DreamWorks Classics is an American

entertainment Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and Interest (emotion), interest of an audience or gives pleasure and delight. It can be an idea or a task, but it is more likely to be one of the activities or events that have deve ...

company owned by

DreamWorks Animation DreamWorks Animation LLC (DWA, also known as DreamWorks Animation Studios or simply DreamWorks) is an American animation studio, owned by Comcast's NBCUniversal as part of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios, Inc, Universal Stud ...

, a subsidiary of

Universal Pictures Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...

, a division of

NBCUniversal NBCUniversal Media, LLC (abbreviated as NBCU and Trade name, doing business as NBCUniversal or Comcast NBCUniversal since 2013) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational mass media and Show business, entertainment conglomerate (comp ...

, which in turn is a subsidiary of

Comcast Comcast Corporation, formerly known as Comcast Holdings,Before the AT&T Broadband, AT&T merger in 2001, the parent company was Comcast Holdings Corporation. Comcast Holdings Corporation now refers to a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, not th ...

. Founded as Classic Media in 2000 by Eric Ellenbogen and John Engelman, The studio's library consists of acquired

intellectual property Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, co ...

catalogs and character brands, as well as the licensing rights for various third-party properties. In 2012, Boomerang Media sold Classic Media to DreamWorks Animation, who rebranded the company as DreamWorks Classics (the legal name is still Classic Media, LLC). DreamWorks Animation became a subsidiary of NBCUniversal in 2016.

History

Classic Media was founded by Eric Ellenbogen and John Engelman in May 2000 after acquiring the United Productions of America (UPA) catalog and assets from the estate of Henry Saperstein. Frank Biondi, the former head of

Universal Studios Universal Studios may refer to: * Universal Studios, Inc., an American media and entertainment conglomerate ** Universal Pictures, an American film studio ** Universal Studios Lot, a film and television studio complex * Various theme parks operat ...

, and film producer Steve Tisch invested in the company. Classic Media then bought most assets of The Harvey Entertainment Company on March 11, 2001. On August 16, 2001, Classic Media and

Random House Random House is an imprint and publishing group of Penguin Random House. Founded in 1927 by businessmen Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer as an imprint of Modern Library, it quickly overtook Modern Library as the parent imprint. Over the foll ...

won a joint bid for the assets of

Western Publishing Western Publishing, also known as Western Printing and Lithographing Company, was an American company founded in 1907 in Racine, Wisconsin, best known for publishing the Little Golden Books. Its Golden Books Family Entertainment division also ...

, with Classic Media acquiring the entertainment division (including the

Dell Comics Dell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in pulp magazines. It published comics from 1929 to 1973. At its peak, it was the most prominent and successful American company in the medium.Evanier, Mark"Wh ...

and Gold Key Comics libraries) and Random House acquiring the Little Golden Books publishing properties. Classic then purchased much rights to the Jay Ward characters and formed Bullwinkle Studios, a joint venture with

Jay Ward Productions Jay Ward Productions, Inc. (sometimes shortened to Ward Productions) is an American animation studio based in Costa Mesa, California. It was founded in 1948 by American animator Jay Ward. As of 2022, the studio was headed by Ward's daughter, Ti ...

, to manage them sometime in 2002. On October 31, 2003, Classic Media purchased the assets of the bankrupt Big Idea Entertainment catalog. By 2007, Bullwinkle Studios became converted to a functioning studio. On April 7, 2005, the company underwent a recapitalization led by a group of investors, including Spectrum Equity Investors and existing investors headed by Pegasus Capital Advisors. Additionally, a senior debt facility of $100 million was secured through a bank group led by JP Morgan Chase Bank. With the deal, Spectrum became a majority owner over the existing investors, with a representative on the company board of directors. In August 2006, Classic Media announced a joint venture with ION Media Networks,

Corus Entertainment Corus Entertainment Inc. (often simply known as Corus) is a Canadian mass media and television production company. The company was founded in 1987 as Shaw Radio Ltd. as a subsidiary of Shaw Communications and was spun-off from Shaw in 1999. It h ...

and book publisher

Scholastic Corporation Scholastic Corporation is an American multinational publishing, education, and media company that publishes and distributes books, comics, and educational materials for schools, teachers, parents, children, and other educational institutions. P ...

to launch

Qubo Qubo ( ; stylized as qubo) was an American television network for children between the ages of 5 and 14. Owned by Ion Media, it consisted of a 24-hour free-to-air television network often mentioned as the "Qubo channel" (available as a digital ...

, a kids' entertainment network. On December 14, 2006, it was announced that Classic Media would be acquired by UK-based rival

Entertainment Rights Entertainment Rights PLC (formerly known as Sleepy Kids PLC and SKD Media PLC) was a British multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate that specialised in television shows and cartoons, children's media, films, and distribution. ...

for $210.0 million. Before the acquisition was completed, both companies announced distribution and production agreements with Genius Products LLC, replacing the Sony Wonder deal. Entertainment Rights fell in to administration on April 1, 2009. On the same day, Boomerang Media LLC, formed by Ellenbogen and Engelman in 2008 with equity funding from GTCR, announced that it would acquire Entertainment Rights' principal UK and American subsidiaries, including Classic Media, Inc. and Big Idea Entertainment, from its administrators. On May 11, 2009, Boomerang Media announced that the former UK and American subsidiaries of Entertainment Rights would operate as a unified business under the name Classic Media, while Big Idea would operate under its own name. On February 20, 2010, Classic Media purchased the then-upcoming manga-inspired television series '' My Life Me'' from the bankrupt TV-Loonland AG. Classic Media bought the '' Noddy'' and '' Olivia'' brands on March 7 and 19, respectively in 2012 from

Chorion The chorion is the outermost fetal membrane around the embryo in mammals, birds and reptiles (amniotes). It is also present around the embryo of other animals, like insects and molluscs. Structure In humans and other therian mammals, the cho ...

Sale to DreamWorks Animation (2012–present)

On July 23, 2012,

announced that they would acquire Classic Media for $155 million from Boomerang Media, with the deal closing in September of that year. Afterwards, Classic Media began trading as DreamWorks Classics to associate itself with its parent company, although the parent company remained under its former name. On October 3, 2012, Classic Media made its first post-DreamWorks sale by securing licensing and distribution rights to Studio Hari's '' The Owl & Co'' outside of France and other French-speaking territories. On September 17, 2013, DreamWorks Animation announced they had purchased the programming library of the British animation studio

Chapman Entertainment Chapman Entertainment Limited was a British television production company founded by Keith Chapman and Greg Lynn and based in London. The company focused on producing content aimed at pre-school audiences. History 2001-2008 The company was foun ...

, and placed distribution through DreamWorks' UK-based TV distribution operation. On June 18, 2014, DreamWorks Animation bought the '' Felix the Cat'' brand and added it to the DreamWorks Classics portfolio. On April 28, 2016,

announced it would buy out DreamWorks Animation in a $3.8 billion deal. The buyout was completed on August 22. In January 2020, Classic Media pre-sold streaming rights to three series; '' Lassie'', ''

George of the Jungle ''George of the Jungle'' is an American animated television series produced and created by Jay Ward and Bill Scott, who also created '' The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends''. The character George was inspired by the story of ...

'' and '' Mr. Magoo'', by CBS All Access (now as

Paramount+ Paramount+ (formerly known as CBS All Access in the United States and 10 All Access in Australia) is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Streaming media, stream ...

Libraries

Catalogs

* United Productions of America (UPA) ('' Mr. Magoo'', '' Gerald McBoing-Boing'', and '' Dick Tracy'') (excluding theatrical shorts which are still owned by

Sony Pictures Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment studio conglomerate that produces, acquires, and distributes filmed entertainment (theatrical motion pictures, television programs, and rec ...

via

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

, and theatrical films owned by third-party companies) ** Several ''

Godzilla is a fictional monster, or ''kaiju'', that debuted in the eponymous 1954 film, directed and co-written by Ishirō Honda. The character has since become an international pop culture icon, appearing in various media: 33 Japanese films p ...

'' films (under license from

Toho is a Japanese entertainment company that primarily engages in producing and distributing films and exhibiting stage plays. It is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. ...

) * The library of The Harvey Entertainment Company (under Harvey Entertainment, Inc.) ('' Casper the Friendly Ghost'', '' Little Audrey'', '' Richie Rich'' and ''

Baby Huey Baby Huey is a gigantic and naïve duckling cartoon character. He was created by Martin Taras for Paramount Pictures' Famous Studios, and became a Paramount cartoon star during the 1950s. Huey first appeared in ''Quack-a-Doodle-Doo'', a Paramount ...

'') (excluding co-productions owned by third-party companies and the live-action business) * Golden Books Family Entertainment/

/ Gold Key Comics ('' Pat the Bunny'', ''

Magnus, Robot Fighter Magnus, Robot Fighter is a fictional superhero who battles rogue robots in the year 4000, appearing in comic books created by writer/artist Russ Manning in 1963.Steve Holland, ''Sci-Fi Art: A Graphic History''. Lewes: ILEX, 2009. . .pp. 102–1 ...

'', '' Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom'', '' Turok'' and '' Little Lulu''), including: ** Broadway Video's former family entertainment library ('' Lassie'', '' The Lone Ranger'' and ''

Sergeant Preston of the Yukon ''Challenge of the Yukon'' is an American radio adventure series that began on Detroit, Michigan, Detroit's WXYT (AM), WXYZ and is an example of a Northern (genre), Northern genre story. The series was first heard on January 3, 1939. The title ...

''), including: *** The pre-1974 Tomorrow Entertainment library **** The pre-September 1974

Rankin/Bass Productions Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment (founded and formerly known as Videocraft International, Ltd. and Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc.) was an American production company located in New York City. It was known for its seasonal television specials, ...

library ('' Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'', '' The Little Drummer Boy'', '' Frosty the Snowman'', '' Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town'' and others) *** Color Systems Technology, Inc. ('' Felix the Cat'', ''

The Mighty Hercules ''The Mighty Hercules'' is an animated television series based loosely on the Greek mythology character of Heracles, under his Roman name Hercules. It debuted on television in 1963. The show ran until 1966, coinciding with the sword-and-sandal ge ...

'', ''

The Count of Monte Cristo ''The Count of Monte Cristo'' () is an adventure novel by the French writer Alexandre Dumas. It was serialised from 1844 to 1846, and published in book form in 1846. It is one of his most popular works, along with ''The Three Musketeers'' (184 ...

'', '' The Man in the Iron Mask'', ''

Brewster's Millions ''Brewster's Millions'' is a comedic novel written by George Barr McCutcheon in 1902, originally under the pseudonym of Richard Greaves. The plot concerns a young man whose grandfather leaves him $1 million in a will, but a competing will from ...

'') ***

Total Television Total TeleVision productions was an American animation studio founded in 1959 by Buck Biggers, Chester "Chet" Stover, Joe Harris, and Treadwell D. Covington. They were executives in the advertising agency Dancer Fitzgerald Sample who had the a ...

(''

Underdog An underdog is a person or group in a competition, usually in sports and creative works, who is largely expected to lose. The party, team, or individual expected to win is called the favorite or wikt:top dog, top dog. In the case where an under ...

'' and '' Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales'') (excluding the 2007 ''Underdog'' film, owned by

Walt Disney Pictures Walt Disney Pictures is an American film Film production company, production company and subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios (division), the Walt Disney Studios, a division of Disney Entertainment, which is owned by the Walt Disney Company. The st ...

) **

Shari Lewis Shari Lewis (born Phyllis Naomi Hurwitz; January 17, 1933 – August 2, 1998) was a Peabody awards, Peabody-winning American Ventriloquism, ventriloquist, puppeteer, children's entertainer, television show host, dancer, singer, actress, author, a ...

Enterprises ('' The Shari Lewis Show'', '' Lamb Chop's Play-Along'' and '' The Charlie Horse Music Pizza'') * Big Idea Entertainment (''

VeggieTales ''VeggieTales'' is an American Christian media, Christian Computer animated, CGI-animated series and multimedia franchise created by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki under Big Idea Entertainment. The series stars Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumb ...

'', '' 3-2-1 Penguins!'' and '' Larryboy: The Cartoon Adventures'') *

, including: ** Carrington Productions International ** Link Entertainment ** Filmation ('' The Archie Show'', '' Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids'', '' He-Man and the Masters of the Universe'' and '' BraveStarr'') (excluding third-party licensed properties) ** Woodland Animations ('' Postman Pat'', '' Gran'', '' Bertha'' and '' Charlie Chalk'') ** Tell-Tale Productions (including '' Boo!'', but excluding the rights to '' Tweenies'', owned by

BBC Studios BBC Studios Limited is a British content company. It is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC that was formed in April 2018 through the merger of the BBC's commercial production arm and the BBC's commercial international distribution arm, BBC Wor ...

) ** Sleepy Kids ('' Dr. Zitbag's Transylvania Pet Shop'', '' Budgie the Little Helicopter'' and '' Potsworth & Co.'') ** Maddocks Animation (including '' The Family-Ness'', '' Jimbo and the Jet-Set'', '' Penny Crayon'' and '' The Caribou Kitchen'') ** Other programs formerly under Entertainment Rights that were produced by other production companies, such as '' The Basil Brush Show'' * The

library ('' Fifi and the Flowertots'', '' Roary the Racing Car'', '' Little Charley Bear'' and '' Raa Raa the Noisy Lion'')

Character brands

* '' Noddy'' * '' Olivia'' * '' Felix the Cat'' (via the Golden Books catalog) * '' Where's Waldo?'' * '' Rupert Bear'' * ''

Masters of the Universe ''Masters of the Universe'' (sometimes referred to as the ''He-Man'' or ''She-Ra'' series) is a sword and planet-themed media franchise created by Mattel. The main premise revolves around the conflict between He-Man (the alter ego of Prince A ...

'' characters (via the Filmation catalog; under license from

Mattel Mattel, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational corporation, multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company headquartered in El Segundo, California. Founded in Los Angeles by Harold Matson and the husband-and-wife duo of Ruth Handler, ...

) * '' Roger Ramjet''

Joint ventures

* Bullwinkle Studios, a joint venture with

to produce and manage the Jay Ward catalog (including '' The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle'', '' Mr. Peabody & Sherman'', '' Dudley Do-Right'' and ''

''). DreamWorks' partnership with Bullwinkle Studios ended in February 2022 when the Ward estate partnered with

WildBrain WildBrain Ltd. is a Canadian media, animation studio, production company, production, and brand licensing company, mostly associated as an entertainment company. The company is known for owning the largest independent library of Children's tel ...

. DreamWorks continues to own its co-productions with Bullwinkle Studios.

Other rights

* '' My Life Me'' * '' OOglies'' (worldwide distribution excluding UK television rights) * '' Theodore Tugboat'' * '' Tracy Beaker Returns'' (worldwide distribution excluding UK television rights) * The Tribune Content Agency catalog (including '' Dick Tracy'' (via the UPA catalouge), '' Brenda Starr, Reporter'', '' Gasoline Alley'' and '' Broom-Hilda'') * '' Voltron'' (under license from World Events Productions) *'' The Owl & Co'' (Worldwide distribution excluding French-speaking territories)

References

External links

* {{NBCUniversal 2000 establishments in New York City 2007 mergers and acquisitions 2009 mergers and acquisitions 2012 mergers and acquisitions American companies established in 2000 DreamWorks Animation Mass media companies based in New York City Mass media companies established in 2000