Film Roman
Encyclopedia
Film Roman is an animation studio founded by Phil Roman
, best known for producing the animation for The Simpsons
, King of the Hill for 20th Century Fox, as well as the Garfield
and Peanuts
animated TV specials.
Film Roman is a division of Starz Media
, a division of Liberty Media
, and was originally founded by Bill Melendez Productions director Phil Roman in 1984 as a means to produce the series of animated Garfield
prime-time TV specials, since Melendez's own studio was unable to work on both the Garfield series and Peanuts specials. Melendez's studio had produced the first two Garfield specials (directed by Roman), but due to the wishes of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz' concerns about conflict of interest in allocating production priority at Melendez's boutique studio, the production had to be moved. Peanuts executive producer Lee Mendelson
offered Roman, who was leaving Melendez to start his own studio, the opportunity to produce the next (3rd) primetime animated Garfield special for CBS, which Roman accepted, and went on to produce and direct, winning an Emmy
in the process.
In 1985 CBS' head of children's programming Judy Price ordered the long running Garfield & Friends series, which started aring three years later, in September 1988. This was Film Roman's first regular series. In 1986 in an effort to expand and diversify the studio, Roman hired Marvel Productions
VP of Business Affairs, and Roman's personal attorney, Michael Wahl as President and Bill Schultz
, Marvel's Director of Development, to join as the fledgling studio's VP of Production and Development. Garfield was expanded to an hour on CBS' number one rated Saturday Morning block and the studio grew to increase its capacity.
In 1988 the new management team developed, sold and produced two new series to the brand new Fox Kids Network
, headed up by former Marvel Productions head Margaret Loesch
. The studio went on to grow and produce many popular animated series now seen all around the world. (see list below)
The original studio was located on Riverside Drive in Toluca Lake, California, where Roman was also joined by Melendez producer Lee Mendelson
. Years later, the studio moved to a new location on Chandler Blvd. in Studio City, before settling into its present location off Hollywood Way in Burbank
.
Starz Media announced on October 11, 2010 that it has reached a deal to sell Film Roman to a private investment group led by former company president Scott D. Greenberg. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Phil Roman
Philip Roman , is an animator. He is the founder of animation studios Film Roman and Phil Roman Entertainment. Roman is of Mexican American descent....
, best known for producing the animation for The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, King of the Hill for 20th Century Fox, as well as the Garfield
Garfield
Garfield is a comic strip created by Jim Davis. Published since June 19, 1978, it chronicles the life of the title character, the cat Garfield ; his owner, Jon Arbuckle; and Arbuckle's dog, Odie...
and Peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
animated TV specials.
Film Roman is a division of Starz Media
Starz Media
Starz Media is the motion picture, animation, television, and home video subsidiary of Liberty Media.-Subsidiaries:Starz Media's subsidiaries include:*Anchor Bay Entertainment - distribution division for DVDs and videos....
, a division of Liberty Media
Liberty Media
Liberty Media Corporation is an American media conglomerate and the control is exercised by company Chairman John C. Malone, who owns a majority of the voting shares....
, and was originally founded by Bill Melendez Productions director Phil Roman in 1984 as a means to produce the series of animated Garfield
Garfield
Garfield is a comic strip created by Jim Davis. Published since June 19, 1978, it chronicles the life of the title character, the cat Garfield ; his owner, Jon Arbuckle; and Arbuckle's dog, Odie...
prime-time TV specials, since Melendez's own studio was unable to work on both the Garfield series and Peanuts specials. Melendez's studio had produced the first two Garfield specials (directed by Roman), but due to the wishes of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz' concerns about conflict of interest in allocating production priority at Melendez's boutique studio, the production had to be moved. Peanuts executive producer Lee Mendelson
Lee Mendelson
Lee Mendelson is an American television producer. He is best known as the executive producer of the many Peanuts animated specials....
offered Roman, who was leaving Melendez to start his own studio, the opportunity to produce the next (3rd) primetime animated Garfield special for CBS, which Roman accepted, and went on to produce and direct, winning an Emmy
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
in the process.
In 1985 CBS' head of children's programming Judy Price ordered the long running Garfield & Friends series, which started aring three years later, in September 1988. This was Film Roman's first regular series. In 1986 in an effort to expand and diversify the studio, Roman hired Marvel Productions
Marvel Productions
Marvel Productions Ltd. , last called New World Animation, was a television and film studio subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment Group , based in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, then New World Entertainment and News Corporation/Fox...
VP of Business Affairs, and Roman's personal attorney, Michael Wahl as President and Bill Schultz
Bill Schultz (producer)
William Schultz is an animation producer. He was born in New York and grew up in River Forest, a suburb near Chicago, Illinois, moving to Los Angeles after graduating from the University of Illinois Champaign - Urbana Campus...
, Marvel's Director of Development, to join as the fledgling studio's VP of Production and Development. Garfield was expanded to an hour on CBS' number one rated Saturday Morning block and the studio grew to increase its capacity.
In 1988 the new management team developed, sold and produced two new series to the brand new Fox Kids Network
Fox Kids
Fox Kids was the Fox Broadcasting Company's American children's programming division and brand name from September 8, 1990 until September 7, 2002. It was owned by Fox Television Entertainment airing programming on Monday–Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings.Depending on the show, the...
, headed up by former Marvel Productions head Margaret Loesch
Margaret Loesch
Margaret Ann Loesch, is a veteran television executive, multi-award–winning producer, who is currently the President and CEO of Discovery Communications and Hasbro Inc's joint venture television network, The Hub.-Early life:...
. The studio went on to grow and produce many popular animated series now seen all around the world. (see list below)
The original studio was located on Riverside Drive in Toluca Lake, California, where Roman was also joined by Melendez producer Lee Mendelson
Lee Mendelson
Lee Mendelson is an American television producer. He is best known as the executive producer of the many Peanuts animated specials....
. Years later, the studio moved to a new location on Chandler Blvd. in Studio City, before settling into its present location off Hollywood Way in Burbank
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
.
Starz Media announced on October 11, 2010 that it has reached a deal to sell Film Roman to a private investment group led by former company president Scott D. Greenberg. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
As Film Roman
- Garfield and FriendsGarfield and FriendsGarfield and Friends is an American animated television series based on the comic strip Garfield by Jim Davis. The show was produced by Film Roman, in association with United Feature Syndicate and Paws, Inc., and ran on CBS Saturday mornings from September 17, 1988 to December 10, 1994, with...
(1988–1994) - Bobby's WorldBobby's WorldBobby's World is an American animated television series, which ran from 1990 to 1998, on FOX Kids. It was about the daily life of Bobby Generic and his very overactive imagination on how he sees the world. The show was created by Canadian actor-comedian Howie Mandel...
(1990–1998) - Mother Goose and Grimm (1991–1993)
- The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
(1992–present; since season 4) - Mighty MaxMighty Max (TV series)Mighty Max is an American animated action/sci-fi/horror television series that aired from 1993 to 1994 to promote the British Mighty Max toys, an offshoot of the Polly Pocket line, created by Bluebird Toys in 1992. It ran for two seasons, with a total of 40 episodes airing during the show's run...
(1993–1994) - The CriticThe CriticThe Critic is an American prime time animated series revolving around the life of film critic Jay Sherman, voiced by actor Jon Lovitz. It was created by Al Jean and Mike Reiss, both of whom had worked as writers on The Simpsons. The Critic had 23 episodes produced, first broadcast on ABC in 1994,...
(1994–1995) - The Mask: The Animated SeriesThe Mask: The Animated SeriesThe Mask: The Animated Series is a television animated series based on the comic book superhero, The Mask, but is a sequel to the 1994 film adaptation. The show ran for three seasons, from August 12, 1995 to March 8, 1997, and spawned its own short-run comic book series, Adventures of The Mask....
(1995–1997) - The Twisted Tales of Felix the CatThe Twisted Tales of Felix the CatThe Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat is an animated series starring the classic 1919 feline character, Felix the Cat produced for television by Film Roman. It aired from September 9, 1995 to November 25, 1997 on CBS.-History:...
(1995–1997) - The Baby Huey ShowThe Baby Huey ShowThe Baby Huey Show is a cartoon television show which ran in syndication during the 1995-96 TV season. The show featured the character Baby Huey. 26 episodes were produced by combining old theatrical Famous Studios cartoons and new episodes produced by Film Roman....
(1995-1996) - The Spooktacular New Adventures of CasperThe Spooktacular New Adventures of CasperThe Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper was an animated television spin-off of the feature film Casper, which, in turn, was based on the Harvey Comics character of Casper the Friendly Ghost....
(1996-1998) (animation sequences) - C Bear and JamalC Bear and JamalC Bear and Jamal is an animated children's television show that premiered on the Fox Kids programming block in 1996. It features an African-American elementary-aged school kid named Jamal, whose constant companion was "C Bear", a hip hop teddy bear who sings. Film Roman co-produced the show.-...
(1996–1999) - Richie RichRichie Rich (1996 TV series)Richie Rich is an animated television series produced by Harvey Films, Saban Entertainment, Film Roman, Universal Studios, and distributed by Claster Television. It aired for one season, and also includes select Harveytoons shorts...
(1996) - Bruno the KidBruno the Kid-Plot:The cartoon starring Bruce Willis as the voice of an 11-year old boy who becomes a top spy for a secret espionage organization. The organization, named Globe, contacts Bruno via his computer and a special gadget watch, and are completely unaware of their top spy's young age as he hides behind...
(1996–1997) - Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the RealmMortal Kombat: Defenders of the RealmMortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, also known as Mortal Kombat: The Animated Series, is a cartoon series based on the popular Mortal Kombat video game series...
(1996) - King of the HillKing of the HillKing of the Hill is an American animated dramedy series created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, that ran from January 12, 1997, to May 6, 2010, on Fox network. It centers on the Hills, a working-class Methodist family in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas...
(1997–2010) - The Mr. Potato Head ShowThe Mr. Potato Head ShowThe Mr. Potato Head Show was a children's television show featuring Mr. Potato Head. It aired on Fox as part of the Fox Kids block for only one season from September 12, 1998 to February 16, 1999.-Episodes:# Aliens Dig Baloney -# Royal Pain -...
(1998) - Family GuyFamily GuyFamily Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
(1999–2000; seasons 1-2 only) - Mission HillMission HillMission Hill is an American animated television series that first aired on The WB in 1999. Although 18 episodes were planned, only 13 episodes were produced. The show was put on hiatus by the WB Network after two episodes due to poor ratings. It returned to the WB in the summer of 2000 but was...
(1999–2002) - X-Men: EvolutionX-Men: EvolutionX-Men: Evolution is an American animated television series about the Marvel Comics superhero team the X-Men. In this incarnation many of the characters are teenagers rather than adults...
(2000–2003) - The OblongsThe OblongsThe Oblongs is an American animated television program aimed at teenagers and adults. It is loosely based on a series of characters introduced in creator Angus Oblong's picture book entitled Creepy Susie and 13 Other Tragic Tales for Troubled Children...
(2001–2002) - Free For AllFree for All (TV series)Free for All is a 2003 animated series that aired on Showtime. The series was created by Brett Merhar. It featured a bitter, cigarette smoking grandmother, an innocent and naive grandson, and a coarse, sometimes-violent, alcoholic father, in a rather dysfunctional family...
(2003) - Tripping the RiftTripping the RiftTripping the Rift is a CGI science fiction comedy television series. It is based on two short animations published on the Internet by Chris Moeller and Chuck Austen. The series was produced by CineGroupe in association with the Sci Fi Channel...
(2004–2007) - Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! is an American animated television series created by Bob Boyle. The series is animated in Toon Boom and Adobe Flash software, produced by Bolder Media, and Starz Media...
(2006–2010) - Eloise: The Animated SeriesEloise: The Animated SeriesEloise: The Animated Series or Me, Eloise is an animated television series, based on the Eloise series of children's books drawn and written by Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight. This series features Mary Matilyn Mouser as Eloise, Lynn Redgrave as the Nanny, and Tim Curry as Mr. Salamone...
(2006) - Slacker CatsSlacker CatsSlacker Cats is an animated ABC Family series that premiered on August 13, 2007. It was the first animated show on ABC Family since the Fox Family era. It was created using Adobe Flash....
(2007) - The Goode FamilyThe Goode FamilyThe Goode Family is an American animated sitcom, which originally aired on ABC from May 27, 2009 to August 7, 2009. The series was created by Mike Judge and follows the life of an environmentally responsible, albeit obsessive, family...
(2009) - The Super Hero Squad ShowThe Super Hero Squad ShowThe Super Hero Squad Show is an American cartoon series by Marvel Animation. It is based on the Marvel Super Hero Squad action figure line from Hasbro, which portray the characters of the Marvel Universe in a cartoonish super-deformed-style...
(2009–present) - The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest HeroesThe Avengers: Earth's Mightiest HeroesThe Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes is an American animated television series by Marvel Animation in cooperation with Film Roman based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the Avengers. The show debuted on Disney XD in Fall 2010 starting with a 20 part micro-series. A second season has been...
(2010–present) - Dan Vs.Dan vs.Dan Vs. is an American flash animated cartoon series created by Dan Mandel and Chris Pearson. The series premiered on January 1, 2011 on The Hub. Dan Vs. ended its first season on July 9, 2011. The series' second season began on November 19th and will continue through the 2011-2012 lineup.-Plot:The...
(2011–present) - Beavis and Butt-headBeavis and Butt-HeadBeavis and Butt-head is an American animated television series created by Mike Judge. The series originated from Frog Baseball, a 1992 short film by Judge. After seeing the short, MTV signed Judge to develop the concept. Beavis and Butt-head originally aired from March 8, 1993 to November 28, 1997...
(2011-present) - Napoleon DynamiteNapoleon Dynamite (TV series)Napoleon Dynamite is an upcoming American animated television sitcom based on the 2004 cult film of the same name, to be broadcast on Fox. The show will be overseen by the film's director Jared Hess, his wife Jerusha, and veteran television writer/producer Mike Scully...
(2012-present)
The Garfield specials
- Garfield in the RoughGarfield in the RoughGarfield in the Rough is a half-hour animated television special based on the Garfield comic strip. It once again featured Lorenzo Music as the voice of Garfield. The special was first broadcast October 26, 1984 on CBS...
(1984, the studio's inaugural production) - Garfield's Halloween AdventureGarfield's Halloween AdventureGarfield's Halloween Adventure is a 1985 American animated television special based on the Garfield comic strip. It features Lorenzo Music, who later voiced the character in the animated series Garfield and Friends, as the voice of Garfield...
(1985) - Garfield in ParadiseGarfield in ParadiseGarfield in Paradise is a half-hour animated television special based on the Garfield comic strip. It once again featured Lorenzo Music as the voice of Garfield . Wolfman Jack guest starred as the voice of the tribal chief and Frank Nelson guest starred as the voice of the motel manager and rental...
(1986) - Garfield Goes HollywoodGarfield Goes HollywoodGarfield Goes Hollywood is a half-hour animated television special based on the Garfield comic strip. It once again featured Lorenzo Music as the voice of Garfield. The special was first broadcast May 8, 1987 on CBS...
(1987) - A Garfield ChristmasA Garfield ChristmasA Garfield Christmas is a 1987 American animated television special based on the Garfield comic strip. It once again featured Lorenzo Music as the voice of Garfield. The special was first broadcast December 21, 1987 on CBS and was rebroadcast on CBS every year thereafter until 2000. Fox owned the...
(1987) - Happy Birthday, GarfieldHappy Birthday, GarfieldHappy Birthday, Garfield is an hour-long animated television special based on the Garfield comic strip. The special was first broadcast May 17, 1988 on CBS. It has only been released on VHS home video.-External links:* at Internet Movie Database...
(1988) - Garfield: His 9 LivesGarfield: His 9 LivesGarfield: His 9 Lives is a 1984 book of illustrated short stories showing the "nine lives" of comic strip character Garfield...
(1988) - Garfield’s Babes and BulletsGarfield's Babes and BulletsGarfield's Babes and Bullets is a half-hour animated television special based on a segment from the book Garfield: His 9 Lives. It once again featured Lorenzo Music as the voice of Garfield. The special was first broadcast May 23, 1989 on CBS...
(1989) - Garfield’s ThanksgivingGarfield's ThanksgivingGarfield's Thanksgiving is a 1989 animated television special based on the Garfield comic strip. It once again featured Lorenzo Music as the voice of Garfield. The special was first broadcast November 22, 1989 on CBS. It has been released on both VHS and DVD home video...
(1989) - Garfield’s Feline FantasiesGarfield's Feline FantasiesGarfield's Feline Fantasies is a half-hour animated television special based on the Garfield comic strip. It once again featured Lorenzo Music as the voice Garfield. The special was first broadcast May 18, 1990 on CBS. It has been released on both VHS and DVD home video.-Storyline:Garfield's...
(1990) - Garfield Gets a LifeGarfield Gets a LifeGarfield Gets a Life is a half-hour animated television special based on the Garfield comic strip. It once again featured Lorenzo Music as the voice of Garfield. The special was first broadcast May 8, 1991 on CBS. It has been released on both VHS and DVD home video...
(1991)
Other specials
- Nick and Noel (1993)
- A Cool Like That Christmas (1994)
- Izzy's Quest for Olympic Gold (1995)
- The Story of Santa Claus (1996) (co-production with Arnold Sharpio and CBS ProductionsCBS ProductionsCBS Productions is the production arm of the CBS television network now a part of CBS Corporation, formed in 1952 to produce shows in-house, instead of relying solely on outside productions. Its first production was CBS Television Workshop, a drama anthology series...
) - The Magic Pearl (1997)
- Grandma Got Run Over by a ReindeerGrandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" is a novelty Christmas song, which led to the creation of an animated movie with the same title.Written by Randy Brooks, the song was originally performed by the husband and wife duo of Elmo and Patsy Trigg Shropshire in 1979...
(2000) - American DadPilot (American Dad!)"Pilot" was the first episode of the American animated series American Dad! that premiered after the Super Bowl. It follows a similar plot line from the American Dad! short from Fever Pitch, with noticeable changes to the animation of Steve. It was originally premiered on Fox on February 6, 2005...
(2004) (Pilot episode only)
Direct-to-video
- The Happy ElfThe Happy ElfThe Happy Elf is a 3D-animated family holiday special, which first aired December 2, 2005 on the NBC television network in the USA. Based on Grammy-winner Harry Connick, Jr.’s original song, The Happy Elf....
(2005, co-production with IDT Entertainment) - Hellboy Animated (2006–2007)
- Dead Space: DownfallDead Space: DownfallDead Space: Downfall is an animated film, a prequel to the game Dead Space and takes place during the events of Dead Space: Extraction, while the Necromorphs invade the USG Ishimura after it receives the Red Marker...
(2008, co-production with Electronic ArtsElectronic ArtsElectronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
) - The Haunted World of El SuperbeastoThe Haunted World of El SuperbeastoThe Haunted World of El Superbeasto is a 2009 animated comedy exploitation film that also combines elements of horror and thriller films. It is based upon the comic book series created by Rob Zombie that follows the character of El Superbeasto and his sidekick sister, Suzi-X, voiced by Sheri...
(2009) (Planned for theatrical release) - Dante's Inferno: An Animated EpicDante's Inferno: An Animated EpicDante's Inferno: An Animated Epic is a direct to DVD animated film released on February 9, 2010. The film is a spin-off from Electronic Arts' Dante's Inferno video game.-Plot:...
"Prologue", "The Arrival", "Entry to Hell" (2010, co-production with Electronic ArtsElectronic ArtsElectronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
) - Dead Space: AftermathDead Space: AftermathDead Space: Aftermath is an animated film that bridges the storyline between Dead Space and Dead Space 2.-Plot:When contact with the USG Ishimura and the Aegis VII colony is lost, the Concordance Extraction Corporation sends the ship USG O'Bannon to investigate...
(2011, co-production with Electronic ArtsElectronic ArtsElectronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
)
Theatrical feature films
- Tom and Jerry: The MovieTom and Jerry: The MovieTom and Jerry: The Movie is a 1992 American animated musical film directed by Phil Roman, and produced by Film Roman and Turner Pictures. It is a film adaptation of the Tom and Jerry series of theatrical shorts....
(1992, co-production with Turner Pictures, WMG and Turner EntertainmentTurner EntertainmentTurner Entertainment Company, Inc. is an American media company founded by Ted Turner. Now owned by Time Warner, the company is largely responsible for overseeing its library for worldwide distribution Turner Entertainment Company, Inc. (commonly known as Turner Entertainment Co.) is an American...
) - The Simpsons MovieThe Simpsons MovieThe Simpsons Movie is a 2007 American animated comedy film based on the animated television series The Simpsons. The film was directed by David Silverman, and stars the regular television cast of Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Tress...
(2007, co-production with 20th Century Fox20th Century FoxTwentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
, co-animation with Rough Draft StudiosRough Draft StudiosRough Draft Studios, Inc. is an animation studio based in Glendale, California, United States, with its sister studio Rough Draft Korea located in Seoul, South Korea. RDS was founded in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California by Gregg Vanzo...
)