Nerd Corps Entertainment
Canadian animation studio recognized for CGI children’s series, branded entertainment, and productions including Slugterra, Storm Hawks, and Monster High films.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Nerd Corps Entertainment was a Canadian animation studio established in Vancouver in 2002 by Asaph Fipke and Chuck Johnson, both of whom had previously worked as producers at Mainframe Studios. The company developed a production identity around computer-generated imagery, computer animation, and Flash animation, while also providing creative and production services for television, licensing, merchandising, and promotional partners. The studio operated as both an original-content developer and a service producer. Its in-house television work included action-adventure, comedy, preschool, and youth-oriented properties. Among its best-known series were Storm Hawks, League of Super Evil, Hot Wheels Battle Force 5, Slugterra, Max Steel, Kate & Mim-Mim, Blaze and the Monster Machines, and The Deep. Several of these productions were made with major international rights holders, broadcasters, or distributors, including Mattel, Nickelodeon, Nelvana, FremantleMedia Kids & Family, BBC Children’s Productions, and other production partners. Nerd Corps also became closely associated with Mattel’s entertainment portfolio. It produced or co-produced a substantial group of animated Monster High films, as well as Max Steel projects. These assignments placed the studio within the broader ecosystem of toy-based entertainment, where animation was used to expand character franchises across television, home entertainment, licensing, and merchandising. The company’s work on Slugterra similarly combined serialized animation with a broader children’s entertainment and licensing proposition. DHX Media acquired Nerd Corps on December 24, 2014. The acquisition expanded DHX Media’s Vancouver production capacity and added a studio with experience in CGI series and branded entertainment. In 2016, DHX Media brought the former Nerd Corps team into a new Vancouver facility that also housed personnel from Studio B Productions, another animation studio acquired by DHX. The two operations were consolidated into DHX Studios, making the independent Nerd Corps brand effectively defunct. Some projects that began under Nerd Corps continued through the successor studio and, in later years, through entities associated with DHX Media and its successor WildBrain. Nerd Corps is therefore best understood as a former production-company brand rather than a continuing consumer-facing company. Its historical significance rests on its contribution to Canadian animation production, its international co-productions, its use of CGI for children’s action and comedy programming, and its role in developing and producing entertainment connected to major toy and media franchises.
History
Nerd Corps Entertainment was founded in Vancouver in 2002 by Asaph Fipke and Chuck Johnson, former Mainframe Studios producers. Its formation placed the company within the expanding Canadian animation sector, particularly in British Columbia, where studios had developed substantial expertise in computer-generated television production. Nerd Corps specialized in CGI animation, computer animation, and Flash animation, and combined production work with the development of original intellectual property and creative services for external partners. The studio’s early television activity included Dragon Booster, produced with several international partners, followed by projects such as Storm Hawks and League of Super Evil. These series helped establish Nerd Corps as a supplier of visually ambitious children’s programming with action, comedy, and serialized storytelling. The company also participated in franchise-based production. Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 was produced with Mattel and Nelvana, connecting the studio to a major toy brand and demonstrating its ability to deliver animation designed for both broadcast and consumer-products ecosystems. During the early and mid-2010s, Nerd Corps broadened its production slate. It worked on Rated A for Awesome, Slugterra, Max Steel, Kate & Mim-Mim, and the first season of Blaze and the Monster Machines. The range of projects covered youth action, comedy, preschool entertainment, and adaptations of established toy properties. Slugterra became one of the company’s most visible original brands, supported by television episodes and animated films. The studio also produced a large set of Monster High animated films for Mattel, including projects released between 2012 and 2016. Its involvement with Max Steel included both television production and animated films associated with the property. Nerd Corps’ business model extended beyond the creation of series. The studio developed and produced in-house television work while also supplying promotional materials and creative services for merchandising and licensing partners. This made it a hybrid animation company: it could originate and produce its own properties, but it could also operate as a production partner for broadcasters, toy companies, and international media groups. On December 24, 2014, DHX Media acquired Nerd Corps Entertainment. The transaction brought the studio into one of Canada’s largest independent children’s-content groups and gave DHX additional production resources in Vancouver. Nerd Corps continued to receive credits on projects after the acquisition, including later work connected with Monster High, The Deep, and other productions. In 2016, DHX Media moved the former Nerd Corps team into a new Vancouver facility that also housed the former Studio B Productions operation, which DHX had acquired in 2007. The combined operation became part of DHX Studios, DHX Media’s in-house flagship production division. The consolidation ended Nerd Corps’ existence as a distinct operating studio brand. Productions that had started under Nerd Corps could continue under DHX Studios, and some later projects became associated with WildBrain Studios after DHX Media adopted the WildBrain corporate identity. As a result, Nerd Corps is now principally a historical production label. Its legacy includes a substantial body of CGI children’s programming, long-running franchise collaborations, and original properties that circulated internationally through television, home entertainment, licensing, and merchandising channels.
- 2016
Nerd Corps operations are absorbed into DHX Studios
[1]The former Nerd Corps team moves into a facility shared with former Studio B personnel as part of DHX Studios.
- 2014
DHX Media acquires Nerd Corps
[1]DHX Media completes its acquisition of Nerd Corps Entertainment on December 24.
- 2012
Slugterra debuts
[1]Slugterra becomes a major original Nerd Corps property, later supported by animated films and continued production under the successor studio.
- 2012
Monster High film production begins
[1]Nerd Corps begins producing a series of animated Monster High films in partnership with Mattel.
- 2009
League of Super Evil and Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 expand the slate
[1]Nerd Corps begins work on League of Super Evil and the Mattel/Nelvana co-production Hot Wheels Battle Force 5.
- 2007
Storm Hawks begins
[1]The studio launches Storm Hawks, an action-oriented animated series that becomes one of its early recognizable productions.
- 2004
Dragon Booster enters production
[1]Nerd Corps participates in the production of Dragon Booster with international production partners.
- 2002
Nerd Corps Entertainment is founded
[1]Asaph Fipke and Chuck Johnson establish the Vancouver animation studio after working as producers at Mainframe Studios.
Products and positioning
A Vancouver-based children’s animation and branded-entertainment studio specializing in CGI production, original television properties, franchise adaptations, and creative services for international media and consumer-products partners.
Animated television series and films · 2012
Slugterra
Slugterra was one of Nerd Corps’ best-known original animated properties. The action-adventure series ran from 2012 to 2016 and was supplemented by films including Slugterra: Ghoul from Beyond and Slugterra: Return of the Elementals. Production continued through the successor DHX Studios structure after the corporate integration of Nerd Corps.
Animated television series · 2007
Storm Hawks
Storm Hawks was an action-adventure CGI-animated series produced by Nerd Corps from 2007 to 2009. It formed part of the studio’s early body of original youth programming and helped demonstrate its capacity for stylized, effects-intensive computer animation.
Animated television series · 2009
League of Super Evil
League of Super Evil was a comedy-oriented animated series produced by Nerd Corps between 2009 and 2012. Its comic premise and ensemble cast represented the studio’s expansion beyond action-adventure programming into humorous youth entertainment.
Branded animated television series · 2009
Hot Wheels Battle Force 5
Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 was produced with Mattel and Nelvana from 2009 to 2011. The series translated the Hot Wheels brand into an action-focused animated format and reflected Nerd Corps’ role in developing entertainment tied to major consumer-product franchises.
Animated television and direct-to-video films · 2012
Monster High animated films
Nerd Corps produced or co-produced numerous Monster High films for Mattel, including Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love?, Escape from Skull Shores, Ghouls Rule, Scaris: City of Frights, 13 Wishes, Frights, Camera, Action!, Freaky Fusion, Haunted, Boo York, Boo York, and Great Scarrier Reef. The projects extended the fashion-doll franchise into screen entertainment.
Animated television series and films · 2013
Max Steel
Nerd Corps co-produced the Max Steel animated series from 2013 to 2014 with FremantleMedia Kids & Family and Mattel Playground Productions. It also worked on related films including The Wrath of Makino, Dawn of Morphos, and Maximum Morphos, reinforcing the studio’s relationship with Mattel franchise entertainment.
Preschool animated television series · 2014
Kate & Mim-Mim
Kate & Mim-Mim was a preschool series produced with FremantleMedia Kids & Family. Its production began during the Nerd Corps period and continued into the successor DHX Studios structure, illustrating how projects could outlast the independent Nerd Corps brand.
Preschool animated television series · 2014
Blaze and the Monster Machines
Nerd Corps produced the first season of Blaze and the Monster Machines with Nickelodeon Animation Studio. The series combined preschool storytelling with vehicles, science, and problem-solving, and later production continued through successor studios.
Animated television series · 2015
The Deep
Nerd Corps produced the first season of The Deep with partners including A Stark Production, Technicolor, Infinite Studios, and BBC Children’s Productions. The series was part of the studio’s later international co-production activity and continued after the DHX consolidation.
Brand decisions
2016
Consolidate Vancouver animation operationsStrategyBackground
DHX Media owned both Nerd Corps and the former Studio B Productions operation and sought to organize its Vancouver production resources.
Action taken
DHX Media relocated the former Nerd Corps team to a facility also housing the former Studio B team and formed DHX Studios as an in-house flagship division.
Aftermath
Nerd Corps ceased to function as a distinct studio brand, while some of its productions continued through DHX Studios and later successor entities.
2014
Accept acquisition by DHX MediaM&ABackground
Nerd Corps operated as an independent Vancouver animation studio with a portfolio spanning original series, franchise productions, and creative services.
Action taken
DHX Media acquired Nerd Corps Entertainment on December 24, 2014.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded DHX Media’s Vancouver production capabilities. Nerd Corps projects and personnel were subsequently integrated into DHX’s studio structure.
Recent events
- 2016
Former Nerd Corps and Studio B operations consolidated as DHX Studios[1]
M&A
DHX Media relocated the former Nerd Corps team to a Vancouver facility shared with personnel from Studio B Productions, creating the foundation of its DHX Studios division.
- 2014
DHX Media acquires Nerd Corps Entertainment[1]
M&A
DHX Media acquired Nerd Corps Entertainment on December 24, adding the Vancouver animation studio and its production capabilities to DHX’s portfolio.
- 2012
Slugterra becomes a major Nerd Corps television property[1]
Product launch
Slugterra began its run as one of Nerd Corps’ principal original animated series and was later continued through the successor studio structure.
Sources1 sources
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