WildBrain
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Formerly | DHX Media (2006–2019) |
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Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Television production Broadcasting |
| Predecessors | WildBrain (1994–2016) Decode Entertainment Halifax Film Company Cookie Jar Group |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founders | Michael Donovan Steven DeNure |
| Headquarters | 5657 Spring Garden Road, Suite 505, , |
Number of locations | 12 |
Key people |
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| Owner | Amazon |
Number of employees | est. 1000 (2015) |
| Parent | Amazon Studios (Amazon Entertainment) |
| Divisions | |
| Subsidiaries |
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| Website | wildbrain |
WildBrain Ltd. (formerly known as DHX Media, Ltd.), is a Canadian media, animation studio, production, and brand licensing company, mostly associated as an entertainment company formed in 2006 by the merger of Decode Entertainment and the Halifax Film Company and headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is a subsidiary of Amazon Studios, a division of the Amazon Entertainment, which is owned by Amazon.
WildBrain is the largest owner of children's television programming; its library includes those of Cookie Jar Group (Cinar, DIC Entertainment, Coliseum and FilmFair), Epitome Pictures, Ragdoll Productions, Studio B Productions, WildBrain Entertainment, Nerd Corps Entertainment, and Colossal Pictures, along with those of WildBrain's two predecessors, Decode Entertainment and Halifax Film Company.
In addition to its namesake animation studios, WildBrain Studios, which produces animated television programs and WildBrain Features, which produces feature films, the company's businesses also include WildBrain Spark, an online multi-channel network.
History[edit]
As DHX Media[edit]
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| 1968 | FilmFair is founded |
|---|---|
| 1971 | DIC Audiovisuel is founded |
| 1974 | CPLG is founded |
| 1976 | CINAR and Colossal Pictures are founded |
| 1978 | Iconix Brand Group is founded. |
| 1982 | DIC Enterprises is founded |
| 1984 | Ragdoll Productions is founded |
| 1987 | DIC Audiovisuel closes |
| 1988 | Studio B Productions is founded |
| 1992 | Epitome Pictures is founded |
| 1993 | DIC Enterprises becomes DIC Entertainment |
| 1994 | Wild Brain is founded |
| 1995 | Platinum Disc Corporation is founded |
| 1996 | CINAR buys FilmFair's library |
| 1997 | Decode Entertainment is founded |
| 1999 | Wild Brain absorbs Colossal Pictures' employees |
| 2002 | Nerd Corps Entertainment is founded |
| 2004 | Halifax Film Company is founded and CINAR rebrands as Cookie Jar Group, and the House of Cool are founded |
| 2005 | Platinum Disc Corporation becomes Echo Bridge Home Entertainment |
| 2006 | Decode and Halifax Film merge as DHX Media, DIC acquires CPLG, and Ragdoll Worldwide is formed with BBC Worldwide |
| 2007 | DHX Media buys Studio B Productions and Wild Brain becomes Wildbrain Entertainment |
| 2008 | DIC Entertainment is acquired and absorbed into Cookie Jar Group |
| 2010 | DHX Media buys Wildbrain Entertainment |
| 2011 | Decode Entertainment closes |
| 2012 | DHX Media buys Cookie Jar Group |
| 2013 | DHX Media buys Ragdoll Worldwide |
| 2014 | DHX Media buys Epitome Pictures, Nerd Corps, and Echo Bridge Home Entertainment and Cookie Jar is absorbed |
| 2016 | The WildBrain multi-channel network launches and Studio B and Nerd Corps merge as DHX Studios |
| 2017 | Wildbrain Entertainment closes and DHX Media buys Iconix Brands Entertainment |
| 2018 | Halifax Film becomes spins off as Island of Misfits |
| 2019 | DHX Media rebrands as WildBrain, Epitome Pictures closes, and the WildBrain MCN becomes WildBrain Spark |
| 2020 | CPLG becomes WildBrain CPLG |
| 2023 | WildBrain acquires House of Cool |
| 2024 | Amazon buys WildBrain |
In 2006, the Toronto-based Decode Entertainment and Halifax-based Halifax Film Company merged so that the newly merged company would be named the Decode-Halifax Film Company. The newly public company known as DHX Media, began trading in 2006, because the name, "DHX", is an acronym for the combination of the names Decode and Halifax.
A reverse merger deal with Entertainment One was considered in 2008, but was dropped. On March 25, 2008, DHX Media acquired Bulldog Interactive Fitness. On September 8, 2010, all related subsidiaries and divisions were rebranded under the label DHX Media. On September 14, 2010, DHX Media acquired the American animation studio Wildbrain Entertainment.
On August 20, 2012, it was announced that DHX Media would acquire Cookie Jar Group for CA $111 million, a deal which would make DHX the world's largest independent owner of children's television programming. The acquisition was completed on October 22, 2012.
In May 2013, DHX introduced three premium, subscription-based channels on YouTube; DHX Junior, DHX Kids, and DHX Retro. DHX's then executive chairman Michael Hirsh stated that the offerings were meant to leverage the company's library and the growth of digital distribution in the children's television market. DHX was among the first 30 content partners for YouTube's premium channel platform.
On September 16, 2013, DHX acquired Ragdoll Worldwide—a joint venture between British production company Ragdoll Productions, BBC Worldwide and an investment group that managed and licensed Ragdoll Productions' properties (such as Teletubbies) outside the United Kingdom.
Expansion into broadcasting, subsequent partnerships[edit]
On November 28, 2013, DHX announced that it would acquire four children's specialty television channels from the former Astral Media for CA$170 million, consisting of Family Channel, Disney Junior (English), Disney Junior (French), and Disney XD. The networks were being sold as a condition of Bell Media's 2013 acquisition of the remainder of Astral Media's assets; its purchase of the networks marked DHX's first foray into television broadcasting. The deal was approved by the CRTC on July 24, 2014, and closed on July 31, 2014. The channels were incorporated into a new unit, DHX Television.
In early 2014, DHX Media acquired Epitome Pictures, the producers of Degrassi, but Epitome did not own international distribution rights. In November, DHX purchased 117 children's and family titles from US distributor Echo Bridge Home Entertainment. The acquisition comprised about 1,200 half-hours including the international distribution rights to Degrassi, as well as Instant Star and The L.A. Complex (two other Epitome productions), as well as distribution rights to an additional 34 series. Other shows in the purchase included Lunar Jim, Beast Wars: Transformers and Cookie Jar's Emily of New Moon. Nerd Corps Entertainment, a computer animation studio founded by former Mainframe Entertainment producers Asaph Fipke and Chuck Johnson, also the makers of Slugterra, was acquired by DHX Media on December 24.
In April 2015, Corus Entertainment announced that it had acquired Canadian rights to the program library of Disney Channel and its associated brands as part of a deal with the Disney–ABC Television Group; DHX's existing deal with Disney, which covered programming across the four DHX Television services, ended in January 2016. DHX's Disney-branded channels were re-branded as Family Jr. and Télémagino in September 2015.
In August 2015, DHX reached an output deal with AwesomenessTV; the deal includes rights to its programming for Family Channel, along with plans to co-develop new, original content for DHX to distribute and merchandise internationally. In December 2015, DHX reached an output deal with DreamWorks Animation, which included Canadian rights to its original animated television series, and a pact to co-produce 130 episodes of animated programming for the Family networks, with DHX handling Canadian distribution and DreamWorks handling international distribution. Also that month, DHX established a development deal with Mattel to co-develop and handle global sales for content in the Little People and Polly Pocket franchises, as well as HiT Entertainment properties owned by them such as the Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam franchises, including television and digital video programming.
In April 2016, DHX Media announced the formation of a new London-based multi-channel network under the WildBrain name. On September 21, 2016, DHX cut a deal with Air Bud Entertainment (founded by Robert Vince) distribute the Air Bud library of 15 films, including the newest Air Bud production Pup Star.
Peanuts acquisition, reorganizations[edit]
On May 10, 2017, DHX announced that it had acquired the entertainment division of Iconix Brand Group for US$345 million. The purchase gave DHX full ownership to the Strawberry Shortcake franchise and, more prominently, an 80% majority stake in Peanuts Worldwide.
On October 2, 2017, the company announced that it was evaluating strategic alternatives, including a potential sale, following a review of its finances. DHX's debt had increased following the Iconix acquisition, and the company reported a net loss of CA$18.3 million during its fiscal fourth quarter. On May 14, 2018, DHX announced that it would sell a 39% stake (approximately 49% of its total ownership) in Peanuts Worldwide to its Japanese licensee Sony Music Entertainment Japan for US$185 million. The sale would be used to help cover DHX's debt.
On September 24, 2018, DHX announced that it had concluded its strategic review and decided against selling the company, and that it planned to prioritize investments into digital content (including short-form digital content for WildBrain, and premium long-form content intended for platforms such as Amazon Video and Netflix), rather than television, to reflect changes in viewing habits. On the same day, the company also reported a revenue of CA $434.4 million for its fiscal 2018 (up from CA $298.7 million in its fiscal 2017). In November 2018, DHX announced the sale of its Halifax animation studio to IoM Media Ventures, a new company led by former DHX CEO Dana Landry. The Halifax animation studio had been operating on a loss. The sale was completed on December 21, 2018.
In February 2019, the company announced plans to consolidate its operations into two internal subsidiaries for "improved focus and strategic flexibility", focused on studios and networks, and digital respectively. During its investors' call, then CEO Michael Donovan stated that the company had slightly downsized its slate of productions to "focus on the shows we think have the greatest potential, particularly with respect to consumer products".
As WildBrain[edit]
In August 2019, former Marvel Entertainment CEO and founder of Classic Media (now DreamWorks Classics) Eric Ellenbogen was named the new CEO of DHX Media. On September 23, 2019, DHX Media announced a reorganization, including CFO Doug Lamb stepping down and being replaced by existing COO Aaron Ames, and the addition of a new "brand director" position. In addition, DHX began trading as "WildBrain", building upon its multi-channel network of the same name (which was subsequently renamed to "WildBrain Spark"). Company president Josh Scherba explained that the name was "synonymous with creativity, imagination and innovation", and symbolized the company's efforts to achieve stronger collaboration and integration between its businesses. DHX shareholders officially approved the change in corporate name during its annual shareholder meeting in December.
On February 3, 2022, WildBrain acquired distribution, production, and licensing rights to the Jay Ward Productions portfolio; both companies will create new content based on the portfolio. The deal excluded co-productions from the Bullwinkle Studios venture that was operated by DreamWorks Classics before the new deal was made. That November, the studio made a production deal with How to Train Your Dragon producer Bonnie Arnold, througth which she would produce television and film content for the studio. The first projects following the deal are set to be adaptations of Cressida Crowell's Which Way to Anywhere novel and Emily Brown series.
Josh Scherba became President and CEO of the company in 2023. WildBrain announced its intent to acquire Toronto-based animation studio House of Cool for CA$18.3 million on March 29, 2023. The acqusition was completed in July 2023. As part of the deal, House of Cool is renamed back into WildBrain Studios Toronto since Decode Entertainment and House of Cool co-founders Wes Lui and Ricardo Curtis joined WildBrain as co-general managers of the studio.
Amazon subsidiary[edit]
On July 21, 2023, online retail and technology company Amazon entered negotiations to acquire the studio. On August 7, 2023, it was officially announced that WildBrain will be acquired by Amazon for $500-600 million to expand Amazon's content library for new generations, making it more competitive against other streaming giants such as Netflix and Disney+. Under the structure, WildBrain would become a subsidiary within Amazon Studios, becoming the unit's kids and family and animation arms, as Amazon intended to expand WildBrain by producing animated films in addition to series under its label, competing with other animation studios including Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, Illumination, and Sony Pictures Animation.
On March 19, 2024, The canadian regulators approved Amazon's acquisition of WildBrain. Amazon also sold WildBrain Television channels (including Family Channel, WildBrainTV, Family Jr., and Télémagino) back to BCE Inc. (the owner of CTV. BCE Inc. also used to acquire Astral Media, the one who used to owns Family Channel rights to Disney Junior (English) and Disney Junior (French) (now Family Jr. and Télémagino) and Disney XD (Now WildBrainTV) before sold it to DHX Media (now WildBrain) during the acquisition of Astral Media) and renamed WildBrainTV into CTV Kids.
The deal was closed on April 2, 2024, and WildBrain became a subsidiary within Amazon Studios, while WildBrain's distribution arm was absorbed into Amazon Studios Distribution. Amazon Studios also began to licensing MGM-owned animation library and former, current, and future WildBrain-owned shows like The Pink Panther, Inspector Gadget, Johnny Test, etc. to other Canadian kids syndication channels like YTV, Treehouse, Cartoon Network (Canada), Boomerang (Canada), Nickelodeon (Canada), CBC Kids, etc. Amazon plans to revive The Pink Panther, The Addams Family, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and Inspector Gadget animated shows, specials, and films by the help from WildBrain Studios in Vancouver and streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Freevee.
WildBrain keeps the most Family Channel original series that co-produced with WildBrain Studios from BCE Inc. (the current owner of Family Channel) like Backstage, Life with Derek, The Next Step, My Perfect Landing, and Ruby and the Well.
WildBrain CPLG is folded into Amazon CPLG and became a brand licensing agency of Amazon and continuing selling licensing brands of Peanuts, Spider-Man, Sesame Street, etc. through Amazon online exclusively across 20 offices covering 70 countries.
Amazon plans to selling WildBrain-owned video game based shows and global distribution rights to select Mattel Television programs like Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, Mega Man, The Legend of Zelda, Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam, etc. back to the original owners of video games like Nintendo, Sega, Capcom, etc. and Mattel to end the cartoon licensing to the video game based shows and select Mattel Television programs, then the original video game owners and Mattel would likely have increased creative control and brand management for original video game owners and Mattel and potential for expanded monetization opportunities. It could impact their business model and revenue streams, as these shows may be significant assets in their portfolio. But for the fans, Some fans may be excited about the potential for increased creative control and brand management from the original video game owners and Mattel, while others may have concerns about potential changes to the shows or disruptions in their favorite shows' continuity. WildBrain Studios continuing to partnering with the original video game owners like Sega, Capcom, etc. and Mattel to co-producing new shows like Sonic Prime, Fireman Sam, and more.
Amazon acquires 39% stake in Peanuts Worldwide from Sony Music Entertainment Japan.
Amazon also acquires the majority stake to Jay Ward Productions and renamed into Jay Ward Studios while Tiffany Ward (daugther of Jay Ward) remains as president.
Amazon plans to creates the family label of MGM+ to provided family and children's programming that is owned by Amazon (like Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's current family library (including Creed films and The Pink Panther Show), WildBrain library (including Peanuts animated films and specials and Cookie Jar (excluding co-productions with PBS Kids in United States only)), and non-Amazon other family films) during weekdays and this will considered be the successor of WildBrainTV in Canada too.
In 2026, Amazon (the parent company of WildBrain) acquires Annapurna Pictures. Annapurna Animation renamed as WildBrain Features. Annapurna Animation executives Robert Baird and Andrew Millstein named as co-heads of Animation while Karen Ryan (co-founder of Annapurna Animation) became the new chief creative officer of Animation.
Businesses[edit]
- WildBrain Studios: WildBrain maintains a production studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, and formally operated 3 others.
WildBrain Spark logo - WildBrain Features is the in-house film studio and animation studio produces feature films in Culver City, California and Vancouver, British Columbia.
- WildBrain Spark is a multi-channel network based in London, England, that programs digital children's content on services such as YouTube. Such content includes those relating to WildBrain Ltd's own properties, as well as edutainment and toys. It was formerly known as simply "WildBrain" until DHX adopted the name company-wide, after which it adopted its current name in 2019. The division has also entered into partnerships with other parties to manage their digital properties. The WildBrain Spark channel is among the largest children's channels on YouTube, and accounted for $70 million of WildBrain's revenue in 2019.
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
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Affiliate companies: United Artists, Nash Holdings (The Washington Post), AWS, Blue Origin, Bezos Expeditions, Bezos Family Foundation | |||||||||||||||
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