Marvel Animation Inc. is an American animation production company. It was incorporated on January 25, 2008, to direct Marvel's efforts in animation and home entertainment markets. The incorporated Marvel Animation included then ongoing animation efforts by Marvel Studios with Lionsgate and Nickelodeon. Marvel Animation operates under Marvel Studios, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios, a division of Disney Entertainment, itself a division of The Walt Disney Company.
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Background
Marvel Comics Group first entered the animation field through licensing to Grantray-Lawrence Animation for The Marvel Super Heroes anthology series in 1966–1968, The Fantastic Four from 1967 to 1968, and Spider-Man from 1967 to 1969. Marvel worked with Grantray-Lawrence, Hanna-Barbera, and DePatie–Freleng Enterprises on other animated series until 1980.
In 1980, Cadence Industries would purchase the remainder of DePatie–Freleng Enterprises to form Marvel Productions. Marvel Productions was merged into New World Entertainment's operations with the Marvel Entertainment Group's sale to Andrews Group, a Perlman corporation, in 1989. Marvel Productions became New World Animation by 1993.
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. Marvel Films Animation was set up and produced only a single show, Spider-Man in 1994. During this time, New World Animation and Saban Entertainment produced additional shows, with Saban eventually taking over production.
In August 1996, Marvel Entertainment Group decided to incorporate Marvel Films as Marvel Studios with the sale of New World Communications Group, Inc., Marvel's fellow Andrews Group subsidiary in film and television stations, funded with a sale of Toy Biz stock. In July 1996, Fox Children's Network secured rights from Marvel Entertainment Group for Captain America, Daredevil, Silver Surfer, and additional characters to be developed into four series and 52 episodes over seven years.
History
Animated features
In 2004, Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Comics' new parent corporation, struck a deal with Lions Gate Entertainment to produce a series of eight direct-to-video animated movies under the name of Marvel Animated Features 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.
Incorporation
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, and reporting to Simon Philips, president of Marvel Entertainment International.
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 announced to be under development with Shout! Factory developing hybrid comic animation DVD series by converting existing material. 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. Both Marvel and Disney have stated that the merger would not affect any preexisting deals with Lionsgate or other production companies for the time being, although Disney said they would consider distributing future Marvel Animation projects with their own studios once the current deals expire.
With the creation of the Marvel Television division in June 2010 within Marvel Studios, Marvel Animation would operate under Marvel TV's direction. In July 2010, Marvel entered into Superhero Anime Partners with Madhouse and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan to develop and produce the Marvel Anime project that took famous Marvel characters and reintroduced them for a Japanese audience in four 12-part television series which aired on Animax in Japan and G4 in the United States.
In 2012, Marvel established its Marvel Animation Studios based in Glendale, California under Senior Vice President Eric Radomski. On April 1, Disney XD launched a block called "Marvel Universe", with the premiere of Ultimate Spider-Man, followed by the returning The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The block is a result of Disney's 2009 Marvel acquisition. In June, Walt Disney Animation Studios announced they were in development with Marvel to make a film of Big Hero 6.
At San Diego Comic-Con in July, Marvel Television announced a second "season" of Marvel Knights Animation with Shout Factory and the involved titles. Following up on early anime productions in the Superhero Anime Partners, Marvel has re-partnered with Madhouse and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan as SH DTV Partners for a direct to video anime feature film, Iron Man: Rise of Technovore. Also in October, Marvel Animation Studios announced its first DTV production, a direct to video film, Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United, to be released in 2013.
Under Marvel Studios
In October 2019, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige was given the title of chief creative officer (CCO) of Marvel, and was set to oversee the creative direction of Marvel Television and Marvel Family Entertainment (animation), with both moving back under the Marvel Studios banner. With the December 2019 announcement of the closure of its parent unit, Marvel Television, also came news that TV and animation executives at vice president level and above would be let go. This announcement included Cort Lane, senior vice president of Marvel Animation & Family Entertainment. He would leave in January 2020, and be replaced. Marvel Studios Animation was subsequently formed in 2021.
In 2023, Marvel Animation released Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, its first collaboration with Disney Television Animation. The studio is also expected to work with Disney TVA on future Marvel adaptations. No new projects have been announced since, with all future animated productions being handled by Marvel Studios Animation.
Units
Former units
Note: All Marvel Animated Features films that have been released or announced have been produced by MLG Productions, Marvel and Lionsgate's subsidiary group, and have been released direct-to-video by Lionsgate. The contract Marvel had with Lionsgate was for eight films, all of which have been released as of 2011.
MLG Productions, Inc. (2006–2011): Marvel Animated Features joint venture with Lionsgate
SH Anime/DTV partnerships with Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan and Madhouse:
Superhero Anime Partners (2010–2011): the Marvel Anime series
SH DTV Partners (2012–2013): Iron Man: Rise of Technovore
SH DTV AC BW&P Partners (2013–2014): Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher
Production library
Marvel Knights Animation
Marvel Knights Animation is a hybrid comic-animation series. Episodes have been released on iTunes digitally and physically through Shout! Factory on DVD.
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