CBS Eye Animation Productions is an American
animation studio division of
CBS Studios owned by
Paramount Global
Paramount Global (Trade name, doing business as Paramount) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational mass media and entertainment Conglomerate (company), conglomerate owned and operated by National Amusements (79.4%) and headquar ...
. The studio is closely associated with the ''
Star Trek
''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vario ...
'' franchise with its first projects, ''
Star Trek: Lower Decks
''Star Trek: Lower Decks'' is an American adult-oriented animated television series created by Mike McMahan for the streaming service CBS All Access (later rebranded as Paramount+). It is the ninth ''Star Trek'' series and was launched in 2020 ...
'' and ''
Star Trek: Prodigy.'' CBS reinstated it as an animation division in late 2018 before
its re-merger with Viacom in 2019.
Background
In the 1950s, CBS began to invest further into television programs, creating many live shows as
''I Love Lucy'' and
''Captain Kangaroo''''.'' However, in 1955 CBS purchased
Terrytoons from Paul Terry under
CBS Films. After the deal's closure in 1956, CBS placed Terrytoons the management of
UPA's
Gene Deitch (which they'd already secured a contract with CBS). Deitch would soon produce animated
''Tom Terrific'' shorts for ''Captain Kangaroo'' in 1957. Terrytoons would continue animation under CBS until its closure in 1972 after the corporate spin-off of
the original Viacom International.
Despite the change of operations, CBS would continue to air many animated programs such Terrytoons (which they still owned) and
Hanna-Barbera Productions within the 1970s and mid-1980s. Throughout the late 1980s and '90s, they acquired broadcasting rights to multiple series from different studios such as
''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'',
''Garfield and Friends'' (both now owned by parent company Paramount Global),
''Muppet Babies'' (now owned by
Disney
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
), as well serval toy-based shows.
The network would continue with broadcast syndication cartoons from serval companies (such as
Nelvana) up until the late 1990s. In the 2000s, CBS (now merged with Westinghouse) switched to licensing more educational drive shows. Viacom had also acquired CBS as it agreed to air
Nickelodeon/Nick Jr. on CBS until 2006 (after Viacom & CBS' split).
CBS would later resume airing animated programs by launching
Cookie Jar TV until 2013.
History
In late 2018, CBS Studios unveiled CBS Eye Animation Productions to produce animated content for CBS All Access (later
Paramount+). ''
Star Trek: Lower Decks
''Star Trek: Lower Decks'' is an American adult-oriented animated television series created by Mike McMahan for the streaming service CBS All Access (later rebranded as Paramount+). It is the ninth ''Star Trek'' series and was launched in 2020 ...
'' would become the first animated television series, followed by ''
Star Trek: Prodigy'' (a co-production with sister studio
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Nickelodeon Animation Studio is an American animation studio owned by Paramount Global. It has created many original television programs for Nickelodeon, such as ''SpongeBob SquarePants'', ''The Fairly OddParents'', ''Rugrats'' and ''Avatar: The ...
). Initially, the studio would only create shows based on the ''Star Trek'' franchise but has invested in other shows such as ''
The Harper House
''The Harper House'' is an American adult animated streaming television series created by Brad Neely for Paramount+ and starring Rhea Seehorn, Jason Lee, Ryan Flynn, and Tatiana Maslany. The ten-episode series, premiered on September 16, 2 ...
'' and
Showtime
Showtime or Show Time may refer to:
Film
* ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film
* ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur
Television Networks and channels
* Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global ...
's ''
Our Cartoon President'', as well as critically acclaimed live-action/animated news program, ''
Tooning Out the News''.
On 29 September, 2022, the employees of CBS Eye Animation Productions formed a union with
Animation Guild IATSE Local 839 to publicly submitting a letter for voluntary recognition.
List of CBS Eye Animation Studios productions
TV series
TV specials
Late Night Cartoons, Inc.
See also
*
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Nickelodeon Animation Studio is an American animation studio owned by Paramount Global. It has created many original television programs for Nickelodeon, such as ''SpongeBob SquarePants'', ''The Fairly OddParents'', ''Rugrats'' and ''Avatar: The ...
*
Paramount Animation
Paramount Animation is an American animation studio, serving as the animation division and label of Paramount Pictures, a subsidiary of Paramount Global. The division was founded on July 6, 2011, following the box office success of Paramount's own ...
*
MTV Animation
*
List of animation studios owned by Paramount Global
Paramount Global has owned and operated several animation studios since its founding on March 16, 1952 as the original Viacom, throughout the first and second incarnation and CBS Corporation (previously Westinghouse Electric Corporation). T ...
References
{{Authority control
American animation studios
American companies established in 2018
Entertainment companies established in 2018
2018 establishments in New York (state)
Adult animation studios
CBS Television Network
Nickelodeon
Animation studios owned by Paramount Global