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Soup2Nuts (sometimes referred to as Soup2Nuts Studios, and formerly part of Tom Snyder Productions) was an American
animation studio An animation studio is a company producing animation, animated media. The broadest such companies conceive of products to produce, own the physical equipment for production, employ operators for that equipment, and hold a major stake in the sales ...
founded by Tom Snyder. The studio is known for its animated comedy series, its use of
Squigglevision Squigglevision is a method of computer animation in which the outlines of shapes are made to wikt:wiggle, wiggle and wikt:undulation, undulate, emulating the effect of sketchily hand-drawn animation. Tom Snyder (animator), Tom Snyder of Tom Snyder ...
, a technique of
animation Animation is a filmmaking technique whereby still images are manipulated to create moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Animati ...
that reuses frames to make the animation look more kinetic, and for its style of
improvisation Improvisation, often shortened to improv, is the activity of making or doing something not planned beforehand, using whatever can be found. The origin of the word itself is in the Latin "improvisus", which literally means un-foreseen. Improvis ...
in
voice acting Voice acting is the art of performing a character or providing information to an audience with one's voice. Performers are often called voice actors/actresses in addition to other names. Examples of voice work include animated, off-stage, off-sc ...
.


History

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 Comedy Central is an American Cable television in the United States, cable television channel, channel owned by Paramount Global through its Paramount Media Networks, network division's Paramount Media Networks#MTV Entertainment Group, MTV Ente ...
. 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. Later, the company created and produced ''Home Movies'' which aired originally on UPN, but after cancellation, continued on
Adult Swim Adult Swim (stylized as dult swimand s is an American adult-oriented television programming block that airs on Cartoon Network which broadcasts during the evening, prime time, and Late-night television, late-night Dayparting, dayparts. T ...
. 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. Tom Snyder Productions and Soup2Nuts were purchased by
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 ...
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 PBS Kids (stylized as PBS KIDS) is the branding used for nationally distributed children's programming carried by the U.S. public television network PBS. The brand encompasses a daytime block of children's programming carried daily by most PBS ...
, in 2007. It had won numerous national awards including Best Direction for an Animated Children's Program and Outstanding Writing in Animation. 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. '' 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 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company ( ; HMH) is an American publisher of textbooks, instructional technology materials, assessments, and reference works. The company is based in the Financial District, Boston, Boston Financial District. It was fo ...
.


Productions


Video games

*'' Personk'' (1978) *'' The Search Series'' (1980) *'' Snooper Troops: Case #1: The Granite Point Ghost'' (1982) *'' Snooper Troops: Case #2: The Case of the Disappearing Dolphin'' (1982) *'' In Search of the Most Amazing Thing'' (1983) *'' Agent USA'' (1984) *'' Run for the Money'' (1984) *'' American Challenge: A Sailing Simulation'' (1986) *''
Sub Mission Soup2Nuts (sometimes referred to as Soup2Nuts Studios, and formerly part of Tom Snyder Productions) was an American animation studio founded by Tom Snyder (animator), Tom Snyder. The studio is known for its animated comedy series, its use of Squ ...
'' (1986) *''Gamma Force in Pit of a Thousand Screams'' (1988) *''Lane Mastodon vs. the Blubbermen'' (1988) *'' Decisions, Decisions'' (1988) *''ZorkQuest: Assault on Egreth Castle'' (1988) *''ZorkQuest: The Crystal of Doom'' (1989) *'' Fizz & Martina'' (1992) *'' Math Mysteries'' (2000) *''
Science Seekers ''Science Seekers'' is a trilogy of science-related educational video games for the Windows and Macintosh platforms, developed and published by Tom Snyder Productions. The American Museum of Natural History collaborated in the series' development ...
'' (2000)


Animation


References


External links


Official website
* {{Animation industry in the United States 1980 establishments in Massachusetts 2015 disestablishments in Massachusetts American animation studios American companies disestablished in 2015 American companies established in 1980 Defunct companies based in Massachusetts Defunct film and television production companies of the United States Television production companies of the United States Entertainment companies based in Massachusetts Mass media companies disestablished in 2015 Mass media companies established in 1980 Scholastic Corporation Squigglevision Video game development companies Video game companies of the United States