Marvel Productions Ltd., later known as New World Animation, was an American animation studio owned by the Fox Entertainment Group subsidiary of News Corporation which was founded in 1981 as 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.
The company as Marvel Productions produced animated television series, films and television specials such as Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, The Incredible Hulk, My Little Pony: The Movie, The Transformers: The Movie, and G.I. Joe: The Movie as well as The Transformers, Muppet Babies, and G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero television series. Most of Marvel Productions/New World Animation's non-Hasbro-related back catalog is currently owned by The Walt Disney Company.
History
DePatie–Freleng Enterprises (1963–1980) The company began in 1963 as DFE Films, and was sold to Cadence Industries, Marvel Comics Group's owner, in 1980 after DFE founder and company executive Friz Freleng departed the company to return to his former job at Warner Bros. Animation. Freleng's business partner and DFE co-founder David H. DePatie continued to work for the company under the Marvel banner for several years until his retirement.
Marvel Productions (1980–1993)
Marvel Productions opened its Los Angeles studio in 1980. In 1984, Margaret Loesch joined Marvel Productions as president and chief executive officer. Marvel Comics Group, owned by Cadence Industries Corporation since 1968, was sold to New World Pictures in 1986 along with Marvel Productions and incorporated as Marvel Entertainment Group.
With New World having cash flow problems, MEG was sold in January 1989 to Andrews Group, a MacAndrews and Forbes subsidiary, owned by Ronald Perelman. However, New World kept Marvel Productions and merged it with its own television business. MP moved their offices from Van Nuys to West Los Angeles in May 1989.
New World's problems continued, which led them to also be acquired by the Andrews Group within the year. Loesch left for Fox Kids in 1990. In December 1992, New World formed New World Family Filmworks and New World Action Animation, headed by Marvel Productions president Rick Ungar, to produce $20 million worth of family entertainment programming.
New World Animation (1993–1996) Marvel Productions was renamed New World Animation in November 1993. In 1994, Marvel and New World established Marvel Films including Marvel Films Animation. New World Animation (The Incredible Hulk), Saban Entertainment (X-Men), and Marvel Films Animation (Spider-Man), each produced a Marvel series for television. Tom Tataranowicz was in charge of both Marvel Films Animation and New World Animation during this period.
News Corporation subsidiary (1996) News Corporation/Fox Entertainment Group acquired New World Entertainment, along with New World Animation and Marvel Films Animation for $2.5 billion in August 1996. At the same time, Saban Entertainment secured the rights from Marvel Entertainment Group for Captain America, Daredevil, and Silver Surfer, and additional characters to be developed into four series and 52 episodes over the next seven years.
Fox Children's Productions and Saban Entertainment merged to form Fox Kids Worldwide, a holding company and joint venture, in November 1996, while Fox retained ownership of New World Animation.
Postscript In July 2001, Fox Family Worldwide and its assets, including the Marvel Productions library and Saban Entertainment, were purchased by The Walt Disney Company for $5.2 billion.
After getting its 2002 profit participation statements for the Marvel Productions library, Marvel Enterprises sued The Walt Disney Company over royalties in August 2004 after Disney would not open their books. This was followed by a November 2004 suit which claimed that the purchase of Fox Family did not transfer the shows' copyrights to Disney as the purchase was done without Marvel's approval. As part of both suits, Marvel claimed library income concealment and failure to exploit the characters.
On August 31, 2009, Disney acquired Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion, reunifying the Marvel Productions library and Marvel Entertainment under the same corporate banner. After Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox on March 20, 2019, the Marvel Productions and Fox Kids/Saban Entertainment libraries reunited with the New World Animation library.
Filmography Animated series ShowYearNetworkNotesSpider-Man1981Syndication Marvel propertySpider-Man and His Amazing Friends1981–1983NBC Marvel property, paired with The Incredible HulkThe Incredible Hulk1982NBCMarvel property, paired with Spider-Man and His Amazing FriendsMeatballs & SpaghettiCBSco-production with InterMedia Entertainment Company, Pan Sang East Co. Ltd, and MGM/UA TelevisionPandamoniumco-production with InterMedia Entertainment Company and MGM/UA TelevisionDungeons & Dragons1983–1985co-production with TSR Entertainment/Dungeons and Dragons Entertainment Corpcurrently co-owned by Disney and Hasbro EntertainmentG.I. Joe: A Real American Hero1983–1986Syndicationbased on Hasbro toyline of same name with Sunbow ProductionsMuppet Babies1984–1991CBSbased on Jim Henson's MuppetsThe Transformers1984–1987Syndicationbased on Hasbro toyline of same name with Sunbow ProductionsLittle Muppet Monsters1985CBSbased on Jim Henson's Muppets, co-produced with Henson AssociatesSuper Sunday (a.k.a. Super Saturday) Robotix Bigfoot and the Muscle Machines Jem and the Holograms InhumanoidsSyndicationbased on Hasbro toyline of same name co-produced with Sunbow ProductionsThe Young Astronauts1986CBSLicensed from the Young Astronaut Council and planned to be adapted into a comic book by Marvel Comics; Series was cancelled after Rogers Commission investigation into STS-51-L (Space Shuttle Challenger explosion) three days after episode was broadcast, resulting in litigation between the parties settled in 1990.Jem and the HologramsSyndicationbased on Hasbro toyline of same name co-produced with Sunbow ProductionsInhumanoidsbased on Hasbro toyline of same name co-produced with Sunbow ProductionsMy Little Pony 'n Friends The Glo Friends MoonDreamers Potato Head Kidsbased on Hasbro toyline of same name, coproduced with Sunbow Productions; first half of the show was My Little Pony while the second half was a wheel seriesDefenders of the EarthSyndicationco-production with King Features Syndicate (owner)Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series1987NBCbased on Fraggle RockLittle WizardsABCco-production with New World InternationalThe Little Clowns of Happytownco-production with Murakami-Wolf-Swensoncurrently owned by WildBrainDino-Riders1988Syndicationco-produced by Tyco Toys; aired as part of the Marvel Action Universe blockRoboCopco-production with Orion Pictures; aired as part of the Marvel Action Universe blockRude Dog and the Dweebs1989CBSX-Men: Pryde of the X-MenSyndicationaired on the Marvel Action Universe block as a pilot for an X-Men seriesAttack of the Killer Tomatoes1990–1991FOXco-production with Fox Children's ProductionsKid 'n PlayNBCco-production with Saban EntertainmentSpace Cats1991–1992NBCco-production with Paul Fusco ProductionsBucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars! 1991Syndication (U.S.)co-production with Abrams/Gentile Entertainment, Continuity Comics, IDDH, and Sunbow ProductionsLittle ShopFoxco-production with Saban Entertainment, Saban International N.V., BIL Participations S.A. and Gorfy Corporation N.V.Biker Mice from Mars1993–1996Syndicationstudio known as New World Animation onwards, released as Marvel Productions, distributed by New World (internationally), Genesis Entertainment (domestically), co-production with Brentwood Television Funnies, Worldwide Sports & Entertainment, Inc. and Philippine Animation StudiosThe Incredible Hulk1996UPNseason 1, co-production with Marvel Films and Saerom Animation Stealth Warriors
TV specials AirdateTitleNetworkNotesFebruary 14, 1981Pink at First SightABCproduction inherited from DePatie–Freleng EnterprisesMay 20, 1982The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hatproduction inherited from DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, co-production with Dr. SeussOctober 25, 1983The Charmkinssyndicationbased on Hasbro toyline of same nameApril 14, 1984My Little Pony: Rescue at Midnight CastleSeptember 12, 1984The Secret World of the Very YoungCBSco-production with Sunbow ProductionsMarch 23, 1985My Little Pony: Escape from Catrinasyndicationbased on Hasbro toyline of same name1987Blondie and Dagwood CBSco-production with King Features Syndicate1989Blondie and Dagwood: Second Wedding Workout1993The Magic PaintbrushCBS prime time special sponsored by McDonald'sNovember 28, 1996Party Town FriendsSyndication
Except for Fraggle Rock, the rights to series based on Jim Henson properties are now held by The Muppets Studio, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.
All programs based on Hasbro properties were co-productions with Sunbow Productions. These programs are now owned by Hasbro through its entertainment unit.
Theatrical and DTV films AirdateTitlestudioNotesNovember 28, 1984GallavantsDirect-to-VideoJune 20, 1986My Little Pony: The Moviewith Sunbow ProductionsTheatricalAugust 8, 1986The Transformers: The MovieApril 20, 1987G.I. Joe: The MovieDirect-to-Video planned for theatrical release.January 1993Gahan Wilson's DinerTheatrical short
Film titles Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) (inherited from DePatie–Freleng Enterprises) Curse of the Pink Panther (1983) (inherited from DePatie–Freleng Enterprises)
TV pilots + Title Original broadcast Network Solarman 1988 Syndication X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men 1989
Executives David H. DePatie – president and chief executive officer (1980–1984) Margaret Loesch – president and chief executive officer (1984–1990) Rick Ungar – president and chief executive officer (1991–August 1995) Lee Gunther – senior vice president, production (1986) Stan Lee – vice president, creative affairs (1986) Michael Wahl – vice president, business affairs (1986) Peter Knepper – vice president and chief financial officer (1986) Hank Sarovan – vice president (1986)
References
External links