Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox company 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]
Background
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
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.
Late Night Cartoons, Inc.
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.
List of CBS Eye Animation Studios productions
All productions are co-produced with CBS Studios (formerly CBS Television Studios).
TV series
TV specials
| # | 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.
| # | 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 Template:Small Paramount+ Template:Small Comedy Central Template:Small |
|
| 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
References
Template:Star Trek Template:CBS Eye Animation Template:Paramount Animation Template:Paramount theatrical animated features Template:Animation industry in the United States Template:Paramount Global Template:Authority control