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Disney Television Animation (DTVA) is an American animation studio that creates, develops and produces animated television series, films, specials and other projects. It is a division of Walt Disney Television's Disney Channels Worldwide, ultimately owned by The Walt Disney Company.
Established in 1984 during the reorganization and subsequent re-incorporation of The Walt Disney Company following the arrival of then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner, the entity was formerly known as the Walt Disney Pictures Television Animation Group, the name was then later changed, shortened to Walt Disney Television Animation starting in 1987 and was its name up until 2011, when it has been shortened again to Disney Television Animation.
Background:[]
The Walt Disney Company first ventured into the television industry as early as 1950, beginning with the one-hour Christmas special, One Hour in Wonderland. This was followed by the 1951 Christmas special, The Walt Disney Christmas Show, the long-running (1954–2008) anthology series, The Wonderful World of Disney (which was Disney's first regular series as a whole), the children's variety show The Mickey Mouse Club, and the 1957-1959 adventure series, Zorro. However, one element was missing from Disney's expansion into television: An original animated television series. Until the early 80's, the studio had never produced its own original animated shows in-house, because Walt Disney felt it was economically impossible. Nearly all pre-1984 TV animation was wrap-around segments made to bridge the gaps on existing theatrical material on The Wonderful World of Disney. Osamu Tezuka met Walt at the 1964 World's Fair, at which time Disney said he hoped to "make something just like" Tezuka's Astro Boy someday, but unfortunately nothing came of it.
History:[]
With the hiring of a new CEO for Disney Production in 1984, Michael Eisner, lead him to push to expand Disney into new areas thus the establishment of a television animation division that year. The cartoon would be shop to all markets: networks, Disney Channel and syndication. Eisner held a meeting at his home in which he brought up the concept of doing a series on Gummi bear as his kids like the candy. Originally, the staff was told that they could not use the principal Disney cartoon characters in the new shows.
The Walt Disney Television Animation department was started in November 1984 with Gary Krisel as president and Michael Webster as senior vice president.
This was considered a risky move, because animated TV series were generally considered low-budget investments for most of the history of TV cartoons up through the 1980s. Many critics say that Disney's own animation studio had lost most of its luster during the period from Walt Disney's passing through the 1980s. However, the studio took a number of risks that paid off handsomely. The studio successfully gambled on the idea that a substantially larger investment into quality animation could be made back through both network television and over-the-air in syndication, as well as cable. The final result is a string of higher budgeted animated television productions which proved to be profitable ventures and raised the standard for the TV medium.
The Disney television animation cycle began in mid-1985, with The Wuzzles and Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears, both which are based upon funny animal-based conceptions. The supposedly (and possibly) final third series in the incidentally so-called "magic animal"-based "trilogy" of original character sets was going to be[citation needed] Fluppy Dogs (which premiered only as an hour-long TV movie pilot on ABC on Thanksgiving 1986), itself loosely based a series of children's books and line of toys about a race of anthropomorphic pastel-colored dimension-hopping alien (fluppy) dogs. It was not a successful hit (due to low viewership and support) however, as the proposed series was not picked up after it never went beyond that one pilot episode, and the studio instead quickly fell into a routine of adapting its old properties into the new use, which ultimately, Disney coincidentally really did.
In 1987, Disney finally unveiled the newest series yet in its cycle, and the first in their successful long-time line of syndicated animated shows, DuckTales. The show was successful enough to spawn a feature film, DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp, and two spin-off series: Darkwing Duck and Quack Pack. 1990 release Treasure of the Lost Lamp was the first movie from TV Animation's Disney MovieToon unit. Disney Television Animation hired a director of specials, Sharon Morrill, in 1993.
The success of DuckTales also paved the way for a new wave of high-quality animated TV series, including Disney's own The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in 1988. Later, early that spring, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers debuted on March 4, 1989, and was paired with DuckTales in an hour-long syndicated show through the 1989-1990 television season. In the 1990-1991 season, Disney expanded the idea even further, to create The Disney Afternoon, a two-hour long syndicated block of half-hour cartoons, which premiered much later on September 10, 1990. DuckTales was one of the early flagship cartoons in the block.
On August 24, 1994 with Jeffrey Katzenberg's resignation, Richard Frank became head of newly formed Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications (WDTT), which included WDTA, from units of The Walt Disney Studios. Morrill was in charge of the first Aladdin DTV film launching Disney Video Premiere/Direct to Video unit.
Three overseas Disney studios were set up to produce the company's animated television series. Disney Animation Australia was started in 1988. In 1989, the Brizzi brothers sold Brizzi Films to Disney Television Animation and was renamed Walt Disney Animation France. Also that year, Disney Animation Japan was started. Walt Disney Animation Canada was opened in January 1996 to tap Canada's animator pool and produce direct-to-video. As direct-to-video increased in importance, the overseas studios moved to making feature films.
WDTT chair Frank left Disney in March 1995. With Krisel expecting to be promoted to head up WDTT but passed over, Krisel left WDTA at the end of his contract in January 1996. At the time the Walt Disney Company merged with Capital Cities/ABC, TV Animation was a unit of Walt Disney Television within the Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications group (WDTT). With the retirement of WDTT group president Dennis Hightower in April 1996 and ongoing post-merger reorganization, the unit (along with its Disney TV parent) was transferred to the Walt Disney Studios. By April 1998, Movietoons was folded in with Disney Video Premiere films and network TV specials of Disney TV Animation as Morrill was promoted to executive vice president over her existing unit of Disney Video Premiere films, network TV specials and Movietoons. At the same time, Barry Blumberg was elevated to executive vice president for network and syndicated animated TV series. Both reported to Disney Television president Charles Hirschhorn.
In the second quarter of 2000, due to weak financial performance, Disney Animation Canada was closed. David Stainton took charge of the company as executive vice president in January 2000 then as president in February 2002 under Thomas Schumacher.
In January 2003, Disney initiated a reorganization of its theatrical and animation units to improve resource usage and continued focus on new characters and franchise development. TV Animation was transferred to Disney Channels Worldwide. In this reorganization, the Disney MovieToons/Disney Video Premieres unit was transferred from Television Animation to Feature Animation. While Stainton took over as President of Disney Feature Animation from Schumacher, while Blumberg returned to DTA as president.
Management:[]
Disney Television Animation is headed by Eric Coleman, Senior Vice President, Original Series, he reports to Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer of Disney Channels Worldwide.
Prior presidents of Television Animation were Meredith Roberts and Barry Blumberg. Blumberg announced his resignation in November 2005.
Tom Ruzicka, now at Universal Animation Studios, was one of the original executives in charge of this fledgling group. Other animation executives that worked at Television Animation over the years were Barbara Ferro, Sharon Morrill, Bill Gross (former President of Jumbo Pictures, creators of Doug), Maia Mattise, Lenora Hume.
Filmography:[]
Television[]
Television series[]
# | Title | Creator(s) / Developer(s) | Original running | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Wuzzles | Carson Van Osten | 1985 | |
2 | Adventures of the Gummi Bears | Michael Eisner Art Vitello |
1985–1991 | |
3 | DuckTales | Jymn Magon | 1987–1990 | |
4 | The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh | Walt Disney Television Animation | 1988–1991 | Winner of 2 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program of 1988 and 1989. |
5 | Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers | Tad Stones Alan Zaslove |
1989–1990 | |
6 | TaleSpin | Jymn Magon Mark Zaslove |
1990–1991 | |
7 | Darkwing Duck | Tad Stones | 1991–1992 | |
8 | Goof Troop | Mike Peraza | 1992–1993 | |
9 | The Little Mermaid | Walt Disney Television Animation | 1992–1994 | |
10 | Raw Toonage | 1992 | ||
11 | Bonkers | 1993–1994 | ||
12 | Marsupilami | 1993 | ||
13 | Aladdin | 1994–1995 | ||
14 | Gargoyles | Greg Weisman | 1994–1997 | |
15 | The Shnookums & Meat Funny Cartoon Show | Bill Kopp | 1995 | |
16 | Timon and Pumbaa | Walt Disney Television Animation | 1995–1999 | |
17 | Quack Pack | Rob Humphrey Jim Peterson |
1996 | |
18 | Mighty Ducks | Marty Isenberg Robert N. Skir |
1996–1997 | |
19 | Disney's Doug | Jim Jinkins David Campbell |
1996–1999 | Acquired from Nickelodeon; co-production with Jumbo Pictures |
20 | Jungle Cubs | Mark S. Bernthal | 1996–1998 | |
21 | Marilyn Piquel and Soo Ling | Walt Disney Television Animation | 1996–2000 | |
22 | Nightmare Ned | Terry Shakespeare Sue Shakespeare |
1997 | |
23 | Eilonwy's Magical Tales | Terry Ward | 1997–2002 | Co-production with Glass Ball Productions. |
24 | 101 Dalmatians: The Series | Jim Jinkins David Campbell |
1997–1998 | Co-production with Jumbo Pictures. |
25 | Recess | Paul Germain Joe Ansolabehere |
1997–2003 | Co-production with Paul & Joe Productions. |
26 | Pepper Ann | Sue Rose | 1997–2000 | |
27 | PB&J Otter | Jim Jinkins | 1998–2000 | Co-production with Jumbo Pictures. |
28 | Hercules | Michael Price | 1998–1999 | |
29 | Mickey Mouse Works | Walt Disney Television Animation | 1999–2000 | |
30 | Bambi | 1999–2001 | ||
31 | The Weekenders | Doug Langdale | 2000–2004 | |
32 | Clerks: The Animated Series | David Mandel Scott Mosier |
2000 | Uncredited; co-production with Miramax Television, View Askew Productions, Woltz International Pictures, and Touchstone Television |
33 | Teacher's Pet | Gary Baseman Bill Steinkellner |
2000–2002 | Winner of 4 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Special Class Animated Program of 2001 and 2002 |
34 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command | Walt Disney Television Animation | 2000–2001 | Co-production with Pixar Animation Studios. |
35 | House of Mouse | Rob Gannaway Tony Craig |
2001–2003 | |
36 | Lloyd in Space | Paul Germain Joe Ansolabehere |
2001–2004 | Co-production with Paul & Joe Productions. |
37 | The Legend of Tarzan | Walt Disney Television Animation | 2001–2003 | |
38 | Teamo Supremo | Phil Walsh | 2002–2004 | |
39 | Kim Possible | Bob Schooley Mark McCorkle |
2002–2007 | |
40 | Fillmore! | Scott M. Gimple | 2002–2004 | |
41 | Lilo & Stitch: The Series | Chris Sanders Dean DeBlois |
2003–2006 | |
42 | Dave the Barbarian | Doug Langdale | 2004–2005 | |
43 | Brandy & Mr. Whiskers | Russell Marcus | 2004–2006 | |
44 | American Dragon: Jake Long | Jeff Goode | 2005–2007 | |
45 | The Buzz on Maggie | Dave Polsky | 2005–2006 | |
46 | The Emperor's New School | Mark Dindal | 2006–2008 | |
47 | Mickey Mouse Clubhouse | Bobs Gannaway | 2006–2016 | |
48 | The Replacements | Dan Santat | 2006–2009 | |
49 | Shorty McShorts' Shorts | Barry Blumberg John Solomon |
2006–07 | |
50 | My Friends Tigger & Pooh | Bobs Gannaway | 2007–2010 | |
51 | Phineas and Ferb | Dan Povenmire Jeff "Swampy" Marsh |
2007–2015 | |
52 | Donnie | Dan Povenmire Jeff "Swampy" Marsh |
2008-2022 | First spin-off and only educational series of Phineas and Ferb. |
53 | Special Agent Oso | Ford Riley | 2009–2012 | |
54 | Katie and Penny | Dan Povenmire Jeff "Swampy" Marsh |
2009-2017 | Parody spin-off of Phineas and Ferb. |
53 | Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil | Sandro Corsaro | 2010–2012 | Co-production with Chris Savino Productions. |
54 | Fish Hooks | Noah Z. Jones Alex Hirsch |
2010–2014 | |
55 | Take Two with Phineas and Ferb | Dan Povenmire Jeff "Swampy" Marsh |
2010–2011 | |
56 | Jake and the Never Land Pirates | Bobs Gannaway | 2011–2016 | |
57 | Motorcity | Chris Prynoski David Bickel |
2012–2013 | Co-production with Titmouse, Inc. |
58 | Tron: Uprising | Edward Kitsis Adam Horowitz |
Co-production with Sean Bailey Productions. | |
59 | Gravity Falls | Alex Hirsch | 2012–2016 | |
60 | Sofia the First | Craig Gerber | 2012–2018 | |
61 | Mickey Mouse | Paul Rudish | 2013–present | |
62 | Wander Over Yonder | Craig McCracken | 2013–2016 | |
63 | The 7D | Tom Ruegger | 2014–2016 | |
64 | Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero | Jared Bush Sam Levine |
2014–2017 | |
65 | Star vs. the Forces of Evil | Daron Nefcy | 2015–2019 | |
66 | Two More Eggs | The Brothers Chaps | 2015–2017 | Co-production with Citywide Hoop Champs, Inc. |
67 | Pickle and Peanut | Noah Z. Jones | 2015–2018 | |
68 | Descendants: Wicked World | Disney Television Animation | 2015–2017 | Co-production with Bad Angels Productions and 5678 Productions. |
69 | The Lion Guard | Ford Riley | 2015–2019 | |
70 | Disney Princess | Geo G. | 2016–present | Co-production with Glass Ball Productions. |
71 | Elena of Avalor | Craig Gerber | ||
72 | Future-Worm! | Ryan Quincy | 2016–2018 | |
73 | Milo Murphy's Law | Dan Povenmire Jeff "Swampy" Marsh |
2016-2019 | |
74 | Mickey and the Roadster Racers/Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures | Disney Television Animation | 2017–present | |
75 | Tangled: The Series/Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure | Shane Prigmore Chris Sonnenburg |
2017-2020 | |
76 | Billy Dilley's Super-Duper Subterranean Summer | Aaron Springer | 2017 | |
77 | DuckTales | Matt Youngberg Francisco Angones |
2017–present | Reboot version of DuckTales |
78 | Big Hero 6: The Series | Mark McCorkle Bob Schooley Nick Filippi |
||
79 | Big City Greens | The Houghton Brothers | 2018–present | Originally planned as a Disney XD original series before it was switched to Disney Channel |
80 | Fancy Nancy | Jamie Mitchell Krista Tucker |
||
81 | 101 Dalmatian Street | Anttu Harlin
|
2019-present | |
82 | Amphibia | Matt Braly | 2019–present | |
83 | The Owl House | Dana Terrace | 2020–present | |
84 | The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse | Paul Rudish | 2020 | |
85 | The Ghost & Molly McGee | Bill Motz Bob Roth |
2021 | |
86 | Monsters at Work | Bobs Gannaway | 2021 | |
87 | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Bruce W. Smith Doreen Spicer |
2021 | Season 3 of The Proud Family |
88 | Mickey Mouse Funhouse | Phil Weinstein Thomas Hart |
2021 | |
89 | The Chicken Squad | Tom Rogers Doreen Cronin |
2021 | |
90 | Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur | Laurence Fishburne Helen Sugland |
2023-present | Co-production with Cinema Gypsy Productions and Marvel Animation & Family Entertainment |
91 | Hamster & Gretel | Dan Povenmire | 2022-present | |
92 | The Shnookums and Meat Show | Bill Kopp | TBA | Reboot of the original 1995 animated series |
93 | Darkwing Duck | TBA | Reboot of the original 1991 animated series | |
94 | Marcy, Sasha and Anne | Matt Braly | TBA | Spin-off of Amphibia |
95 | The Star and Marco Show | Daron Nefcy | TBA | Spin-off of Star vs. the Forces of Evil |
96 | Alice's Wonderland Bakery | TBA | TBA | |
97 | Untitled Oswald the Lucky Rabbit series | TBA | TBA |
Television specials[]
Title | Original air date | Notes |
---|---|---|
Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too | December 14, 1991 | |
Boo to You Too! Winnie the Pooh | October 25, 1996 | |
A Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving | November 22, 1998 | |
Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You | February 13, 1999 | |
The O.W.C.A. Files | November 9, 2015 | Final Phineas and Ferb special. |
Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special | December 9, 2016 | First Mickey Mouse half-hour special. |
The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular! | October 8, 2017 | Second Mickey Mouse half-hour special. |
Feature films[]
From 1990 to January 2003, Disney Television Animation had a division, Disney MovieToons/Disney Video Premiere, that produced direct-to-video and theatrical feature films. This unit's operations were transferred to Walt Disney Feature Animation in 2003. See that article for that unit's films.
Television films[]
Title | Release date | Network | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Fluppy Dogs | November 27, 1986 | ABC | Pilot film. |
DuckTales: The Treasure of the Golden Suns | September 18, 1987 | Syndication | |
DuckTales: Catch as Cash Can | November 2–5, 1987 | ||
DuckTales: Time is Money | November 24, 1988 | ||
Super DuckTales | March 26, 1989 | ||
Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers to the Rescue | September 29, 1989 | ||
TaleSpin: Plunder & Lightning | September 7, 1990 | ||
Darkwing Duck: Darkly Dawns the Duck | September 6, 1991 | ||
Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time | November 28, 2003 | Disney Channel | |
Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama | April 8, 2005 | ||
The Proud Family Movie | August 19, 2005 | Co-production with Hyperion Animation. | |
Leroy & Stitch | June 23, 2006 | ||
Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension | August 5, 2011 | ||
Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess | November 18, 2012 | Disney Channel
Disney Junior | |
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar | November 22, 2015 | ||
Elena and the Secret of Avalor | November 20, 2016 | ||
Tangled: Before Ever After | March 10, 2017 | Disney Channel | |
Star vs. The Forces of Evil: Battle for Mewni | July 15, 2017 | Disney XD |
Direct-to-video films[]
Title | Release date | Notes |
---|---|---|
The Return of Jafar | May 20, 1994 | |
Gargoyles the Movie: The Heroes Awaken | January 31, 1995 | |
Aladdin and the King of Thieves | August 13, 1996 | |
Mighty Ducks the Movie: The First Face-Off | April 8, 1997 | |
Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin | August 5, 1997 | |
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas | November 11, 1997 | |
Belle's Magical World | February 17, 1998 | |
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World | August 25, 1998 | |
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride | October 27, 1998 | |
Hercules: Zero to Hero | August 17, 1999 | |
Eilonwy's Amazing Journey | September 21, 1999 | Co-production with Glass Ball Productions. |
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas | November 9, 1999 | |
Seasons of Giving | ||
An Extremely Goofy Movie | February 29, 2000 | |
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins | August 8, 2000 | Co-production with Pixar Animation Studios. |
The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea | September 19, 2000 | |
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure | February 27, 2001 | |
Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse | November 6, 2001 | |
Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street | Co-production with Paul & Joe Productions. | |
Eilonwy's Miracle Christmas | December 11, 2001 | Co-production with Glass Ball Productions. |
Cinderella II: Dreams Come True | February 26, 2002 | |
The Hunchback of Notre Dame II | March 19, 2002 | |
Tarzan & Jane | July 23, 2002 | |
Mickey's House of Villains | September 3, 2002 | |
A Very Merry Pooh Year | November 12, 2002 | |
101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure | January 21, 2003 | |
Atlantis: Milo's Return | May 20, 2003 | |
Stitch! The Movie | August 26, 2003 | |
Recess: All Growed Down | December 9, 2003 | Co-production with Paul & Joe Productions. |
Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade | ||
Gabriel Garza + Disney Princess: Enchanted Mayhem | June 9, 2020 | Co-production with Universal 1440 Entertainment, Gingo Animation and Glass Ball Productions. |
Theatrical films[]
# | Title | Release date | Co-production with | Animation services | Budget | Gross | RT | MC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp | August 3, 1990 | Walt Disney Pictures Disney MovieToons |
Walt Disney Animation France | N/A | $18.1 million | 88% | N/A |
2 | A Goofy Movie | April 7, 1995 | Walt Disney Animation France Walt Disney Animation Australia |
$35.3 million | 53% | |||
3 | Doug's 1st Movie | March 26, 1999 | Walt Disney Pictures Jumbo Pictures |
Plus One Animation | $5 million | $19.4 million | 20% | |
4 | The Tigger Movie | February 11, 2000 | Walt Disney Pictures Disney MovieToons |
Walt Disney Animation Japan | $15–30 million | $96.2 million | 71% | 53 |
5 | Recess: School's Out! | February 16, 2001 | Walt Disney Pictures Walt Disney Television Animation Digital Production Paul & Joe Productions |
Sunwoo Animation Sunwoo Digital International |
$23 million | $44.5 million | 61% | 43 |
6 | Return to Never Land | February 15, 2002 | Walt Disney Pictures Disney MovieToons |
Walt Disney Animation Australia Walt Disney Animation Canada Walt Disney Animation Japan Cornerstone Animation |
$20 million | $109 million | 46% | 49 |
7 | Teacher's Pet: The Movie | January 16, 2004 | Walt Disney Pictures | Toon City Animation | $10 million | $6.5 million | 76% | 74 |
8 | The Jungle Cubs' Movie | Febraury 10, 2006 | Walt Disney Pictures
|
Walt Disney Animation France Walt Disney Animation Australia |
$25 million | $7.0 million | 77% | 75 |
9 | The Buzz on Maggie: The Movie | August 25, 2007 | Walt Disney Pictures
|
Walt Disney Animation France
|
$30
million |
$7.5 million | 78% | 76 |
Disney+ original movies[]
Title | Creator(s) / Developer(s) | Premiere | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe | Dan Povenmire Jeff "Swampy" Marsh |
2020 |
Short films[]
- The Bug Hunt (1996)
- Dragon Friend (1997)
- Little Angelita (1999)
Series | Title | Director | Release Date | DVD Release | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bonkers | Petal to the Metal | David Block | August 7, 1992 | N/A | Bonkers Episode
In theaters with 3 Ninjas |
Timon and Pumbaa | Stand by Me | Steve Moore | December 22, 1995 | N/A | Timon & Pumbaa Episode |
N/A | Redux Riding Hood | Steve Moore | March 26, 1997
|
Cats Don't Dance | Theatrical with Cats Don't Dance |
N/A | Three Little Pigs | Darrell Rooney | October 21, 1997 | N/A | |
The Buzz on Maggie | A True Story About Bugs | Dave Wasson | December 20, 2007 | The Buzz on Maggie: The Movie |
Rides & attractions[]
- Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway (2020)
See also:[]
- Disneytoon Studios
- Walt Disney Television
- Fox Television Animation
- Cartoon Network Studios
- Nickelodeon Animation Studio
- Gingo Animation