WildBrain (formerly known as DHX Media in 2006 until 2019) is a Canadian animation studio that based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. WildBrain's three divisions are Decode, DiC and Cinar.
History[]
The studio was founded in Montreal, Quebec circa 1976 as Cinar. by Ronald A. Weinberg and Micheline Charest and is widely known for Arthur, Caillou and among others. In 2000, a scandal arose when $122 million dollars (in U.S. money) were invested in Bahamas bank accounts without board members' approval. Ronald A. Weinberg was later charged with fraud, and was sentenced to 8 years of prison in June 2016. However, he was paroled on May 3, 2019.
In 2004 (the year that Charest died), in wake of the scandal, Cinar was renamed to Cookie Jar. In 2012, DHX Media announced they would acquire Cookie Jar (as well as DiC, who sold all rights in 2008 and produced Strawberry Shortcake) and Decode Entertainment, who also produced Rainbow Fish), and eventually, the company was folded into DHX in 2013. DHX would later be folded into WildBrain (whose named after an L.A.-based animation studio was recently acquired by Canada's DHX in 2010) in 2019.
HBO bought the U.S. rights to a few of Cinar's animated programs between 1995 and 1998.
In 2002-04, HBO aired the first season of Strawberry Shortcake for a short time and added on-demand, but it wasn't joined on both blocks' lineups: Jam and Magnet.
Programs on HBO Family[]
Note: Only several WildBrain's programs were aired on HBO (and, on HBO Family later), in addition HBO also joined to co-produce of WildBrain's animated series.
- Rainbow Fish (2000) (co-production with Sony Wonder and HBO - under Decode Entertainment)
- The Little Lulu Show (1995-1998) (co-production with Golden Books Family Entertainment [now part of NBCUniversal's Classic Media], TMO-Loonland and HBO)
- The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures (1997-1998) (co-production with Reader's Digest, WIC Entertainment, France Animation and HBO)
- The Adventures of Paddington Bear (1997-2000) (co-production with Protecrea, FilmFair and HBO)
- HBO Storybook Musicals (1987-1993; The Real Story of... episodes only) (co-production with France Animation and HBO)
- Strawberry Shortcake (2002; first season only) (co-production with American Greetings and HBO - under DiC)
Trivia[]
- Rival native-country animation studio Nelvana has also produced a few shows for HBO such as George and Martha.
Gallery[]
Cinar[]
Decode Entertainment[]
DiC Entertainment[]
Cookie Jar[]
DHX Media[]
