Marvel Animation

Marvel Animation

Type	LLC subsidiary
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	January 25, 2008
Key people	Eric S. Rollman, President
Products	Animation
Services	Licensing
Owner(s)	The Walt Disney Company
Parent	Marvel Studios (Marvel Entertainment)[1]

Marvel Animation, LLC is an American animation production company. The Marvel Entertainment subsidiary was incorporated on January 25, 2008 to direct Marvel's efforts in animation and home entertainment markets. Marvel Animation incorporated current animation efforts with Lionsgate and Nickelodeon.^[2][3]

History

Background

Marvel Comics Group first entered the animated field through licensing to Grantray-Lawrence Animation for The Marvel Super Heroes anthology series in the 1966. Marvel worked with Grantray-Lawrence, Hanna-Barbera and DePatie-Freleng Enterprises on other animated series until 1980.

See main article: Marvel Productions

In 1980^[4], Cadence Industries would purchase the remainder of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises to form Marvel Productions^[5]. Marvel Production was merged into New World Entertainment's operations with the Marvel Entertainment Group's sale to Andrews Group, a Perlman corporation, in 1989.^[6] Marvel Productions became New World Animation by 1993.^{[7][8][9][10]}

See Marvel Films

Marvel Entertainment Group then set up a division, Marvel Films, to work with New World Entertainment's New World Family Filmworks, Inc., both under Avi Arad as president.^[8] Marvel Films Animation was set up and produced only a single show, Spider-Man (1994 TV series). During this time, New World Animation and Saban Entertainment produced additional shows, with Saban eventually taking over production.^[9][10]

Animated features

In 2004, Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Comics' new parent corporation, struck a deal with Lionsgate Entertainment to produce a series of eight Marvel Animated Features^[11] in conjunction with Marvel Studios, Marvel's direct film subsidiary. Eric Rollman was hired by Marvel as Executive Vice President, Home Entertainment & TV Production for Marvel Studios to oversee the deal with Lionsgate.^[2]

Incorporated

In January 2008, Marvel Animation was incorporated in January 2008 to direct Marvel's efforts in animation and home entertainment markets including then animation efforts with Lionsgate and Nickelodeon. Marvel Entertainment named Eric Rollman as President of the company in April 2008.^[2][3] In early 2009, a home distribution deal for The Super Hero Squad Show was inked with Shout! Factory. In April 2009, the Marvel Knights Animation series was announce to be under development with Shout! Factory to develop hybrid comic animation DVD series by converting existing material.^[12] On December 31, 2009, The Walt Disney Company purchased Marvel Animation with parent company Marvel Studios as part of the Marvel Entertainment group for $4 billion.^[13] Both Marvel and Disney have stated that the merger will not affect any preexisting deals with Lionsgate or other production companies for the time being, although Disney said they will consider distributing future Marvel Animation projects with their own studios once the current deals expire.^[14][15] With the creation of the Marvel Television division in June 2010 within Marvel Studios, Marvel Animation will operate under Marvel TV's direction.^[1]

In July 2010, Marvel Animation enters into Marvel Anime Partners with Madhouse to develop and produce the Marvel Anime project that will take famous Marvel characters and reintroduce them for a Japanese audience in a 12-part series to start premiering on Animax (late 2010) in Japan and G4 in the United States (summer 2011).^[16]

Production library

Marvel Animated Features

All Marvel Animated Features^[11] films that have been released or announced have been produced by MLG Productions, Marvel & Liongate's subsidiary group,^[17][18] and have been released direct-to-video by Lionsgate. Currently the contract Marvel has with Lionsgate is for eight films,^[11] all of which have been released as of 2011.

Year	Film	Gross (US sales)	Units (US sales)	Refs.
01 !2006	Ultimate Avengers	$6.7 million	553 k	[19]
02 !2006	Ultimate Avengers 2	$7.8 million	585 k	[20]
03 !2007	The Invincible Iron Man	$5.3 million	419 k	[21]
04 !2007	Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme	$3.9 million	257 k	[22]
05 !2008	Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow	$3.5 million	275 k	[23]
06 !2009	Hulk Vs	$7.3 million	488 k	[24]
07 !2010	Planet Hulk	$5.4 million	384 k	[25]
08 !2011	Thor: Tales of Asgard	$1.6 million	114 k	[26]
Totals:		$41.5 million	3,075 k

Animated series

Series	Series Premiere	Studio	Network	Episodes
Wolverine and the X-Men	January 24, 2009 (US)	Kickstart Productions Toonz Entertainment	Nicktoons[27] (US)	26
Iron Man: Armored Adventures	April 24, 2009 (US)	Luxanimation	Nicktoons[27] (US)	52
The Super Hero Squad Show	September 14, 2009 (US)	Film Roman	Cartoon Network (US)	52
Black Panther	January 16, 2010 (Australia)	Titmouse, Inc.	ABC3 (Australia)	6
The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes	October 20, 2010 (US)[28]	Film Roman	Disney XD (US)	26 (26 more in production)
Forthcoming
Ultimate Spider-Man	2012[29]	Marvel Animation	Disney XD (US)	26 ordered
In development
Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.	2012	Marvel Animation	Disney XD[30] (US)

Marvel Anime

Main article: Marvel Anime

Series	Series Premiere	Studio	Network	Episodes
Iron Man	October 1, 2010 (Japan) July 29, 2011 (US)	Madhouse	Animax (Japan) G4 (US)	12
Wolverine	January 7, 2011 (Japan) July 29, 2011 (US)	Madhouse	Animax (Japan) G4 (US)	12
X-Men	April 1, 2011 (Japan) October 21, 2011 (US)	Madhouse	Animax (Japan) G4 (US)	12
Blade	July 1, 2011 (Japan)	Madhouse	Animax (Japan) G4 (US)	12

Marvel Knights Animation

Marvel Knights Animation is a hybrid comic-animation series created by various comic artists. Episodes have been released on iTunes digitally and physically through Shout! Factory on DVD.^[12][31]

Announced Slate^[12]

Series	Series Premiere	Episodes	DVD Release Date
Astonishing X-Men: Gifted	September 28, 2010	6[32]	9/28/10
Black Panther	June 23, 2010	12 weekly[31]	1/18/11
Iron Man: Extremis	November 30, 2010	6[32]	11/30/10
Spider-Woman			6/14/11
Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers	March 28, 2011	4[33]	9/13/11

See also

• Marvel Anime
• Marvel Comics
• Marvel Productions
• Marvel Studios
• Disney XD

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Phegley, Kiel (July 2nd, 2010). "Jeph Loeb Talks Marvel TV". comicbookresources.com. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26983. Retrieved 13 July 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Marvel Promotes Eric Rollman To President, Marvel Animation". AWN Headline News. http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=top&newsitem_no=23001. Retrieved 2008-05-06. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "MARVEL ANIMATION, INC.". Division of Corporations Entity database. https://sos-res.state.de.us/tin/GINameSearch.jsp. Retrieved 2008-05-06. 
4. ^ "Marvel Grows into $100 Hulk" (jpeg). Variety: p. 92. 17 September 1986. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-9Sx_QkCoE/TpcRkt4j6cI/AAAAAAAAAgg/-8yZ0qOWI3U/s1600/variety25-7.jpg. Retrieved 18 October 2011. 
5. ^ Mangel, Andy (May 1991). "Reel Marvel". In Jim Salicrup. Marvel Age Issue 100. Marvel Comics. http://www.andymangels.com/marvelage.html. Retrieved 25 October 2011. 
6. ^ Hicks, Jonathan (November 08, 1988). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Marvel Comic Book Unit Being Sold for $82.5 Million". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/08/business/the-media-business-marvel-comic-book-unit-being-sold-for-82.5-million.html. Retrieved 5 May 2011. 
7. ^ Hicks, Jonathan P. (1988-11-08). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Marvel Comic Book Unit Being Sold for $82.5 Million". The New York Times. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0710FC3B5C0C7B8CDDA80994D0484D81. Retrieved 2010-10-22. 
8. ^ ^{a b} "MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT AND AVI ARAD TO DEVELOP MEDIA PROJECTS". The Free Library.com. Farlex, Inc.. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/MARVEL+ENTERTAINMENT+AND+AVI+ARAD+TO+DEVELOP+MEDIA+PROJECTS-a013140213. Retrieved 13 April 2011. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "John Semper on "Spider-Man": 10th Anniversary Interview". Marvel Animation Age. toonzone.net. http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/semperinterview4.htm. Retrieved 5 May 2011. "The show was canceled and, as she had intended, the studio, Marvel Films Animation, went out of business." 
10. ^ ^{a b} Cawley, John. "Marvel Films Animation 1993-1997". Home of John Cawley. John Cawley. http://www.cataroo.com/020104.html. Retrieved 5 May 2011. "Hence Bob discovered he was not only going to produce the first series from Marvel Films Animation, he was also going to have to build the studio from scratch!" 
11. ^ ^{a b c} Harvey, James. "Direct-To-Video "Marvel Animated Features" Line Plans For Future Releases". Marvel Animation Age. toonzone.net. http://marvel.toonzone.net/news.php?action=fullnews&id=65. Retrieved 1 April 2011. 
12. ^ ^{a b c} Brooks, Brooks. "Shout! Factory, Marvel Animation team up for ‘Marvel Knights’ on DVD". Misfits of Scifi. http://www.misfitsofscifi.com/2010/04/shout-factory-marvel-animation-team-up-for-marvel-knights-on-dvd/. Retrieved 29 March 2011. 
13. ^ Disney Completes Marvel Acquisition, Fox Business, December 31, 2009
14. ^ Vejvoda, Jim (August 31, 2009). "The Disney/Marvel Deal: What It Means for Movies". IGN.com. http://movies.ign.com/articles/101/1019890p1.html. Retrieved 13 July 2011. 
15. ^ Andy Fixmer; Sarah Rabil. "Disney’s Marvel Buy Traps Hollywood in Spider-Man Web (Update2)". Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aU_kuPju0Ngo. Retrieved 13 July 2011. 
16. ^ "Marvel Anime to Run on G4 in the United States". Anime News Network. July 23, 2010. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-07-23/marvel-anime-to-run-on-g4-in-the-united-states. Retrieved July 24, 2010. 
17. ^ DeMott, Rick (December 3, 2007). "Ratatouille Cooks Up Most Annie Nominations". AWN News. http://www.awn.com/news/awards/ratatouille-cooks-most-annie-nominations. Retrieved 29 March 2011. 
18. ^ "MARVEL ANIMATION: THE FUTURE". Comics Continuum. Comics Continuum. http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0701/23/marvelanimation.htm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
19. ^ "Ultimate Avengers - The Movie - DVD Sales". The Numbers. Nash Information Service. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2006/0UAMD-DVD.php. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
20. ^ "Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther - DVD Sales". The Numbers. Nash Information Service. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2006/0UA2D-DVD.php. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
21. ^ "The Invincible Iron Man - DVD Sales". The Numbers. Nash Information Service. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2007/0IIMN-DVD.php. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
22. ^ "Doctor Strange - DVD Sales". The Numbers. Nash Information Service. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2007/0DSTR-DVD.php. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
23. ^ "The Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow - DVD Sales". The Numbers. Nash Information Service. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/0NAHT-DVD.php. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
24. ^ "Hulk VS. - DVD Sales". The Numbers. Nash Information Service. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2009/0HLKV-DVD.php. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
25. ^ "Planet Hulk - DVD Sales". The Numbers. Nash Information Service. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2010/0PLHU-DVD.php. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
26. ^ "Thor: Tales of Asgard - DVD Sales". The Numbers. Nash Information Service. http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Thor-Tales-of-Asgard-DVD. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
27. ^ ^{a b} "Wolverine, Iron Man To Nicktoons". AWN, Inc.. 2008-03-18. http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=search&range=exact&search=Marvel&newsitem_no=22586. Retrieved 2008-05-28. 
28. ^ "The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes Premieres Oct. 20". Superhero Hype!. 2010-09-20. http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/107476-the-avengers-earths-mightiest-heroes-premieres-oct-22. Retrieved 2010-09-21. 
29. ^ "Animated Ultimate Spider-Man Coming to Disney XD". Superhero Hype. 2010-04-13. http://www.superherohype.com/news/spider-mannews.php?id=9278. Retrieved 2011-09-28. 
30. ^ Harvey, James (July 23, 2011). "New Animated "Hulk And The Agents Of S.M.A.S.H." Announced For Disney XD". Marvel Animation Age. http://marvel.toonzone.net/news.php?action=fullnews&id=683. Retrieved 5 August 2011. 
31. ^ ^{a b} Langshaw, Mark. "'Black Panther' animation dated". Digital Spy.com. Digital Spy Limited. http://www.digitalspy.com/comics/news/a229837/black-panther-animation-dated.html. Retrieved 30 March 2011. 
32. ^ ^{a b} Duncan, Phillip. "Shout! Factory to Release Astonishing X-Men and Iron Man – Extremis DVDs". superheroes-r-us.com. http://www.superheroes-r-us.com/2010/shout-factory-to-release-astonishing-x-men-and-iron-man-extremis-dvds/. Retrieved 30 March 2011. 
33. ^ Ayres, Tom. "Marvel announces 'Thor & Loki' TV series". digitalspy.com. Digital Spy Limited. http://www.digitalspy.com/comics/news/a308618/marvel-announces-thor--loki-tv-series.html. Retrieved 30 March 2011. 

External links

• Official Twitter Page
• Marvel Animated Features - official site