Klasky Csupo

Klasky Csupo, Inc. (pronounced "Class-key Chew-po") is a multimedia entertainment production company located in Los Angeles, California, founded by artist/producer, Arlene Klasky and animator, Gábor Csupó.

History

Klasky-Csupo was started in 1982 [cite web|title=House of toon style|publisher="Variety"|url=http://www.klaskycsupo.com/press/varietyinterior.html|accessdate=2008-02-09] in the spare bedroom of a Los Angeles apartment where Klasky and Csupo were living while married. Klasky-Csupo's first major work came in 1989, when they became the 'animation house' for the first three seasons of "The Simpsons" (after which Film Roman took over in 1992), Klasky-Csupo had already produced the animated pilots for "The Simpsons", as sketches on "The Tracey Ullman Show".

In 1991, Klasky-Csupo began producing "Rugrats", an animated show for Nickelodeon [cite web|title=Move over, Bart Simpson|publisher="Newsweek"|url=http://www.klaskycsupo.com/press/newsweek2.html|accessdate=2008-02-08] .

Their next major series was "Duckman" for the USA Network. The show revolved around the home life and adventures of a dim-witted and lascivious private detective duck named Eric Duckman. The series ran from 1994 to 1997.

During the same time Nickelodeon released Klasky-Csupo's second Nicktoon series, "Aaahh!!! Real Monsters". During this time Klasky Csupo ended production on "Rugrats". However K-C produced three new Rugrats specials between 1995 and 1996. The specials were so successful that the series was revived in 1997.

After "Aaahh!!! Real Monsters" and "Duckman" were both cancelled in 1997, Klasky-Csupo began producing "The Wild Thornberrys" for Nickelodeon [cite web|title= Nickelodeon Adds to Children's Hours|publisher="The New York Times"|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B02E5DF1638F930A25752C1A961958260&scp=11&sq=Klasky+Csupo&st=nyt|accessdate=2008-02-08] . The cartoon, premiering in 1998, revolved around a girl who could talk to animals [cite web|title=She Can Talk to the Animals (Don't Tell)|publisher="The New York Times"|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903E1DA123DF933A05754C0A9669C8B63&scp=3&sq=Klasky+Csupo&st=nyt|accessdate=2008-02-08] .

On December 23, 1998, CEO Terry Thoren concluded an eleven-month negotiation with Mercedes-Benz and moved the company into the state of the art studio in the heart of Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street [cite web|title= Coming Soon to Hollywood: a Mixed-Use Building|publisher="The New York Times"|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E0D8133CF933A25751C1A9669C8B63&scp=5&sq=Klasky+Csupo&st=nyt|accessdate=2008-02-08] .

Between the late-1990s and 2000s, Klasky-Csupo began producing new shows "Rocket Power", "As Told by Ginger", "Santo Bugito" and "Stressed Eric".

In 2001, in honor of the "Rugrats" 10th Anniversary, Klasky-Csupo released a two-part special entitled "All Growed Up". The special featured the famous babies as pre-teenagers. It was so popular, that a series based on that special premiered in 2003. The series was put on hiatus in 2006 and officially cancelled in 2008. Several previously unaired in the US episodes aired on Nickelodeon in November 2007 and August 2008.

The company was also active in producing recorded music with the labels "Tone Casualties" and "Casual Tonalities." Gabor Csupo was a good friend of Frank Zappa and occasionally collaborates with Mark Mothersbaugh, who did most of the music for Rugrats.

Klasky-Csupo also produced a number of projects in commercial advertising, including a series of direct-to-video features ("The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald") for the McDonald's fast food chain.

By 2004, Klasky-Csupo shut down production on most of its shows, including Rugrats and in 2006, shut down production on all their shows except the new pilots they created.

In fall 2006, Klasky Csupo announced development of 14 new animated pilots, which will be up for sale at a later date: [http://www.klaskycsupo.com/news/]

* "Ace Bogart, Space Ape"
* "Big Babies"
* "Commander Bunsworth"
* "Ronnie Biddles"
* "Chicken Town"
* "Grampa and Julie, Shark Hunters" (based on the Nick Magazine strip and slated to feature Dustin Hoffman as Grampa)
* "Sugarless"
* "Zeek and Leo"
* "Wiener Squad"
* "Rollin' Rock Starz"
* "Twinkle"
* "Ricky Z"
* "Junkyard Teddies"
* "Little Freaks"

The animation design in these pilots are in various styles, instead of the typical style that Klasky Csupo was famous for in the 1990s.

Klasky Csupo productions

Television Shows

Motion Pictures

References

External links

* [http://www.klaskycsupo.com/ The Klasky Csupo Home Page]
* [http://www.cooltoons2.com/ K-C's Cooltoons Home Page]
* The Big Cartoon DataBase entry for [http://www.bcdb.com/cartoons/Other_Studios/K/Klasky_Csupo/index.html Klasky Csupo Animation]
* [http://www.globaltantrum.com/ Global Tantrum (K-C Mature Animation)]
* [http://nickelodeon.wikicities.com/wiki/Klasky_Csupo%2C_Inc. Nickelodeon Wiki article]