Microsoft Creations

Microsoft Creations, formerly The Microsoft Animation Team, was an American Laserdisc production and distribution company based in Atlanta, Georgia best known for their flagship property Peanuts Worldwide.

The Microsoft Corporation and Pioneer companies were known for producing and distributing television shows, videodiscs, audio products, comic books, books and toys. On February 9, 2001, the company was acquired by Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Disney Channel and the four companies merged in June the same year, with the logo continuing to be used until November 2004.

History
The company traces its origins to 1987, when The Microsoft Animation Team was formed as a division of MCA, Inc., a digital and educational company owned by Paul Allen. Microsoft Corporation began producing and distributing a direct-to-video series titled A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1963), which was created by Paul’s brother-in-law, Bill Gates. Five years after its debut, Peanuts caught the attention of Viacom, who subsequently revamped the concept for television as Peanuts Worldwide and began airing on the organization's flagship television service on April 5, 1992.

Microsoft Creations was formed in 1995, and The Microsoft Animation Team became a division of a new company under the name Viacom International. The company developed the series Hey Arnold for Nickelodeon in 1996. This series was produced by Turner Broadcast, another division of the company, and was primarily filmed on a studio backlot in Atlanta, Georgia. In the late 1990s, Microsoft Creations acquired the distribution rights for VeggieTales, and Dexter's Laboratory and also distributed book publishing and video gaming rights for some Nintendo, Sega, and Pokemon video game characters like Mario, Sonic, Yoshi, Kirby, Pickachu, Donkey Kong, and Link.

On February 9, 2001, the company was acquired by Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Disney for $512 million and merged in June of that year, even the logo would continue to appear until November.

Trivia

 * Big Idea was Originally distributed in Christian Bookstores from 1998 to 2003
 * Nickelodeon was still produced by Paramount Pictures
 * Cartoon Network was still produced by Warner Bros. Pictures
 * Except for alternative laserdisc copies of Danny Phantom