List of animation studios owned by The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company has owned and operated several animation studiossince the company's founding on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio; the current Walt Disney Animation Studiosin Burbank, California is the company's flagship feature animation studio and claims heritage from this original studio. Adding to the growth of the company and its motion picture studio division The Walt Disney Studios, several other animation studios were added through acquisitions and through openings of satellite studios outside the United States. These expanded the company's animation output into television, direct-to-video, and digital releases, in addition to its primary feature animation releases.

Currently Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar and Lucasfilm Animation(through Lucasfilm) are parts of The Walt Disney Studios unit. This article does not include other animation studios whose films were released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (the company's distribution unit) and not acquired by the company, nor does it count the Laugh-O-Gram Studio (1921–23), Disney's first animation studio, which predated the founding of The Walt Disney Company. For example, certain Studio Ghibli films were distributed by Disney internationally but never owned by the company.[1] Also, Miramax, a independently operating unit of the Walt Disney Studios, also purchased US rights to foreign animated movies.[2]

Disney-ABC Television Group
Main article: Disney-ABC Television Group

Disney Television Animation
Main article: Disney Television Animation

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 Channel Worldwide.[4] Disney MovieToons/Disney Video Premieres unit was transferred from Television Animation to Feature Animation.[5][6]

DIC Entertainment
With Disney's acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC in 1996 came another animated unit, DIC Entertainment. DiC management arranged for DiC to become independent from Disney on November 17, 2000.[2]

Greengrass Productions
Greengrass Productions is a unit of ABC at the time CC/ABC was acquired by Disney and produced some animation.[2]

Jetix related
Disney purchased Fox Family Worldwide on October 24, 2001 for the Fox Family Channel and also received ownership of several animation units, including Saban Entertainment and Saban International N.V. Fox Family, Fox Kids international, Saban Entertainment and Saban International N.V. were renamed ABC Family, Jetix, Sensation Animation and BVS International N.V. respectively.[2] The Saban library included the acquired Marvel Productions and Marvel Film Animation library.[7] Saban also sold Saban International Paris in 2001 with the purchase of Fox Family Worldwide, which was followed by The Walt Disney Company taking a stake in the company and a name change to SIP Animation on October 1, 2002.[8][9][10] Jetix Animation Concepts, also Jetix Concepts Animation, was a brand used for animation co-produced by and for the Jetix global group by the American partner, ABC Disney Cable Group, from 2004 to 2009.[11]
 * Jetix Animation Concepts
 * Saban Entertainment
 * Sensation Animation – dubbing for Digimon
 * SIP Animation

Walt Disney Studios
Main article: The Walt Disney Studios (division)

Walt Disney Animation Studios
Main article: Walt Disney Animation Studios

Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida
Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida, a division of Walt Disney Feature Animation, opened in 1989 with 40 employees. Its offices were in the backlot of the Disney-MGM Studios theme park and visitors were allowed to tour the studio to observe animators at work from behind glass-paneled overhead breezeways. The company had primarily animated Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, and Brother Bear.[13]

Walt Disney Animation placed Max Howard in charge of starting up its Florida animation studio in 1988.[15] Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida began operations in May 1989. The division was originally planned to work on featurettes and shorts that they could do on its own. 70 animators including Disney veteran supervising animator Mark Henn were hired by 1990. After doing its first work, the Roger Rabbit short, Roller Coaster Rabbit, the division was enlisted to help finish The Rescuers Down Under and work on its companion featurette, The Prince and the Pauper.[16] On October 7, 1992, the Florida unit was incorporated.[17] On April 22, 1998, Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida moved to a new $70 million facility at the Disney-MGM Studios.[13][18] In June 1998, the Florida division's first feature film, Mulan, was released.[19] The unit continued as a division with its corporate form was merged out on September 30, 1999.[20] Andrew Millstein took charge of the division as senior vice president and general manager of production in 2001 transferring in from The Secret Lab.[21]

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. Additionally, Feature Animation was transferred under The Walt Disney Studios in January 2003.[6] In June 2003, 50 animators were laid off after Brother Bear finished up production. The division was developing A Few Good Ghosts (also known as My Peoples) until it was canceled on November 15, 2003. On January 12, 2004, Disney Feature Animation President David Stainton announced the shut down of Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida.[14]

Some laid-off animators were offered transfers to the main studio while most chose to stay in Orlando or were recruited to work for rival animation studios. Other animators created their own startup studios. Legacy Animation Studios was formed by Eddie Pittman along with 15 artists previously laid off from the company.[22] Laid off animators Travis Blaise, Todd Gilbert and Matt Gunther formed their own company, Magnetic Entertainment.[14] Project Firefly animation studio was set up by five former employees on Universal Studios Florida's backlot and worked on Curious George for Universal, two direct to videos for DisneyToon Studios, Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie and Brother Bear 2 and Farm Force, a short/pilot as an internal project.[23] Millstein was tapped to head up Florida's replacement and Pixar sequel division, Circle 7 Animation.[12]

DisneyToon Studios
Main article: DisneyToon Studios

DisneyToon Studios, formerly Disney Movietoons,[32] was an American animation studio owned by The Walt Disney Company, responsible for producing direct-to-video and occasional theatrical films for Disney Animation Studios, a part of The Walt Disney Studios.[3]

Disney Circle 7 Animation
Main article: Circle 7 Animation

Circle 7 Animation, or Disney Circle 7 Animation, was a short-lived division of Walt Disney Feature Animation specializing in computer generated imagery(CGI) animation and was originally going to work on making sequels to the Disney-owned Pixar properties, leading rivals and animators[12] to derisively nickname the division "Pixaren't". The company released no movies during its tenure.[33]

Steve Jobs, Pixar CEO, announced in January 2004 that Pixar would not renew their agreement with Disney and would seek out other distributors for releases starting in 2006.[34] In 2004, Disney Circle 7 Animation was formed as a CG animation studio to create sequels to the Disney-owned Pixar properties.[33] In Late January 2006, new Disney CEO Bob Iger and Jobs agreed to have Disney purchase Pixar[35] which led to Disney closing Circle 7.[36]

The Secret Lab
The Secret Lab was an American special effects company that operated from 1980 to 2001, and was the result of a merger between Dream Quest Images and Walt Disney Feature Animation's Computer Graphics division.

Dream Quest was founded in a Santa Monica, California garage in 1979[39] [37]by Hoyt Yeatman, Scott Squires, Rocco Gioffre, Fred Iguchi, Tom Hollister and Bob Hollister.[40] Initial they did piecemeal work on Escape from New York, ET, and One From the Heart,[40] The company then moved to Culver City. DQ Films, the company's television commercial production division, remained in Santa Monica. In 1987, DQI model-making operations moved into a Simi Valleyindustrial park with the most of the company following them to Simi Valley later.[39] The Abyss and Total Recall special effects works each earned the company an Oscars Award.[41]

The Walt Disney Company purchased the company in April 1996 and subsequently moved the company to Burbank, California.[39] DQI was purchased to replace Buena Vista Visual Effects.[42] Soon after 1997, Andrew Millstein was appointed general manager of the company.[21]

In October 1999, Dream Quest Images merged with Walt Disney Feature Animation's computer graphics division to form The Secret Lab[43][37] with Millstein continuing as general manager and vice president.[21][43] The DQI and WDFA units were moved into a new location at Disney's Northside facility on Thornton Avenue just east of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport, the former Lockheed Corp.'s Skunk Works Building 90 until it was renovated for WDFA's headquarters in 1995. DQI's physical production facilities remained in Simi Valley.[43]

The Secret Lab only produced one CG animated motion picture, Dinosaur, in 2000.[43] After Dinosaur, the Lab and Disney Feature Animation started working on Wildlife which was canceled in September 2000.[44]

The Lab being passed over for Disney work (and general industry decline) led to the unit being closed in 2001. The Secret Lab's last work was for the Touchstone Pictures/Spyglass Entertainment film Reign of Fire and the Castle Rock Entertainment/Warner Bros. comedy Kangaroo Jack.[37] An artist at The Secret Lab purportedly confided to Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool News that the studio was shut down by Disney when it proved to be too expensive.[45]
 * VFXography
 * Con Air
 * The Rock
 * Armageddon
 * Mighty Joe Young
 * Bicentennial Man
 * Gone in 60 Seconds
 * Mission to Mars
 * 102 Dalmatians
 * Shanghai Noon
 * Tennessee[43]
 * Dinosaur
 * Mission to Mars
 * Inspector Gadget[38]

Lucasfilm Animation
Lucasfilm Animation was added as an animation unit as part of the acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012.[46]

Pixar
Main article: Pixar

Pixar (/ˈpɪksɑːr/) is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio is best known for its CGI-animated feature films created with PhotoRealistic RenderMan, its own implementation of the industry-standard RenderMan image-rendering application programming interface used to generate high-quality images. Pixar began in 1979 as the Graphics Group, part of the computer division of Lucasfilm before its spin-out as a corporation in 1986 with funding by Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs, who became its majority shareholder.[citation needed] Pixar and Disney had a seven feature agreement that allowed Disney to distribute the films with Disney owing the character rights. With the success of Toy Story 2 in 1999, then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner and Pixar CEO Steve Jobs began to disagree on how Pixar should be run and the terms of their continued relationship.[33] Eisner claimed that Toy Story 2 would not count towards the "original" film count of the agreement.[47] Jobs announced in January 2004 that Pixar would not renew their agreement with Disney and would seek out other distributors for releases starting in 2006.[34] In 2004, Disney Circle 7 Animation was formed as a CG animation studio to create sequels to the Disney-owned Pixar properties.[33] In Late January 2006, new Disney CEO Bob Iger and Jobs agreed to have Disney purchase Pixar[48] which led to Disney closing Circle 7.[49]

Pixar Canada
Main article: Pixar Canada

Distribution deals
Main article: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

In August 1996, Disney and Tokuma Shoten Publishing agreed that Disney would internationally distribute Tokuma's Studio Ghibli animated films.[1] In 2002, Disney signed a four-picture deal with Vanguard Animation,[50] although, only one film was released under that negotiation.[51]

Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment's subsidiary, Marvel Television, is the parent company of Marvel Animation.

Marvel AnimationEdit
With Disney's 2009 purchase of Marvel Entertainment, Disney acquired Marvel Animation, a component of Marvel Entertainment.[52] which now has a Studio in Glendale, California.[53][54]

Overseas studios
Three overseas animation studios (Australia, Japan and Canada) were set up to produce the company's animated television series. As direct-to-video increased in importance, the overseas studios moved to making feature films.[55]

Disney Animation Australia
Disney Animation Australia (DAA), also DisneyToon Studios Australia,[58] was a Disney animation studio located in Sydney.[56]

DAA was started in 1988 at the former Hanna-Barbera overseas studio in St Leonards, Sydney. Initially, Animation Australia worked on various television shows including Aladdin, Timon & Pumbaa, and Goof Troop. As staffing increased, the studio moved to Castlereagh Street.[57]

Disney began producing direct-to-video sequels of its Feature Animation productions, the first of which was the Aladdin sequel The Return of Jafar. When Aladdin was selected as a possible candidate as an animated TV series (before the film's release), as with many animated series, the first three episodes were one multi-part story which Disney used as a potential 'family movie special' for the Friday night before the series' premiere. With work handed out to the Australia animation studio, the opening story was instead greenlit for a direct-to-video release. Thus with "Jafar" and its success, the direct-to-video unit, Disney Video Premieres, started. A second sequel, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, provided work to both the Australia and Japanese animation units.[3]

Australia was assigned additional film sequels: The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, An Extremely Goofy Movie and Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure. The company's first feature film was Return to Never Land in 2002 grossing over $100 million worldwide at the box office. In 2005, the studio produced three animated movies: Tarzan II, Lilo & Stitch 2 and Bambi II. Disney Animation Australia was closed in mid-2006 after finishing Brother Bear 2 and Cinderella III.[57]

Disney Animation Canada
Walt Disney Animation Canada, Inc. (WDAC) was a Canadian animation production company and subsidiary of Disney Television Animation.[55]

Walt Disney Animation Canada was opened in January 1996 to tap Canada's animator pool and produce direct-to-video. Industry Canada rules were dispensed by the Canadian Government with a multi-year commitment from Disney for the company.[61]

WDAC produced in 1997 Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas then worked with Australia and Japan subcontractors on Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World.[61] In fall 1999, Animation Canada stopped work on Peter and Jane, a Peter Pan sequel original designed as its first theatrical release but was changed to a video release.[61] In Spring 2000, due to weak financial performance, Animation Canada was closed.[61][63] With Canada's closure, work on Peter and Jane was moved to the Australia and Japan units.[61]

Disney Animation France
Walt Disney Animation, France S.A. (DAF), also credited as Walt Disney Feature Animation - Paris[67] and originally named Brizzi Films, was an animation company based in France that operated from 1986 to 2003.

Brizzi Films was founded by Paul and Gaëtan Brizzi in 1986, in Paris, France. Brizzi worked on Babar in 1986 for Nelvana. In 1989, the Brizzi brothers sold the company to Disney Television Animation. The brothers continued on as general managers under the company's new name, Walt Disney Animation, France S.A.[65] The first production they work on under Disney was DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp for Disney MovieToons.[32] In 1990, WDA France worked on several TV shows and specials.[65]

In 1994, the Brizzi brothers transferred to Walt Disney Feature Animation as sequence directors for The Hunchback of Notre Dame[65] for which Disney France did 20 percent of the animation.[66] By January 1998, David Stainton was heading up Disney Animation France, which was when he was promoted to senior vice president of creative affairs for Disney Feature Animation.[68]

Stainton was promoted in January 2000, and moved to Walt Disney Television Animation.[68] In summer 2003, Disney Animation France was closed.[50]

Disney Animation Japan
Walt Disney Animation Japan (株式会社ウォルトディズニーアニメーションジャパン Kabushiki gaisha Uoruto Dizunī Animēshon Japan) (WDAJ), officially Walt Disney Animation (Japan) Inc., and formerly known as Pacific Animation Corporation (パシフィックアニメーション株式会社 Pashifikku animēshon kabushiki gaisha), was an animation production subsidiary of Disney Television Animation, a component of The Walt Disney Company.

Pacific Animation Corporation was one of two animation firms that formed after the end of Topcraft in 1984. Pacific Animation did three TV series and 1 television film for Rankin/Bass. In 1988, Disney Company purchased Pacific Animation Corporation, which was renamed as Walt Disney Animation Japan.[73]

The Japanese studio was set up to provide the animation services for Disney's animated television series in 1989.[55][76] As direct-to-video increased in importance, the overseas studios moved to making feature films.[55]

DAJ worked on The Tigger Movie (2000). In 2003, the company produced Piglet's Big Movie for DisneyToon Studios and 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure. In September 2003, Disney announced the closure of the studio, with Pooh's Heffalump Movie (2004) to be its final work.[76][75]

DAJ was closed in June 2004 with 30 employees expected to be transferred to one of the two Disney's remaining animation units.[72] With the closure of the Japanese studio, its remaining work for DisneyToon Studios was split between its US and Australia animation units.[75] Employees not transferred decided to launch a new company, The Answer Studio.[72][74]

Jumbo Pictures
Jumbo Pictures was a New York-based animation studio founded by Jim Jinkins and David Campbell in 1990.[79][80] On February 29, 1996, Disney purchased Jumbo Pictures to add Doug to their roster of properties.[2][79] Jumbo Pictures' Doug was a key show of Disney's One Saturday Morning since 1997. Jumbo Pictures also produced one movie, Doug's 1st Movie, in 1999.[79] The studio was closed in 2000.

Filmography

ImageMovers Digital
In 2007, The Walt Disney Company and ImageMovers set up a joint venture animation facility, ImageMovers Digital, a Marin County-based film company, where Robert Zemeckis would produce and direct 3D animated films using performance capture technology.[2] ImageMovers Digital closed operations by January 2011, after the production was completed on Mars Needs Moms.[83]