Evolution, and Ultimate Spider-Man, as well as the long-running Garfield primetime specials and other animated content.[2][1]
The studio's early success stemmed from Phil Roman's experience at MGM Animation and Bill Melendez Productions, where he contributed to projects like the Peanuts specials; he established Film Roman with just three employees, quickly securing contracts that generated $300,000 in its first year from a Garfield special.[1] By the mid-1990s, Film Roman had transitioned from a fee-for-service model to owning intellectual properties, leading to its initial public offering in 1996, which raised $33 million with shares debuting at $10.[1] Ownership changes followed, including acquisition by IDT Corporation in 2003 for a 51% stake, subsequent sale to Liberty Media (parent of Starz) in 2006 as part of IDT Entertainment, and final acquisition by Waterman Entertainment from Starz in 2015 for an undisclosed amount.[1][2]
Under Waterman, Film Roman aimed to expand into original content development for television, film, and digital media while maintaining its studio-for-hire services, with Phil Roman returning as chairman emeritus and Dana Booton elevated to president of production.[2] The studio, then based in Burbank and later Woodland Hills, California, employed around 268 people at its peak and reported $43.3 million in sales in 2002, though it faced financial challenges including net losses in several years; it ceased operations following forfeiture by the California Secretary of State in 2017 and the Franchise Tax Board in 2018.[1][2][3]