Jack Chojnacki
Encyclopedia
Jack Chojnacki served as the co-president of Those Characters from Cleveland Inc., a division of U.S. greeting card company American Greetings
(AGC), in the 1980s. He assisted in the creation of several AGC franchises, including Strawberry Shortcake
and the Care Bears
.
in 1958. During the 1970s, he was among the staff of American Greetings
, a card company based in Cleveland, Ohio; he licensed the Holly Hobbie
character early in his tenure there. Later that decade, he set up the company's licensing branch Those Characters from Cleveland with another AGC employee, Tim Wilson
(the creator of the comic strip Ziggy). Its first franchise, Strawberry Shortcake
, made its public debut in 1980.
Beginning in the early 1980s, Chojnacki served as co-president of Those Characters from Cleveland along with Wilson, and vice-president of AGC's licensing operations. Starting in February 1981, he assisted in the creation of another American Greetings franchise, the Care Bears
. He served as executive producer of 1985's The Care Bears Movie
, along with its 1986 prequel A New Generation
; he also was a creative consultant for the 1987 follow-up, Adventure in Wonderland
. After the Care Bears, Chojnacki helped out with another two AGC properties, Madballs
and Popples
. In 1989, the Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA) inducted him into the Murray Altchuler Licensing Industry Hall of Fame, as a charter member.
American Greetings
American Greetings Corporation, Inc. is the world's largest publicly-traded greeting card company. It is based in Brooklyn, Ohio and sells paper greeting cards, electronic greeting cards, party products , and electronic expressive content...
(AGC), in the 1980s. He assisted in the creation of several AGC franchises, including Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry Shortcake is a licensed character owned by American Greetings, originally used in greeting cards and expanded to include dolls, posters, and other products...
and the Care Bears
Care Bears
The Care Bears are characters created by American Greetings in 1981 for use on greeting cards. The original artwork for the cards was painted by artist Elena Kucharik. In 1983, Kenner turned the Care Bears into plush teddy bears...
.
Career
A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chojnacki graduated from the city's Marquette University High SchoolMarquette University High School
Marquette University High School is a private, all-male, Jesuit, Roman Catholic school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and is a member of both the National Catholic Educational Association and the Jesuit...
in 1958. During the 1970s, he was among the staff of American Greetings
American Greetings
American Greetings Corporation, Inc. is the world's largest publicly-traded greeting card company. It is based in Brooklyn, Ohio and sells paper greeting cards, electronic greeting cards, party products , and electronic expressive content...
, a card company based in Cleveland, Ohio; he licensed the Holly Hobbie
Holly Hobbie
Holly Hobbie is an American writer and illustrator, and the name of a fictional character based on this person.Hobbie is the author of the popular Toot and Puddle children's books, and the creator of the character bearing her name...
character early in his tenure there. Later that decade, he set up the company's licensing branch Those Characters from Cleveland with another AGC employee, Tim Wilson
Tom Wilson (cartoonist)
Thomas Albert Wilson , better known as Tom Wilson, was an American cartoonist. Wilson was the creator of the comic strip Ziggy, which he drew from 1971 to 1987. The strip was then continued by his son, Tom Wilson, Jr.Wilson served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. He attended the Art Institute...
(the creator of the comic strip Ziggy). Its first franchise, Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry Shortcake is a licensed character owned by American Greetings, originally used in greeting cards and expanded to include dolls, posters, and other products...
, made its public debut in 1980.
Beginning in the early 1980s, Chojnacki served as co-president of Those Characters from Cleveland along with Wilson, and vice-president of AGC's licensing operations. Starting in February 1981, he assisted in the creation of another American Greetings franchise, the Care Bears
Care Bears
The Care Bears are characters created by American Greetings in 1981 for use on greeting cards. The original artwork for the cards was painted by artist Elena Kucharik. In 1983, Kenner turned the Care Bears into plush teddy bears...
. He served as executive producer of 1985's The Care Bears Movie
The Care Bears Movie
The Care Bears Movie is a 1985 Canadian animated film, the second feature production from the Toronto animation studio Nelvana. One of the first films based directly on a toy line, it introduced the Care Bears characters and their companions, the Care Bear Cousins. In the film, orphanage owners...
, along with its 1986 prequel A New Generation
Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation
Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation is a 1986 children's animated film produced by LBS Communications, Inc. and Canadian animation studio Nelvana. The third animated feature from Nelvana, it was directed by Dale Schott, written by Peter Sauder and produced by Nelvana's three founders...
; he also was a creative consultant for the 1987 follow-up, Adventure in Wonderland
The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland
The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland is the third theatrically released film in the Care Bears animated franchise. It was released in the United States and Canada on August 7, 1987 by Cineplex Odeon Films, and is based on Lewis Carroll's Alice stories...
. After the Care Bears, Chojnacki helped out with another two AGC properties, Madballs
Madballs
Madballs were a series of toy rubber balls created by AmToy, a subsidiary company of American Greetings in the mid-1980s.The toys incorporated gross-out humor in the vein of Wacky Packages and Garbage Pail Kids...
and Popples
Popples
Popples is a series of fantasy characters created by Those Characters From Cleveland , a subsidiary company of American Greetings. Popples resemble brightly colored teddy bears or marsupials , and have pouches on their backs that they can go into and resemble brightly colored balls.-History:Susan...
. In 1989, the Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA) inducted him into the Murray Altchuler Licensing Industry Hall of Fame, as a charter member.