Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Back At Warner Bros. Animation

I haven't been to WB Animation at the old Columbia (now Warners) ranch for the longest time. There just wasn't much to see there, actually. A few artists doing Batman and the occasional DVD, but outside of that ... lots of empty cubicles.

But that's changed ...

I bopped through WBA this week and discovered the place is, if not bursting at the seams, is way busier than it's been for quite awhile. Lots of cubicles are occupied, lots of offices are humming.

"It's hectic and crazy right now, but better hectic than semi-ghost town."

Warners has got three series happening or about to happen, each with 26 episode orders. And there are three DVD features soon to be in work. One of the super hero staffers informed me: "I'm getting laid off next week, but I'm getting recalled for the newer shows in May. Usually I get laid off without any recall, so this is a good feeling ..."

Another artist said:

"You know, they're finally doing some synergistic stuff around here, getting more shows on Cartoon Network. Sam Register, our new top-kick, is a creative guy, a good development guy. He knows story and he's pushing to get more quality things going. They've had some real glitches in the recent past, and Warners has been fallow way too long, but the place is coming back to life ..."

Warner Bros. Animation is located -- if you didn't know -- in an expansive cluster of trailers at the Ranch, also in a building near the corner of the property. (This is about a mile and a half from where the new Warner Bros. Animation mural is stapled to the end of a sound stage on the main lot. They unveiled the art piece last night, and I don't suppose it qualifies as some of the "art" that the Burbank City Fathers require Burbank businesses to put up.)

I'm only glad that my whining about "no synergy" between Time-Warner animation companies has now proven to be somewhat inaccurate. Now ... if we can just get rid of some of the damn live action cluttering up Cartoon Network, we'll be all set ...

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Now ... if we can just get rid of some of the damn live action cluttering up Cartoon Network, we'll be all set ...

I don't understand why Time-Warner can't just create a new kids channel, rather than turning their animation channel into one...

Anonymous said...

Yeah. If Hannah Montana would get knocked up or get caught snorting coke that would be a shot in the arm for all of us. I've had enough of this trashy live action poisoning America's youth when we could be earning big bucks poisoning their limp little minds with cartoons.

Mooch Jackson said...

Hey Steve, can you give us any clue on what the third WBA series might be about? If it's a DC show, an Hanna-Barbera revival or a Looney Tunes series?

And how is the new Scooby designs for the umpteenth Scooby show (Given notion in fact Scooby is entering 40 years in October)?

Steve Hulett said...

Hey Steve, can you give us any clue on what the third WBA series might be about?

I've been told, but sworn to secrecy.

Sorry.

Mooch Jackson said...

So, will Sam Executive Produce all of the series, then?

Second, the synergy part, that means WBA's getting along with CN Studios or CN?

When's your next visit to WBA?

And does WBA have a new logo with a Tex Avery like Bugs Bunny?

Steve Hulett said...

What is this? Twenty questions?

Mooch Jackson said...

Eh, sorry. I'm just fascinated about WBA. Sorry Mr. Hulett.

Anonymous said...

Steve, just floating again...we could always go to union members only ; D

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