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Soup2Nuts
Soup2Nuts
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Key Information

Soup2Nuts Inc.
Soup2Nuts
Company typeAnimation studio
IndustryTelevision
FoundedFebruary 2001; 24 years ago (2001-02)
FounderTom Snyder
DefunctMarch 27, 2015; 10 years ago (2015-03-27)
FateFolded into Scholastic
Headquarters,
United States
ParentTorstar Corporation (2001)
Scholastic Corporation (2001–2015)

Soup2Nuts (sometimes referred to as Soup2Nuts Studios, and formerly part of Tom Snyder Productions) was an American animation studio founded by Tom Snyder.[citation needed] The studio is known for its animated comedy series, its use of Squigglevision, a technique of animation that reuses frames to make the animation look more kinetic, and for its style of improvisation in voice acting.[citation needed]

History

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Tom Snyder, a teacher at Shady Hill School, began designing computer programs in the 1970s to enhance his 4th to 8th grade classes' learning environments. In 1980, Jere Dykema, the parent of one of Snyder's Shady Hill students, gave Snyder $30,000 to establish Computer Learning Connection (later renamed Tom Snyder Productions) for a 30% equity stake. Dykema also loaned CLC $100,000, which they paid back.

Tom Snyder Productions created and produced its first TV show, Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist in 1995 for Comedy Central.[citation needed] On February 23, 1996, the company announced it would be acquired by Torstar Corporation for more than $10 million. Torstar would provide Tom Snyder with additional cash to expand its education and television operations. [2] Later, the company created and produced Home Movies which aired originally on UPN, but after cancellation, continued on Adult Swim.[citation needed] In 2001, Snyder's television division was renamed Soup2Nuts, named after the company's involvement in the production of programs from beginning to end. Soup2Nuts also produced shorts, book adaptations, commercials, and interactive online series.[citation needed] Tom Snyder Productions and Soup2Nuts were purchased by Scholastic Corporation on December 21, 2001. Tom Snyder Productions continued to develop educational products under Scholastic until 2015.

Soup2Nuts began work on WordGirl, a superhero educational show for PBS Kids, in 2007. It had won numerous national awards including Best Direction for an Animated Children's Program and Outstanding Writing in Animation.[citation needed]

On March 13, 2015, Scholastic announced they were closing the studio. According to Kyle Good, the senior vice president of corporate communications for Scholastic, the decision was made to shut down Soup2Nuts as part of an overall restructuring of the parent company. Good commented, "We are restructuring that part of the business closer to our core businesses which are children's publishing and education. We have other options to continue television programming." Scholastic had cut the number of employees to just nine people earlier in 2015.[3]

Astroblast! was Soup2Nuts' final production. Scholastic closed Tom Snyder Productions on December 31, 2015; the company's FASTT Math product was acquired by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Productions

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Video games

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Animation

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Title Creator Co-produced by Year(s) Network
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist Jonathan Katz HBO Downtown Productions 1995–1999; 2002 Comedy Central
Tom Snyder
How Do You Spell God? ("The Tale of the Watch" sequence) 1996 HBO
Science Court Tom Snyder Burns & Burns Productions 1997–2000 ABC
Cosby ("A Very Nice Dance" and "War Stories" animated sequences) 1999 CBS
Home Movies Brendon Small
Loren Bouchard
Burns & Burns Productions 2001–2004 Adult Swim
The Dick & Paula Celebrity Special Tom Snyder FX Productions 1999 FX
The Lewis Lectures 2000; released in 2002 Adult Swim
Pops! An Animated Musical Adventure (pilot) Candy Altman Altman/Mugar Productions 2001 WGBH-TV
Watering Hole (interstitial series) Williams Street 2002 Adult Swim
Hey Monie! Dorothea Gillim 2003 Oxygen

BET

Fridays (Show & Tell segments) Various 2004 Cartoon Network
O'Grady Tom Snyder
Carl W. Adams
Holly Schlesinger
Noggin, LLC 2004–2006 Noggin (The N)
Time Warp Trio Jon Sciezska WGBH Boston 2005–2006 NBC
Discovery Kids
Sunday Pants (Thadlow's Driving School segments) Sven Gordon
Stuart Hill
2005 Cartoon Network
Assy McGee Matt Harrigan
Carl W. Adams
Williams Street 2006–2007 (Season 1 only) Adult Swim
WordGirl Dorothea Gillim Scholastic Media 2007–2015 PBS Kids Go!
Weston Woods (various shorts) Various Weston Woods 2009–2015
Between the Lions (animated sequences) WGBH-TV
Sirius Thinking
2009–2010 PBS Kids Go!
SciGirls (replaced by Curious Media) Twin Cities PBS 2010–2015
Chuck Vanderchuck's Something Something Explosion 2011–2015 pbskidsgo.org
Sesame Street ("4307" and "4504" animated sequences) Joan Ganz Cooney
Lloyd Morrisett
Sesame Workshop 2012, 2014 PBS Kids
Astroblast! Bob Kolar Scholastic Media 2014–2015 Sprout
NBC

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Soup2Nuts was an American animation studio based in , specializing in comedy and educational animated television series. Founded in 1993 by as the animation division of Tom Snyder Productions, it was renamed Soup2Nuts in 1999 and acquired by Scholastic Inc. in 2001, operating as an in-house unit of Scholastic Media thereafter. The studio pioneered the use of , a patented technique invented by Snyder that creates a wobbly, hand-drawn effect by rapidly displaying slightly varied versions of static images, first applied in series like (1995) and (1997). This method, detailed in U.S. No. 6,252,604 issued on June 26, 2001, automated edge distortions to simulate motion with minimal manual labor. Soup2Nuts gained prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s for producing acclaimed adult comedy shows using Squigglevision, including Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995–1999, six seasons on Comedy Central), which featured improvised dialogue and celebrity guests, and Home Movies (1999–2004, four seasons on UPN and Adult Swim). The studio transitioned to children's programming under Scholastic, creating educational series such as WordGirl (2007–2015, eight seasons on PBS Kids, winner of multiple Daytime Emmy Awards) and Astroblast! (2014, one season on Sprout). At its peak, Soup2Nuts employed over 60 staff members and was one of Boston's largest animation facilities. In March 2015, Scholastic announced the studio's closure by the end of the month as part of a broader media restructuring to prioritize publishing and educational content, reducing staff to fewer than 10 employees. Over its 22-year history, Soup2Nuts contributed to over a dozen animated projects, blending innovative techniques with both and learning-focused narratives.

History

Founding and early years

Tom Snyder founded Computer Learning Connection in 1980 in , which was renamed Tom Snyder Productions in 1983, marking the establishment of what would become the core of the Soup2Nuts . As a former and teacher, Snyder leveraged his educational background to create content that blended entertainment with learning, initially emphasizing software and media designed for classroom use. The company's roots extended to the earlier Computer Learning Connection, established in 1980 to develop innovative educational tools, which was renamed Tom Snyder Productions in 1983. This evolution allowed Snyder to formalize his vision of interactive edutainment, producing programs aimed at children that integrated and to enhance subjects like and in school settings. The animation division of Tom Snyder Productions was established in 1993, focusing on animated content. Early efforts focused on creating accessible, engaging learning experiences, such as software that encouraged group participation among students. Snyder served as the primary innovator and during these formative years, guiding the studio's shift toward as a medium for educational . Key early personnel included collaborators like Annette LeBlanc Cate, who contributed to initial animated projects. During this period, Snyder developed the technique, a distinctive style that would define the studio's visual identity.

Renaming and acquisition

In early 2001, the entertainment division of Productions, which had been expanding into and television production, was renamed Soup2Nuts to better reflect its comprehensive role in handling projects from concept to completion. This marked a deliberate separation of the emerging animation efforts from the core division, allowing Soup2Nuts to focus on broader entertainment initiatives while Productions continued to specialize in software and tools. The name "Soup2Nuts" evoked the for end-to-end involvement, signaling a pivot toward creative media production beyond strict educational boundaries. Later that year, on December 21, 2001, acquired Productions, including the newly renamed Soup2Nuts, from its parent company Corporation for $9 million. This acquisition integrated Soup2Nuts into Scholastic Entertainment, providing the studio with significantly expanded resources and financial backing to scale its animation operations. As part of Scholastic's portfolio, Soup2Nuts gained access to the publisher's extensive library of educational , such as beloved children's book characters, enabling synergies between animation and learning content. The ownership shift immediately influenced Soup2Nuts' trajectory, fostering initial projects that blended educational themes with animated storytelling to align with Scholastic's mission. This access to Scholastic's IP and infrastructure allowed the studio to produce content that tied narrative entertainment directly to pedagogical goals, enhancing its output in the early 2000s.

Expansion under Scholastic

Following its acquisition by Scholastic Inc. in , Soup2Nuts operated as an in-house for Scholastic Media, enabling expanded production capabilities through access to the parent's educational resources and distribution channels. This integration facilitated growth into major projects for and cable networks, including long-form that combined creative storytelling with Scholastic's emphasis on learning objectives. The studio's output scaled significantly, producing content for national audiences while maintaining its Watertown base as a hub for innovative . A pivotal milestone in this era was securing multi-season contracts for educational series, exemplified by , which Soup2Nuts developed and animated for . The show ran for eight seasons totaling 130 episodes, airing daily through 2015 and earning multiple for its contributions to children's programming. This success underscored Soup2Nuts' ability to deliver sustained, high-volume production under Scholastic's oversight, with similar long-term commitments enhancing the studio's reputation in the industry. The period from 2001 to also saw substantial operational growth, including an increase in staff to over 60 employees by late , supporting larger-scale projects and in-house efficiencies. Facilities in , were expanded to accommodate this workforce, serving as a dedicated production center with advanced tools for digital workflows. This buildup allowed Soup2Nuts to handle complex pipelines for broadcasters, fostering a collaborative environment that trained numerous animators in the area. Under Scholastic, Soup2Nuts shifted focus toward hybrid content blending and , targeting broadcasters seeking curriculum-aligned programming. Notable partnerships included ongoing collaborations with for vocabulary-building series and (via ) for comedic animations like Home Movies, where was employed to create distinctive visual effects. These alliances leveraged Scholastic's media network to secure diverse commissions, positioning Soup2Nuts as a versatile provider of animated content for both children's and adult-oriented platforms.

Closure

In March 2015, Scholastic announced the shutdown of Soup2Nuts as part of a broader of its Media, Licensing, and segment to refocus on core businesses in children's publishing and education. The decision was driven by shifts in the media industry, including declining demand for traditional animation production amid transitions to and interactive educational tools. This closure resulted in the of approximately 50 employees, with the studio's workforce having already been reduced from over 60 staff members in the preceding months. The , studios, a key hub for the company's operations, were shuttered by the end of the month. Prior to the full closure, Soup2Nuts completed its outstanding commitments, including seasons 7 and 8 of the long-running PBS Kids series WordGirl and season 1 of Astroblast! for Sprout. These final projects ensured continuity for ongoing PBS obligations, with WordGirl episodes continuing to air post-closure. The studio's operations generated $11.7 million in revenue for fiscal 2015 but incurred a net loss of $1.7 million, alongside an $8.3 million pretax impairment charge on goodwill, production, and programming assets. Following the shutdown, Soup2Nuts' assets, including and production materials, were archived and managed under Scholastic's oversight as part of the discontinued operations reclassification. This marked the end of the studio's independent activities, with its contributions integrated into Scholastic's broader educational media portfolio.

Productions

Animated television series

Soup2Nuts produced a range of animated series, primarily focusing on educational content for children and comedic programming for adults, often in collaboration with like and . Their output emphasized innovative animation styles and engaging storytelling to deliver vocabulary-building, historical, or humorous narratives. Key productions included superhero adventures, time-travel tales, and interview-based comedies, with many series co-produced by Scholastic Entertainment after the studio's acquisition. WordGirl (2007–2015) was a flagship educational series for , animated by Soup2Nuts in association with Scholastic Entertainment, featuring 130 episodes that followed the adventures of a superheroine who uses her superpowers and vast vocabulary to combat crime while learning new words. The show targeted young viewers to enhance language skills through action-packed stories and wordplay, earning multiple for its educational impact. Co-produced with , it aired daily on and included recurring villains like Dr. Two-Brains to illustrate vocabulary in context. Science Court (1997) was an early educational comedy series for ABC, produced by Soup2Nuts (then the animation division of Productions), consisting of 13 episodes that depicted scientific disputes resolved in a mock courtroom using evidence-based arguments. The show introduced and blended humor with for children, co-produced with ABC and Turner Program Services. Home Movies (1999–2004), a comedy series for , was created by and and produced by Soup2Nuts using their signature technique in early seasons, spanning 52 episodes across four seasons that depicted the quirky lives of an 8-year-old filmmaker and his friends through improvised dialogue and family dynamics. The series shifted to later but maintained its semi-autobiographical humor, co-produced with Burns & Burns Productions and , and became a cult favorite for its raw, childlike perspective on creativity and relationships. Soup2Nuts contributed to (seasons 3–6, 1996–2002), handling animation for 62 episodes of the series that featured improvised celebrity interviews in a therapist's office, employing to create a distinctive, wobbly visual style that complemented the show's humor. Co-produced with Productions initially, the later seasons under Soup2Nuts refined the format's blend of psychology parody and , starring as the therapist. In educational programming, Soup2Nuts co-produced (2005–2006) with WGBH for and affiliates, delivering 26 episodes based on Jon Scieszka's books where three boys time-travel via a magical book to historical events, blending adventure with lessons on history and problem-solving. The series aired internationally and emphasized collaborative to engage young audiences in learning. (2014–2015), one of Soup2Nuts' final productions co-developed with Scholastic Entertainment for Sprout (a partner network), consisted of 52 episodes following alien friends on a spaceship who solve problems through and teamwork, promoting preschool STEM concepts via short, energetic stories. The show premiered on July 12, 2014, and ran through early 2015, marking the studio's last major broadcast series before closure. Additionally, Soup2Nuts provided animated segments for children's series, including educational inserts for such as the Trampolini Brothers acrobatics and Synonym Sam's Lab to teach phonics and vocabulary, as well as background animations and station IDs for to enhance literacy-focused episodes. These contributions supported WGBH's puppet-and-animation hybrid format, appearing across multiple seasons to reinforce reading skills.

Video games and educational software

Through its predecessor Tom Snyder Productions, which emphasized edutainment before Soup2Nuts focused on , the company produced a wide array of interactive targeted at K-12 students. Over its history, the company developed more than 125 award-winning titles, evolving from simple text-based programs to sophisticated multimedia experiences that integrated elements. In the early and , under the Productions banner, the company released pioneering educational games for platforms such as , Commodore 64, 8-bit, and DOS. Notable examples include Agent USA (1985), an adventure game where players travel by train across the to combat a "fuzzbomb" infestation, teaching , time zones, state capitals, and through real-time decision-making. Decisions, Decisions (first released in 1983, with a 15-part series extending into the early ) presented ethical simulations and role-playing scenarios on historical and contemporary issues, encouraging classroom discussions on topics like environmental policy and social dilemmas. Another key title, Fraction Fever (1983), challenged players to solve fraction-based puzzles while navigating floors in a building using a pogo stick, reinforcing math concepts for elementary learners on systems like and . These early offerings, often text-driven with basic graphics, totaled at least 15 documented titles from 1983 to 1988 alone, focusing on group learning in school settings. Following the 2001 acquisition by Scholastic, Tom Snyder Productions continued developing software separately from the Soup2Nuts animation division, shifting toward CD-ROM and PC/Mac platforms with adaptive and multimedia features. FASTT Math (2005), an adaptive learning program for grades 2 and up, used ongoing assessments to target students' math fact fluency weaknesses, delivering 10-minute daily sessions to build automaticity and confidence. The Fizz & Martina series (late 1990s), a collection of five science adventure games for Windows and Macintosh, followed young protagonists solving math and problem-solving challenges in story-driven contexts like cave explorations. Soup2Nuts integrated its animation expertise into interactive products, particularly tie-in games for animated series. For instance, (2007 onward) featured companion educational games and a 2013 mobile app on platforms, where users engaged in vocabulary-building superhero missions aligned with the show's themes. This evolution from text-based simulations to animated, adaptive multimedia reflected the company's commitment to engaging K-12 audiences through tools.

Animation techniques

Squigglevision development

was invented by , founder of Tom Snyder Productions, in the early as a cost-effective technique designed to produce a wobbly, hand-drawn effect with minimal resources. The style aimed to simulate movement in static images, making it ideal for budget-limited educational content where traditional frame-by-frame was prohibitive. The technical process involves creating two slightly offset versions of an original image and alternating them rapidly in sequence to generate the illusion of vibrating outlines, emulating the fluidity of sketched lines without extensive redrawing. This method, often implemented using software like Animator Pro, applies editing functions such as "smear" tools to distort edges irregularly, looping a small set of frames (typically five) to sustain the effect across scenes. Initial testing occurred in educational software demonstrations and pilot projects at Tom Snyder Productions, where the technique enhanced interactive math videos and classroom media before its broader application in television series like . The process was formalized through a filed in 1997 by Snyder and collaborator Andre Lyman, assigned to Tom Snyder Productions, Inc., establishing it as a proprietary technology under the trademark SQUIGGLEVISION™. Key advantages for budget-conscious educational animation included drastically reduced production time and labor, as the squiggling effect added perceived dynamism to still artwork, allowing a small team to achieve a lively aesthetic comparable to more expensive methods. This efficiency enabled the studio to focus resources on content development rather than complex motion, aligning with its mission to deliver engaging learning materials affordably.

Application in projects

Squigglevision debuted in the animated series , where it produced a distinctive wobbling effect in static scenes, such as the therapist's office, enhancing the comedic portrayal of awkward conversations through a pseudo-amateurish, hand-drawn aesthetic that mimicked human imperfection. This technique allowed for low-budget production by minimizing the need for detailed frame-by-frame while adding visual dynamism to the dialogue-heavy format. In Home Movies, Squigglevision was employed extensively in the first season to evoke the imperfect, sketchy quality of children's homemade films, aligning with the show's focus on young protagonists creating amateurish stories and reinforcing a child-centric perspective through its unsteady, vibrant lines. The style transitioned to in later seasons for greater flexibility, but the initial application underscored the technique's role in capturing the chaotic energy of kid-led creativity without requiring complex motion. For educational programming, Soup2Nuts adapted its cost-effective methods in series like WordGirl, utilizing Flash-based 2D animation to deliver fast-paced superhero adventures that integrated vocabulary lessons seamlessly, boosting viewer engagement among children aged 6-8 through humorous, action-oriented visuals while adhering to budget constraints typical of public broadcasting. Approximately 25% of the dialogue was improvised, allowing voice performances to drive the animation and maintain a lively, relatable tone that encouraged learning without overwhelming production expenses. Beyond , Soup2Nuts incorporated cut-out animation hybrids in projects such as , combining flat character elements with digital manipulation to efficiently depict historical time-travel scenarios, blending simplicity with educational content delivery. Voice-driven performances were a hallmark across outputs, with audio recorded first—often through by comedians or actors—followed by animation synced to the , as seen in Dr. Katz and Home Movies, which prioritized natural conversational flow over scripted rigidity. This reverse workflow enabled authentic character interactions and reduced animation labor by aligning visuals to pre-recorded timing. Following its 2001 acquisition by Scholastic, Soup2Nuts evolved its stylistic approach to align with standards for children's educational media, shifting from experimental comedy formats to polished, accessible animations in shows like and Astroblast!, emphasizing clear visuals, inclusive themes, and compliance with broadcast guidelines for age-appropriate content while retaining efficiency in production techniques. This adaptation facilitated broader reach in public television, prioritizing engagement and learning outcomes over effects.

Influence and legacy

Soup2Nuts' technique, a patented method involving wiggling outlines to simulate hand-drawn movement, significantly influenced low-budget by enabling cost-effective production without sacrificing visual distinctiveness. Pioneered in shows like , it allowed studios to achieve a sketchy, organic aesthetic on limited budgets, inspiring minimalist approaches in 1990s television that prioritized humor and character over fluid motion. The technique's adoption extended beyond Soup2Nuts, notably in independent works such as Nina Paley's (2008), where it emulated traditional styles efficiently. In , Soup2Nuts played a key role through productions like (2007–2015), blending vocabulary lessons with superhero narratives to create hybrid content that engaged young audiences on platforms. This approach inspired subsequent series by demonstrating how could seamlessly integrate learning objectives with entertaining storytelling, earning the studio four for WordGirl. The studio served as a training ground for numerous animators, many of whom advanced to major outlets after its 2015 closure, contributing to the Boston creative ecosystem and broader industry. Notable alumni include Dorothea Gillim, who created during her 15-year tenure and later led GBH Kids' expansion of educational programming. Others transitioned to studios like and freelance roles, carrying forward expertise in accessible techniques. Soup2Nuts' works remain archivally available, ensuring their legacy endures; for instance, streams on the website, app, and , allowing ongoing access to its educational content. Critically, the studio's methods received praise for advancing accessible animation, with lauded as an innovative solution that democratized high-quality visuals for under-resourced projects, quietly shaping adult animation's evolution toward efficiency and style.

References

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