CBS Eye Animation Productions

(Redirected from CBS Eye Animation)

CBS Eye Animation Productions is an American animation studio, division of CBS Studios owned by Paramount Global. The studio is closely associated with the Star Trek franchise with its first projects, Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy. CBS reinstated it as an animation division in late 2018 before its re-merger with Viacom in late 2019.[1][2]

CBS Eye Animation Productions
Company typeDivision
IndustryTelevision animation
PredecessorsTerrytoons
FoundedOctober 2018; 6 years ago (2018-10)
HeadquartersTelevision City, Los Angeles, California, US
Key people
Alec Botnick (head of animation)
ParentCBS Studios
DivisionsLate Night Cartoons, Inc.

Background

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In the 1950s, CBS began to invest further into television programs, creating many live shows as I Love Lucy and Captain Kangaroo. However, in 1955 CBS purchased Terrytoons from Paul Terry under CBS Films. After the deal's closure in 1956, CBS placed Terrytoons under the management of UPA's Gene Deitch (whom had already secured a contract with CBS). Deitch would soon produce animated Tom Terrific shorts for Captain Kangaroo in 1957. Terrytoons would continue animation under CBS until its closure in 1972 after the corporate spin-off of the original Viacom International.

Despite the change of operations, CBS would continue to air many animated programs such as Terrytoons (which they still owned) and Hanna-Barbera Productions through the 1970s and mid-1980s. Throughout the late 1980s and '90s, they acquired broadcasting rights to multiple series from different studios such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Garfield and Friends (both now owned by parent company Paramount Global), Muppet Babies (now owned by Disney), as well several toy-based shows.

The network would continue with broadcast syndication cartoons from several companies (such as Nelvana) up until the late 1990s. In the 2000s, CBS (now merged with Westinghouse) switched to licensing more educational shows. Viacom had also acquired CBS as it agreed to air Nickelodeon/Nick Jr. on CBS until 2006 (after Viacom & CBS' split).

CBS would later resume airing animated programs by launching Cookie Jar TV until 2013.

History

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In late 2018, CBS Studios unveiled CBS Eye Animation Productions to produce animated content for CBS All Access (now Paramount+). Star Trek: Lower Decks would become the first animated television series, followed by Star Trek: Prodigy (a co-production with sister studio Nickelodeon Animation Studio). Initially, the studio would only create shows based on the Star Trek franchise but has invested in other shows such as The Harper House and Showtime's Our Cartoon President, as well as critically acclaimed live-action/animated news program, Tooning Out the News.

On September 29, 2022, the CBS Eye Animation Productions employees formed a union with Animation Guild IATSE Local 839 to publicly submit a letter for voluntary recognition.[citation needed]

Late Night Cartoons, Inc.

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The Late Show host Stephen Colbert and his production company, Spartina Productions, founded Late Night Cartoons, Inc., an animation studio that has collaborated with developers of Adobe Character Animator to produce and provide real-time interactive animations for broadcast. Their topical productions range from a live interview with an animated cartoon version of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in 2016 to several animated series including; Showtime's Our Cartoon President, Paramount+/Comedy Central’s Tooning Out the News, and Comedy Central’s Fairview. Another series, Washingtonia, was announced with a trailer in October 2021, but has not been produced or aired as of 2024.[citation needed]

List of CBS Eye Animation Studios productions

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All productions are co-produced with CBS Studios (formerly CBS Television Studios).

TV series

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# Title Creator(s) / Developer(s) Years Co-production with Network Notes
2020s
1 Star Trek: Lower Decks Mike McMahan 2020–present Secret Hideout
Important Science
Roddenberry Entertainment
Titmouse, Inc.
CBS All Access
(2020)
Paramount+
(2021–present)
Based on the 1966 TV series and its spin-offs by Gene Roddenberry
2 The Harper House Brad Neely 2021 Neely Comics
219 Productions
Titmouse, Inc.
Paramount+
3 Star Trek: Prodigy Kevin and Dan Hageman 2021–2024 Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Secret Hideout
Roddenberry Entertainment
Brothers Hageman Productions
Paramount+ (2021–2022)
Nickelodeon (2021–2022)
Netflix (2024)
Based on the 1966 TV series and its spin-offs by Gene Roddenberry[3]
4 Everybody Still Hates Chris Sanjay Shah 2024–present Sanjay Shah Productions
CR Enterprises, Inc.
3 Arts Entertainment
Titmouse, Inc.
MTV Entertainment Studios
Comedy Central
Paramount+
Revival and sequel to Everybody Hates Chris[4][5]
Upcoming
5 Among Us Owen Dennis TBA Innersloth
Titmouse, Inc.
TBA Based on the video game by Innersloth[6]
6 Golden Axe Mike McMahan
Joe Chandler
Important Science
Original Film
Sega Sammy Group
Titmouse, Inc.
Sony Pictures Television
Comedy Central Based on the video game series by Sega[7]

TV specials

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# Title Year Co-production with Network Notes
1 Reindeer in Here 2022 The Tiny Toons Co.
Jam Filled Entertainment
CBS Based on the children's book by Adam Reed[8]

Late Night Cartoons, Inc.

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# Title Creator(s) / Developer(s) Years Co-production with Network Notes
2010s
1 Our Cartoon President Stephen Colbert
Chris Licht
Tim Luecke
R.J. Fried
Matt Lappin
2018–2020 Spartina Productions
Licht Media Solutions
Showtime Networks
Showtime
2020s
2 Tooning Out the News Stephen Colbert
R. J. Fried
Chris Licht
Tim Luecke
Zach Smilovitz
Mike Leech
2020–2023 Spartina Productions
Licht Media Solutions
RJ Fried Worldwide
CBS All Access
(2020)
Paramount+
(2021)
Comedy Central
(2022–2023)
3 Fairview R. J. Fried
Stephen Colbert
Chris Licht
Tim Luecke
Kim Gamble
Grant Gish
Mike Leech
Zach Smilovitz
2022 Spartina Productions
Licht Media Solutions
RJ Fried Worldwide
MTV Entertainment Studios
Comedy Central

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "CBS TV Studios Names New Head of Animation; Will Supervise Star Trek Animated Series". Daily Star Trek News. October 14, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "New Trek Animated Series Announced". Star Trek. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Barker, Andrew (October 13, 2021). "'Star Trek: Prodigy' Aims to Introduce the Series to a Younger Audience". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  4. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (August 2, 2022). "MTV Reanimates Chris Rock's Teen Years in 'Everybody Still Hates Chris'". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  5. ^ Schneider, Michael (June 18, 2024). "Chris Rock, Terry Crews, Tichina Arnold Reprise Roles in Comedy Central's 'Everybody Still Hates Chris' Animated Revival (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  6. ^ Otterson, Joe (June 27, 2023). "'Among Us' Animated Series in the Works at CBS Studios From 'Infinity Train' Creator Owen Dennis (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  7. ^ Petski, Denise (April 17, 2024). "'Golden Axe' Animated Series Based On Video Game Ordered By Comedy Central; Matthew Rhys, Danny Pudi Among Voice Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "CBS Unwraps First Look at Holiday Original 'Reindeer in Here'". September 16, 2022.