Wildbrain Entertainment
A former American animation and entertainment studio that produced television programming, films, digital shorts, commercial animation, and licensed consumer products.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Wildbrain Entertainment, Inc., originally known as Wild Brain and often stylized as W!LDBRAIN, was an American animation and entertainment company founded in San Francisco in 1994. The studio worked across television, feature and short-form animation, commercial production, digital entertainment, interactive media, and licensing. It became associated with a distinctive independent animation culture that combined character design, traditional animation, computer graphics, short-form storytelling, and branded content. The company was established by John Hays, Phil Robinson, and Jeff Fino in San Francisco's Castro District. Its early business was based largely on contract work for game and educational-software companies, including Broderbund, LucasArts, and Living Books. In 1996, the business moved into a large warehouse in the Mission District, helping make it part of the creative and production community later associated with San Francisco's Multimedia Gulch. Investment from Austin-based Interfase Capital in 1999 supported rapid expansion. The studio grew from roughly 20 employees to approximately 250 and developed a broad production operation involving directors, animators, designers, producers, and digital artists. Wild Brain expanded beyond contract animation by producing web shorts and series for its own website and through relationships with companies such as Yahoo! and Cartoon Network. Projects including Groove Monkee, Mantelope, Joe Paradise, Glue, Graveyard, and Space is Dum reflected the company's early interest in online animation. It also hired former Colossal Pictures personnel after that San Francisco studio closed in 1999, strengthening Wild Brain's creative capabilities and helping it move into television development and production. Its television credits included Poochini, Higglytown Heroes, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Monster High, Bubble Guppies, The Aquabats! Super Show!, UMIGO, Sheriff Callie's Wild West, Team Smithereen, The Hard Times of RJ Berger, and The Ricky Gervais Show. Wildbrain's work on Yo Gabba Gabba! was particularly significant: Charles Rivkin, who had joined the company as president and chief executive in 2004, oversaw the creation and development of the Nick Jr. series. The company also contributed animation and title work to feature films, television specials, games, and advertising campaigns. Its short film Hubert's Brain received an Annie Award, while its commercial work for clients including Esurance, Chiclets, Target, Nike, Honda, Kraft, The Wall Street Journal, and Lamisil received recognition from advertising and animation award organizations. The company changed its name from Wild Brain to Wildbrain Entertainment in 2007. Leadership and corporate structure changed during the same period. Rivkin left in 2008 after being appointed United States ambassador to France and Monaco, and marketing executive Michael Polis became chief executive. By 2009, the original founders had departed, the company had moved animation operations to Sherman Oaks, and its San Francisco office had closed. DHX Media acquired Wildbrain in 2010, after which the business was operated in connection with DHX's Los Angeles activities. The original studio was dissolved in 2012. DHX later revived the WildBrain name for a London-based, child-focused YouTube multi-channel network in 2016. That later WildBrain operation was a successor brand and digital distribution division rather than the original American studio described in this entry. In 2019, DHX Media adopted WildBrain as its corporate name and renamed the multi-channel-network unit WildBrain Spark. The historical Wildbrain Entertainment studio therefore occupies an important but completed phase in the broader WildBrain corporate lineage.
History
Wildbrain Entertainment began in 1994 when John Hays, Phil Robinson, and Jeff Fino founded Wild Brain in San Francisco. The founders initially relied on contract production for software and game companies, including Broderbund, LucasArts, and Living Books. This work gave the studio an early base in character animation, interactive design, and digital production. In 1996, the company moved from the Castro District to a 17,000-square-foot warehouse in the Mission District. The new location placed Wild Brain near the creative businesses that helped establish San Francisco's Multimedia Gulch. In 1999, Interfase Capital invested nearly $17 million in the company. The financing supported a substantial expansion of staff and capabilities; the workforce grew from approximately 20 people to about 250. Wild Brain used that growth to develop original web entertainment. Through relationships with Yahoo! and Cartoon Network, and through its own website, the studio produced animated shorts and web series such as Groove Monkee, Mantelope, Joe Paradise, Glue, Graveyard, and Space is Dum. The company also expanded after Colossal Pictures closed in 1999, hiring former Colossal directors and production personnel. This helped Wild Brain build a stronger pipeline in television, advertising, and short-form animation. Television became a central part of the business during the 2000s. Its credits included Poochini and Higglytown Heroes, followed by projects such as Yo Gabba Gabba!, Monster High, Bubble Guppies, and other children's and family programs. Charles Rivkin, who joined as president and chief executive in 2004, oversaw the creation and development of Yo Gabba Gabba! for Nick Jr. Wild Brain also worked on film animation, title sequences, television specials, video-game animation, and national advertising. Its short Hubert's Brain won an Annie Award, and its advertising work received Clio, ADDY, BDA, and Annie recognition. The company changed its name to Wildbrain Entertainment in 2007. Founder Jeff Fino departed that year to establish Nuvana, an educational web company. Rivkin left in 2008 after being appointed United States ambassador to France and Monaco, and Michael Polis, previously associated with marketing at Wildbrain, became chief executive. Founder John Hays also moved on to independent film work. By 2009, all three original founders had left. The company expanded its animation operations to Sherman Oaks in March 2009 and closed its San Francisco office in June. DHX Media purchased Wildbrain in 2010. The transaction ended the studio's period as an independent company and connected its operations with DHX's Los Angeles activities. The original Wildbrain Entertainment studio was dissolved in 2012. The WildBrain name later returned under DHX Media in a different form: in 2016 it was used for a London-based YouTube multi-channel network focused on children's content, including programming drawn from DHX properties and educational or toy-related material. In 2019, DHX Media renamed itself WildBrain and changed the name of the multi-channel-network unit to WildBrain Spark. These later developments continued the trademark and brand lineage but should not be conflated with the original American production studio.
- 2019
DHX Media rebrands as WildBrain
[1]The parent company adopts the WildBrain corporate name and renames its digital network WildBrain Spark.
- 2016
WildBrain digital network is launched
[1]DHX Media revives the name for a children's YouTube multi-channel network.
- 2012
Original studio is dissolved
[1]The historical American Wildbrain Entertainment studio ceases to operate as an independent production entity.
- 2010
DHX Media acquires the studio
[1]Wildbrain Entertainment is sold to DHX Media and becomes part of the Canadian company's production operations.
- 2007
The company adopts the Wildbrain Entertainment name
[1]The studio changes its branding from Wild Brain to Wildbrain Entertainment.
- 2004
Charles Rivkin becomes president and chief executive
[1]Rivkin joins Wild Brain and oversees development of Yo Gabba Gabba! for Nick Jr.
- 1999
Interfase Capital invests in Wild Brain
[1]Investment from Interfase Capital helps the studio expand its workforce and develop web, television, and commercial production.
- 1996
The company moves to the Mission District
[1]Wild Brain relocates to a large warehouse on 18th Street and York Street, supporting its expansion in San Francisco.
- 1994
Wild Brain is founded in San Francisco
[1]John Hays, Phil Robinson, and Jeff Fino establish the animation and entertainment company in San Francisco's Castro District.
Products and positioning
An independent, creator-led animation studio combining original entertainment development with production services for television, film, advertising, games, and digital media.
Television series · 2007
Yo Gabba Gabba!
A live-action and animated preschool entertainment series developed for Nick Jr. under Charles Rivkin's leadership at Wildbrain. The program combined music, performance, colorful character design, and short educational or behavioral segments. It became one of the studio's most recognizable television credits.
Animated television series · 2004
Higglytown Heroes
A children's animated series produced for Disney Channel. The program centered on a community of energetic characters and presented everyday workers as local heroes, forming part of Wildbrain's expansion into preschool and family television.
Animated television series · 2000
Poochini
An animated series featuring the adventures of a dog character. It was one of Wild Brain's early television properties and demonstrated the studio's ability to develop original character-driven animation for broadcast distribution.
Preschool television series · 2011
Bubble Guppies
Wildbrain produced the first season of this Nick Jr. preschool series. The program uses an underwater setting, musical presentation, and classroom-style segments to introduce young viewers to basic concepts and social learning.
Animated television specials and shorts · 2010
Monster High
Wildbrain produced earlier animated shorts and television specials connected with Mattel's Monster High property. The work extended the studio's production-services role into branded entertainment and toy-linked media.
Computer-animated short film · 2001
Hubert's Brain
An award-recognized computer-animated short produced by Wildbrain. Its Annie Award recognition illustrated the studio's standing in short-form animation and computer-generated production.
Advertising and branded content
Wildbrain commercial animation
The company created national commercials and branded animation for clients including Esurance, Chiclets, Target, Nike, Honda, Kraft, The Wall Street Journal, and Lamisil. Its advertising output included character animation, compositing, short-form storytelling, and campaign-specific design.
Marketing campaigns
- National commercial production
United States
Wildbrain produced animated and mixed-media advertising for a range of national brands, including Esurance, Chiclets, Target, Nike, Honda, Kraft, The Wall Street Journal, and Lamisil.
Outcome. The company's advertising work received Clio, ADDY, BDA, and Annie recognition.
Brand decisions
2019
DHX Media adopts the WildBrain corporate identityStrategyBackground
The WildBrain digital division had grown in prominence within DHX Media's children's entertainment and distribution activities.
Action taken
DHX Media announced that it would rebrand as WildBrain and rename its multi-channel-network business WildBrain Spark.
Aftermath
The corporate rebrand extended the WildBrain name beyond the historical American studio and established it as the identity of the successor company.
2016
Revival of WildBrain as a children's digital networkStrategyBackground
DHX Media sought to expand distribution of its children's properties through online video platforms.
Action taken
DHX revived the WildBrain name for a London-based YouTube multi-channel network serving children's programming and related educational and toy-oriented content.
Aftermath
The unit became part of the later WildBrain corporate structure and was renamed WildBrain Spark in 2019.
2010
Sale to DHX MediaM&ABackground
Wildbrain Entertainment had expanded beyond its original San Francisco base but was undergoing leadership and geographic changes.
Action taken
DHX Media acquired the studio and integrated it into its broader production organization.
Aftermath
The original studio was dissolved in 2012, while the WildBrain name was later reused for DHX's children's digital distribution activities.
Reported acquisition price. US$8 million (2010 acquisition)
2007
Rebrand from Wild Brain to Wildbrain EntertainmentStrategyBackground
The company was broadening its work across television, film, digital media, advertising, and licensed entertainment.
Action taken
The studio adopted the Wildbrain Entertainment name.
Aftermath
The name remained associated with the American studio until its acquisition and later dissolution, and was subsequently revived by DHX Media for a digital network.
Recent events
- 2019
DHX Media announces corporate rebrand as WildBrain[1]
Leadership change
DHX Media announced that it would adopt the WildBrain name, while the digital multi-channel-network division would operate as WildBrain Spark.
- 2016
DHX revives the WildBrain name for a children's YouTube network[1]
Other
DHX Media brought back the WildBrain name for a London-based multi-channel network distributing children's programming and related digital content on YouTube.
- 2012
Wildbrain Entertainment studio is dissolved[1]
Other
The original American studio ceased operations after its acquisition and transition into DHX Media's Los Angeles activities.
- 2010
DHX Media acquires Wildbrain Entertainment[1]
M&A
Canadian entertainment company DHX Media acquired the American animation studio, bringing Wildbrain's production activities into the DHX organization.
Sources1 sources
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