Tag Archives: Crew Pics

Marvel Animation studios: 1984

Here’s a post sent by my buddy Mark Lewis from the wayback machine in 1984 of the Marvel Animation Crew who I saw at the TAG Union Christmas Party. The studio developed from Depatie-Freleng Enterprises who made The original Pink Panther series as well as many of the original Bugs Bunny specials. You also might recognize the name Freleng as the surname of the famous Warner Bro;s director Friz Freleng. Yep that’s the guy!

A bit more from Mark:

I promised I’d send you that Marvel picture, so I thought I better hit it while it’s still fresh in my mind. It’s Marvel Productions, 1984. I don’t know who everybody is here, but it’s Larry Houston in the middle of that third row in the back (I think that might even be Stan Lee himself standing behind him!). Two to the right of Larry, I think that’s Rick Hoberg with the beard and mustache. Then down in the right corner crouching is Rob Dog. I actually ran into Rob at the party later in the evening!

Around this time they would have been making one of the following shows:

• Gallavants (1984)
• My Little Pony: Rescue at Midnight Castle (1984)
• The Transformers (1984) (Takara owns the Japanese rights (except for English license)
• Jim Henson’s Muppet Babies (1984)

Here’s an scan of a magazine article about the Marvel studio back in those days.

And here’s the inexpressible Wikipedia’s entry on Marvel at the time.

Marvel Productions (1981–1994)

Marvel Productions opened its Los Angeles studio in 1981.^[3] In 1984, Margaret Loesch joined Marvel Productions as President and Chief Executive Officer.^[5] MCG was owned from 1968 by Cadence Industries Corporation and was incorporate as Marvel Entertainment Group (MEG) and sold in 1986 to New World Pictures.^[6] With New World having cash flow problems, MEG was sold in January 1989 to Andrews Group, a MacAndrews and Forbes subsidiary, owned by Ronald Perelman. However, Marvel Productions was merged into New World’s television business.^[6] MP moved their offices from Van Nuys to West Los Angeles in May 1989.^[1] New World’s problems continued which lead them to also be acquired by the Andrews Group within the year.^[7]Loesch left for Fox Kids in 1990.^[8]

Click image for larger pic.

Here’s a crew pic from Disney’s Fish Hooks send by the multi-talented Mr. Warburton. Fish Hooks is a relatively unique show in that storyboard artists worked from an outline instead of a script and added their own dialog. Not many shows in the animation industry have ever been done like that and as far as I know there are only a few to date which are listed below. If I’ve missed any, let me know in the comments.

Phineas and Ferb-Disney
Fish Hooks-Disney
Ren and Stimpy-Nickelodeon
Chowder-Cartoon Network
Adventure Time – (first season)-Cartoon Network
Sponge Bob-Nickelodeon
Angry Beavers-Nickelodeon
Flapjack-Cartoon Network
Rocko’s Modern Life-Nickelodeon
Uncle Grandpa-Cartoon Network
The Regular Show-Cartoon Network

 More about Fish Hooks via Wikipedia:

Fish Hooks is an American animated television series created by Noah Z. Jones . Twenty-one episodes were ordered for the first season. It premiered on September 24, 2010.^[1] An 11-minute preview was shown on September 3, 2010, following the Disney Channel Original Movie, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. It also premiered on ABC Family on January 15, 2011, at 7/6c. The stars of Fish Hooks are former That’s So Raven and Cory in the House star Kyle Massey, Starstruck, Baby Daddy, and Jonas L.A.‘s Chelsea Kane, and Justin Roiland. Fish Hooks is also one of only six animated Disney Channel Original Series currently in production (along with Phineas and Ferb, Gravity Falls, Mickey Mouse, Wander Over Yonderand the upcoming Star and the Forces of Evil). A third season, as of 2013, is in production. On September 23, 2013, Tom Warburton announced that Season 3 will be the final season.^[2]

Click photo for larger pic

Here’s an international pic sent in by Sara Namjoo of the crew from The Iranian Lullabies; a 2012 show produced in Iran by Pooya TV!

From the Facebook Page:

Iranian Lullabies is a musical TV series in 13 short animated episode.The show tries to make a beautiful bedtime moments for children and parents accompany with varied local and national overviews and stories all around Iran.