Morlus Animation

Morlus Animation, Inc. (simply known as Morlus) is an American animation studio that is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Entertainment, a division of AT&T's WarnerMedia. Based in San Francisco, California, it produces computer-animated feature films and short films. The studio was founded on November 3, 2002 by Steven A. Morlus.

The studio has currently released a total of 10 feature films, including the franchises Beastz, Tiny Warriors and Phoenix and other hits like Beaver and Platypus and Wondrous. The studio has also produced several short films. On March 8, 2011, Time Warner Inc. (now known as WarnerMedia) acquired Morlus Animation for $1.7 billion, making it a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Entertainment as an acquisition for the animation studio.

Films produced by Morlus Animation were formerly distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Releasing through Columbia Pictures from 2006 to 2011. Warner Bros. Pictures then began distributing subsequent Morlus Animation films, starting on August 3, 2012, with the release of Beastz 2. Warner Bros. also now owns the rights to Morlus' first five films.

Founding/Sony parthnership (2002-2010)
On November 3, 2002, Morlus Animation was founded by Steven A. Morlus. Ever since films like DreamWorks' Shrek and Pixar's Monsters, Inc. were released, Morlus always wanted to produce an computer-animated feature-length film. A handful of employees were offered positions doing computer animation in the studio.

On April 24, 2004, it was announced that Morlus Animation was developing a full slate of animated projects: Beastz, Thorebots, Tiny Warriors and the now abandoned Zinger Fingers.

In August 2005, Morlus entered into a 5-year distribution agreement with Sony Pictures under the Columbia Pictures label, which was scheduled to start on 2006 with the release of Beastz.

In 2006, Morlus released its first animated feature, Beastz, a CGI comedy-fantasy film. Despite the film's mixed reviews, the film was a box office success, earning $285.3 million worldwide on a $75 million budget.

Warner Bros. era (2010-present)
On September 25, 2010, it was announced that Time Warner Inc. agreed to acquire Morlus Animation. for $1.7 billion in cash and stock; the acquisition was completed six months later on March 8, 2011. Thus meaning that Morlus has become a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Entertainment.

Morlus's last film with Columbia Pictures was Phoenix, and their first film with Warner Bros. Pictures was Beastz 2, followed by Snakes and Rats, Phoenix 2: Land of the Griffins, Sam & Max and more.

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Logo
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Distribution
Sony signed a 5-year deal with Morlus Animation to distribute their films, starting with Beastz. The partnership ended in 2011 with the release of Phoenix. Morlus' subsequent films are distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures due to the Time Warner Inc.'s acquisition of Morlus Animation.

Trivia
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