March Entertainment
March Entertainment was a Canadian animation studio producing digital entertainment for television and the Web.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
March Entertainment was a Canadian animation studio founded in 1996 by Dan Hawes and Doug Sinclair. The business began under the name Infopreneur as a producer of Web content, reflecting the founders’ early focus on digital media at a time when online video and Flash animation were emerging forms of entertainment. It later developed into a television and animation producer known for properties aimed at children and family audiences. The studio’s best-known property was Chilly Beach, a Flash-animated comedy series about life in a fictional Canadian community. The series began broadcasting on CBC Television in 2003 and ran through 2008. March expanded the property beyond short-form and television content with two films, Chilly Beach: The World Is Hot Enough and Chilly Beach: The Canadian President. Chilly Beach was subsequently distributed through digital channels, including iTunes, and entered the United States through Hulu in 2011. March’s catalogue also included Maple Shorts!, The Very Good Adventures of Yam Roll in Happy Kingdom, Uncle Joe’s Cartoon Playhouse, Faireez, Pet Squad, and Dex Hamilton: Alien Entomologist. Several projects were developed through international partnerships. Dex Hamilton was co-produced with Australia’s SLR Productions, while G2G: Got to Go! was produced for an international television market and aired on Australia’s Nine Network before its Canadian broadcast. Yam Roll also reached Hulu through distributor Duopoly Inc. The company broadened its production activity into feature-length and direct-to-video animation. In 2009, it produced Playmobil: The Secret of Pirate Island for the toy company Playmobil. A second Playmobil DVD project entered production but was later abandoned. March also animated the first season of Mia and Me, a hybrid series combining live action and computer-generated animation, in an international co-production involving Rainbow S.p.A., ZDF, and Lucky Punch. The project attracted strong attention at the 2010 MIPJunior market, where it was reported to be the most requested programme. Beyond programme production, March operated digital properties including iLaugh and Edge of Toon. Its business combined original intellectual property, commissioned production, online entertainment, television distribution, and licensing-oriented work. The company maintained its head office in Toronto and an animation studio in Sudbury, Ontario. Despite provincial investment during its later period, March entered decline in the early 2010s. The Sudbury studio closed in 2013, and the company was ultimately succeeded by Toonrush. March Entertainment is therefore best understood as a defunct Canadian animation and digital-media producer whose principal legacy lies in its Canadian television properties, international co-productions, and early use of Web animation and digital distribution.
History
March Entertainment originated in 1996 when Dan Hawes and Doug Sinclair established a Web-content business called Infopreneur. The company’s early identity was shaped by the development of digital entertainment for the Web, including Flash animation and online properties. As its production capabilities developed, the company adopted the March Entertainment name and moved into television animation and broader media production. Its breakthrough property was Chilly Beach, a Flash-animated comedy set in a fictional Canadian community. The series began broadcasting on CBC Television in 2003 and became the studio’s most recognizable original franchise. March treated the property as a cross-platform asset rather than only a television programme: it produced the films The World Is Hot Enough and The Canadian President, and the series later became available through iTunes and Hulu. Its U.S. Hulu release in 2011 provided the property with an additional digital distribution outlet. During the middle and late 2000s, March built a catalogue of children’s and family-oriented productions. Maple Shorts!, The Very Good Adventures of Yam Roll in Happy Kingdom, Uncle Joe’s Cartoon Playhouse, and Faireez expanded the company’s range of formats and characters. Yam Roll subsequently reached Hulu through Duopoly Inc., a distributor associated with Catherine Tait that also handled Smiley Guy Studios’ Odd Job Jack. March also developed Pet Squad and other animated projects for television and home entertainment markets. International co-production became an important part of the studio’s activity. March worked with Australia’s SLR Productions on Dex Hamilton: Alien Entomologist, a series combining science-fiction adventure with an entomology theme. It also co-produced G2G: Got to Go!, which aired on Australia’s Nine Network in September 2008 before its Canadian broadcast. These projects illustrate March’s effort to use partnerships and international broadcasters to extend the reach of its production slate. In 2009, March produced Playmobil: The Secret of Pirate Island for the toy manufacturer Playmobil. This was the company’s first and only animated movie made for Playmobil. A second DVD film was reportedly put into production but was subsequently scrapped, leaving The Secret of Pirate Island as the completed project from that planned continuation. March later served as the animation studio for the first season of Mia and Me. The series combined live-action material with computer-generated animation and was developed as an international production involving Rainbow S.p.A., German broadcaster ZDF, and Lucky Punch. Its reception at the 2010 MIPJunior conference indicated substantial market interest, with the programme described as the event’s most requested title. March also operated entertainment websites including iLaugh and Edge of Toon, maintaining a connection to the Web-content origins of the business. The company’s principal office was in Toronto, while its production footprint included an animation studio in Sudbury, Ontario. In spite of provincial financial support during its later years, March went into decline in the early 2010s. The Sudbury facility closed in 2013, and the company was ultimately succeeded by Toonrush. The available record does not establish a detailed formal dissolution date or identify a specific transaction transferring the business. March’s historical importance rests on its role in Canadian animation, its early Web-to-television development model, the Chilly Beach franchise, and its participation in international children’s-media co-productions.
- 2013
Sudbury studio closes
[1]March’s Sudbury animation studio closes during the company’s decline in the early 2010s.
- 2011
Chilly Beach becomes available on Hulu
[1]The Chilly Beach series launches in the United States through Hulu after earlier availability on iTunes.
- 2010
Mia and Me attracts MIPJunior interest
[1]March’s animation work on the first season of Mia and Me is showcased in an international co-production that receives strong attention at MIPJunior.
- 2009
Playmobil animated film is released
[1]March produces Playmobil: The Secret of Pirate Island, its first and only animated movie for Playmobil.
- 2008
G2G: Got to Go! is broadcast
[1]The co-produced series airs on Australia’s Nine Network and subsequently receives Canadian broadcast exposure.
- 2007
Dex Hamilton co-production begins
[1]March co-produces Dex Hamilton: Alien Entomologist with Australia’s SLR Productions.
- 2003
Chilly Beach reaches CBC Television
[1]March’s Flash-animated Chilly Beach series begins broadcasting on CBC Television.
- 1996
Infopreneur is founded
[1]Dan Hawes and Doug Sinclair establish the business under the name Infopreneur as a producer of Web content.
Products and positioning
A Canadian producer of children’s and family animation that combined original television properties, Web-native entertainment, international co-productions, and digital distribution.
Animated television series · 2003
Chilly Beach
March’s signature Flash-animated comedy series, set in a fictional Canadian community. It was broadcast on CBC Television from 2003 to 2008 and later distributed through iTunes and Hulu. The property was expanded into two animated films, The World Is Hot Enough and The Canadian President.
Animated short-form series · 2005
Maple Shorts!
A short-form animated property in March Entertainment’s Canadian and family-oriented catalogue. The available reference material identifies it as a 2005 work but does not provide further detail about its format, characters, or distribution.
Animated television series · 2006
The Very Good Adventures of Yam Roll in Happy Kingdom
An animated series produced by March Entertainment in 2006. The property later reached Hulu through distributor Duopoly Inc., extending its availability beyond its original market.
Animated television series · 2008
Dex Hamilton: Alien Entomologist
A science-fiction animated series co-produced by March Entertainment and Australia’s SLR Productions. Its premise combines alien adventure with entomology, and the series was associated with the 2008–2009 broadcast period.
Animated television series · 2008
G2G: Got to Go!
An animated co-production that aired on Australia’s Nine Network in September 2008 before its Canadian broadcast on CBC-TV. The project reflects March’s international production and distribution strategy.
Animated direct-to-video film · 2009
Playmobil: The Secret of Pirate Island
An animated movie produced by March for toy company Playmobil in 2009. It was March’s first and only completed animated movie made for Playmobil; a second planned DVD project was later abandoned.
Live-action and CGI animated series · 2011
Mia and Me
An international hybrid series combining live action and computer-generated animation. March animated the first season in a production involving Rainbow S.p.A., ZDF, and Lucky Punch. The first season was associated with the 2011–2012 release period.
Entertainment website
iLaugh
A Web entertainment property operated by March Entertainment. The available source identifies the site as part of the company’s digital-media activities but does not provide additional operational details.
Entertainment website
Edge of Toon
A March Entertainment website associated with the studio’s online entertainment work. Further information about its content and operating period is not established in the supplied reference.
Brand decisions
2013
Close the Sudbury animation studioOtherBackground
March declined during the early 2010s despite provincial investment and maintained a production facility in Sudbury.
Action taken
The company closed its Sudbury animation studio.
Aftermath
March was ultimately succeeded by Toonrush. The supplied reference does not establish a formal dissolution date or describe a transaction.
2011
Extend original properties through digital distributionStrategyBackground
March sought additional audiences for its established animated properties as online video distribution expanded.
Action taken
Chilly Beach became available to U.S. viewers through Hulu, following availability on iTunes.
Aftermath
The release increased the property’s digital reach, although the company subsequently entered decline during the early 2010s.
2010
Pursue international hybrid animationStrategyBackground
March participated in an international production model that combined live action with CGI animation and involved multiple European production and broadcasting partners.
Action taken
The studio animated season one of Mia and Me with Rainbow S.p.A., ZDF, and Lucky Punch.
Aftermath
The programme generated strong market interest at the 2010 MIPJunior conference, where it was reported to be the most requested title.
2009
Enter the Playmobil animated-film marketProduct launchBackground
March expanded from television and Web animation into a toy-linked animated feature project for Playmobil.
Action taken
The studio produced Playmobil: The Secret of Pirate Island.
Aftermath
The film became March’s first and only completed animated movie for Playmobil. A second DVD project was later scrapped.
Recent events
- 2013
March Entertainment declines and its Sudbury studio closes[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
The company entered decline during the early 2010s, and its animation studio in Sudbury closed in 2013. March was later succeeded by Toonrush.
- 2011
Chilly Beach launches on Hulu in the United States[1]
Product launch
The Chilly Beach series became available to U.S. audiences through Hulu, following earlier digital availability through iTunes.
- 2010
Mia and Me season 1 draws attention at MIPJunior[1]
Product launch
March animated the first season of the live-action and CGI series Mia and Me in an international co-production. The programme was reported as the most requested title at the 2010 MIPJunior conference.
- 2009
March produces Playmobil: The Secret of Pirate Island[1]
Product launch
March produced its first and only animated movie for Playmobil, a direct-to-video project titled The Secret of Pirate Island.
- 2008
March expands Chilly Beach into feature-length projects[1]
Product generation
The Chilly Beach franchise generated two animated films, The World Is Hot Enough and The Canadian President, extending the property beyond its television format.
- 2008
G2G: Got to Go! reaches Australian television[1]
Product launch
The co-produced animated series G2G: Got to Go! aired on Australia’s Nine Network before its Canadian broadcast on CBC-TV.
- 2007
March co-produces Dex Hamilton: Alien Entomologist[1]
Product launch
March partnered with Australia’s SLR Productions on the animated series Dex Hamilton: Alien Entomologist, which was associated with the 2008–2009 broadcast period.
- 2003
Chilly Beach begins broadcast on CBC Television[1]
Product launch
March Entertainment’s Flash-animated Chilly Beach property moved from Web-oriented production into Canadian television broadcasting on CBC Television.
Sources1 sources
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