Cartoon Pizza

Cartoon Pizza was an American independent animation studio established in 2001 by animator and producer Jim Jinkins and executive David Campbell. The company was created after Jinkins's earlier studio, Jumbo Pictures, had been acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 1996 and subsequently closed as an independent operation. Cartoon Pizza therefore functioned as a successor venture, carrying forward Jinkins's work in children's animation while pursuing partnerships with larger entertainment and production organizations. The studio was initially based in New York City. Its business model centered on developing and producing animated and children's entertainment properties, generally through co-production, financing, distribution, and development arrangements rather than through ownership of a large vertically integrated media network. In 2001, Cartoon Pizza entered a two-year, nonexclusive production agreement with Sesame Workshop. Under that arrangement, Sesame Workshop provided office space in New York, handled international distribution, and agreed to co-produce at least six new children's properties. The partnership connected Cartoon Pizza with the organization behind Sesame Street and other established children's franchises. Cartoon Pizza also worked with other production and distribution companies. It became a co-production partner in the animation division of Tiger Aspect Productions on the development of Earth Kid. Gullane Entertainment joined that project as an equal partner and served as its international distributor until Gullane was acquired by HIT Entertainment in 2002. Cartoon Pizza and the associated partners also had additional projects in development, although the available reference material does not identify a complete list of titles or indicate which projects reached release. The studio partnered with Disney and Nickelodeon in 2001, Sesame Workshop in 2006, and Cuppa Coffee Studios. It also operated two related subsidiaries or internal divisions, Cartoon Cola and Cartoon Candy. These names suggest an effort to organize different creative or production activities under the wider Cartoon Pizza identity, but detailed information about their output and corporate structure is limited. In 2011, Cartoon Pizza moved its headquarters from New York City to Nashville, Tennessee. The relocation represented a later phase in the company's history, although the available material does not document a major expansion following the move. After reportedly remaining dormant for approximately five years, the company was dissolved in 2015. It is consequently a defunct studio rather than an active animation producer. Publicly available information provides a broad outline of its partnerships and corporate history but does not establish a complete production catalogue, financial profile, or continuing successor organization.

Cartoon Pizza emerged from the business history of Jumbo Pictures, the animation company associated with Jim Jinkins. In February 1996, The Walt Disney Company acquired Jumbo Pictures. Disney subsequently produced Doug's 1st Movie and integrated the studio into Walt Disney Television Animation. Jumbo Pictures was closed as an independent company approximately a year before Cartoon Pizza was formed. In 2001, Jim Jinkins and David Campbell established Cartoon Pizza as a new studio and successor organization. Jinkins served as president, while Campbell became chief executive officer. The initial management group also included Jack Spillum as president of animated productions, Ellie Copeland as vice president of finances and operations, and Beldeen Fortunato as vice president of administration. The company began operations in New York City and focused on children's animation development and production. One of Cartoon Pizza's early strategic relationships was a production agreement with Sesame Workshop announced in December 2001. The two-year, nonexclusive deal called for the development and co-production of at least six new children's properties. Sesame Workshop agreed to house Cartoon Pizza at its New York office and to manage international distribution. This arrangement gave the independent studio access to an established children's-media institution and an international distribution network. Cartoon Pizza also pursued partnerships outside the Sesame Workshop relationship. In the early 2000s, it became a co-production partner in Tiger Aspect Productions' animation division for Earth Kid. Gullane Entertainment later joined the project as an equal partner and took responsibility for international distribution. Gullane was acquired by HIT Entertainment in September 2002, changing the corporate context around the project. The available reference material also records that Gullane and HIT had three other projects in development with Cartoon Pizza, but it does not provide enough information to document their titles or production outcomes. The company is described as having partnerships with Disney and Nickelodeon in 2001, Sesame Workshop in 2006, and Cuppa Coffee Studios. These relationships indicate that Cartoon Pizza operated primarily as a collaborative studio, working with broadcasters, children's-media organizations, animation producers, and distributors. It also maintained two subsidiaries or related operations called Cartoon Cola and Cartoon Candy. No reliable catalogue in the supplied material establishes the full scope of their activities. In 2011, Cartoon Pizza moved from New York City to Nashville, Tennessee. The relocation was the principal documented change in its physical base. The studio subsequently became dormant and was dissolved in 2015 after approximately five years without active operations. Cartoon Pizza therefore occupies a relatively brief place in the history of independent American children's animation: it was created to continue a creator-led studio tradition after Jumbo Pictures, developed projects through major partnerships, and ultimately ceased operations without becoming a long-term major network or publicly traded entertainment company.

• 2015

  Company dissolution

  [1]Cartoon Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  Cartoon Pizza was dissolved after a period of dormancy.

• 2011

  Headquarters move to Nashville

  [1]Cartoon Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  Cartoon Pizza relocated its headquarters from New York City to Nashville, Tennessee.

• 2002

  Gullane joins Earth Kid partnership

  [1]Cartoon Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  Gullane Entertainment became an equal partner in the development of Earth Kid and handled international distribution until its acquisition by HIT Entertainment.

• 2001

  Cartoon Pizza is established

  [1]Cartoon Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  Jim Jinkins and David Campbell founded Cartoon Pizza as the successor to the closed Jumbo Pictures operation.

• 2001

  Sesame Workshop production agreement

  [1]Cartoon Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  Cartoon Pizza signed a two-year, nonexclusive production arrangement with Sesame Workshop covering at least six new children's properties.

• 1996

  Jumbo Pictures is acquired by Disney

  [1]Cartoon Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  The Walt Disney Company acquired Jim Jinkins's former studio, Jumbo Pictures, which was later integrated into Walt Disney Television Animation.

An independent children's animation studio positioned around creator-led development and co-production partnerships with established entertainment, education, and distribution organizations.

• Animated television project

  Earth Kid

  Earth Kid was an animated series project developed through a partnership involving Cartoon Pizza, Tiger Aspect Productions' animation division, and Gullane Entertainment. Gullane joined as an equal partner and served as the international distributor before its acquisition by HIT Entertainment. The supplied reference material identifies the development and distribution structure but does not confirm the project's final release status or provide a complete creative description.

• 2011

  Relocation to NashvilleStrategy

  Background

  Cartoon Pizza had operated from New York City since its formation.

  Action taken

  The company moved its headquarters to Nashville, Tennessee.

  Aftermath

  The studio later became dormant and was dissolved in 2015. The supplied sources do not state whether the relocation directly affected its later operations.

  Source

• 2001

  Formation of a successor independent studioStrategy

  Background

  Jumbo Pictures had been acquired by Disney and incorporated into Disney's television animation operations before being closed as an independent studio.

  Action taken

  Jim Jinkins and David Campbell created Cartoon Pizza to continue an independent, creator-led animation business focused on children's properties and partnerships.

  Aftermath

  The new studio developed projects through relationships with Sesame Workshop, Tiger Aspect Productions, Gullane Entertainment, Disney, Nickelodeon, and other animation companies.

  Source

• 2001

  Sesame Workshop production partnershipStrategy

  Background

  Cartoon Pizza needed production and distribution relationships for new children's entertainment properties.

  Action taken

  The companies agreed to a two-year, nonexclusive arrangement under which Sesame Workshop would house the studio in New York, handle international distribution, and co-produce at least six properties.

  Aftermath

  The agreement connected Cartoon Pizza to Sesame Workshop's established children's-media infrastructure, although the available material does not document the complete results of the planned slate.

  Source

1. 1Cartoon Pizzaen.wikipedia.org