MyToons
Encyclopedia
MyToons was a free online community
for animation
that supported content sharing and social networking. MyToons.com was headquartered in San Antonio, Texas
.
The site was founded in 2006 by Paul Ford, Stacey Ford and Dan Kraus as a spinoff of Bauhaus Software. The Texas Emerging Technology Fund
supported it with a $500,000 grant.
After four months of private beta, the site launched publicly in March 2007 during the South by Southwest
festival in Austin, Texas
, and began distributing member-created animation videos to Internet audiences worldwide. Three weeks after its launch, MyToons had received more than 1.5 million unique visitors.
. At this time, the HD animation contest Get With the Times! was also launched.
In January 2009, MyToons laid off a large part of its staff.
In April 2009, MyToons closed down completely after venture capital funding ceased.
Online community
An online community is a virtual community that exists online and whose members enable its existence through taking part in membership ritual. An online community can take the form of an information system where anyone can post content, such as a Bulletin board system or one where only a restricted...
for animation
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
that supported content sharing and social networking. MyToons.com was headquartered in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
.
The site was founded in 2006 by Paul Ford, Stacey Ford and Dan Kraus as a spinoff of Bauhaus Software. The Texas Emerging Technology Fund
Texas Emerging Technology Fund
The Texas Emerging Technology Fund is a technology investment fund created by legislation in 2005 at the urging of Governor Rick Perry to provide Texas with an unparalleled advantage in the research, development, and commercialization of emerging technologies...
supported it with a $500,000 grant.
After four months of private beta, the site launched publicly in March 2007 during the South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
festival in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, and began distributing member-created animation videos to Internet audiences worldwide. Three weeks after its launch, MyToons had received more than 1.5 million unique visitors.
Milestones
In June 2008, MyToons.com became the first global animation community to offer users the ability to upload and view animations in High DefinitionHigh-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
. At this time, the HD animation contest Get With the Times! was also launched.
In January 2009, MyToons laid off a large part of its staff.
In April 2009, MyToons closed down completely after venture capital funding ceased.
Affiliates
- AdobeAdobe SystemsAdobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
– Sponsor of Get with the Times! contest, June 2008- Adobe Media PlayerAdobe Media PlayerAdobe Media Player was a desktop media player that allowed users to manage and interact with their media content, and allowed content publishers to define branding and advertising in and around their content. The Adobe Media Player was one of the first Adobe AIR applications from Adobe Systems. It...
(AMP) Channel Partner, March 2008
- Adobe Media Player
- MonsterJam Animation Contest – Co-Sponsor, May 2008
- Warner Bros., EntertainmentWarner Bros.Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
– Contest Partner, May 2008
- The Second Annual Animation Book Look – Co-Sponsor, May 2008
- GoogleGoogleGoogle Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
– Google Search ApplianceGoogle Search ApplianceThe Google Search Appliance is a rack-mounted device providing document indexing functionality that can be integrated into an intranet, document management system or web site using a Google search-like interface for end-user retrieval of results. The operating system is based on CentOS...
(GSA), April 2008- YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
Channel Partner, February 2008
- YouTube
- DRAW Exhibit, London – Co-Sponsor, March 2008
- IMAXIMAXIMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
– Contest Partner, February 2008
- Krispy KremeKrispy KremeKrispy Kreme is the name of an international chain of doughnut stores that was founded by Vernon Rudolph in 1937 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The parent company of Krispy Kreme is Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc...
– Contest Partner, February 2008
- 35th Annual Annie Awards, Hollywood, CA – Silver Sponsor and After-Party Entertainment Sponsor, February 2008
- Animation Army – Monthly Meetings Sponsor, 2007 – 2008
- INTERspectacular Design and Concept Studio – Bumper Blastoff! contest partner, December 2007
- Best In The Southwest Flash Animation Festival – Gold Sponsor, Albuquerque NM, October 2007
- Los Angeles Animation Festival (L.A.A.F.) – Major Sponsor, October 2007
- Animators: Andrew Gordon, Mike Wellins, Rusty Mills – Bust In and Win! contest Judges, September 2007
- Ottawa International Animation FestivalOttawa International Animation Festival-History:In 1976, the Canadian Film Institute founded the biennial Ottawa International Animation Festival . First held August 10 to 15, 1976, the OIAF created a gathering place for North American animation professionals and enthusiasts to ponder the craft and business of animation...
– Major Sponsor and Panel Speaker, September 2007
- Anime ExpoAnime ExpoAnime Expo, abbreviated AX, is an American anime convention held in Los Angeles, California and organized by the non-profit Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation . With rare exceptions, the convention is traditionally held on the July 4th weekend and lasts for four days...
– Event, Promotions and Panel Speaker, June – July 2007
- Kalamazoo Animation Festival InternationalKalamazoo Animation Festival InternationalThe Kalamazoo Animation Festival International is an organization that encourages and educates animation artists, promotes Kalamazoo's animation industry, and provides community entertainment. KAFI is a project of Kalamazoo Valley Community College...
(KAFI) – Bronze Sponsor, May 2007
- Limelight NetworksLimelight NetworksLimelight Networks is a content delivery network service provider. The company is based in Tempe, Arizona, U.S.A., with offices in San Francisco, Seattle, New York, London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Tokyo. The company operates a global fiber-optic network that helps content publishers avoid sending...
– Flash Video Streaming Infrastructure, April 2007
- Draw/MyToons Launch – Platinum Sponsor for DRAW exhibit & Gallery Lombardi, SXSW Austin, TX, March 2007