Multimedia Animation

Multimedia Animation was an American animation studio founded by animator Michael Wildshill. Initially established as Michael Wildshill Productions in 1975 by a small animation team of several CalArts graduates and former Walter Lantz Productions animators led by Wildshill, the studio negotiated with Universal Pictures to make the animated feature The Master of Colors. After the release of the studio's second feature film Gools, Wildshill severed its connection with Universal and negotiated with Paramount Pictures, which invested in and distributed two additional features, Biancabella and the Snake and The Workers. In 1988, the studio was bought by media company Multimedia, where it was split into two teams: Multimedia Animation and the television animation unit Gingo Animation. In 1992, Multimedia bought Red Cedar Animation and folded it into Multimedia Animation.

Wildshill was later drawn away from the studio when he was approached in early 1993 to set up a new animation studio for Universal. Multimedia Animation's films continued to suffer losses at the box office, and the studio was closed down in 1996 after the release of their final feature, Ghost Vision, which ended up being their highest-grossing film, following Multimedia's merger with Universal's then-parent company MCA Inc. Wildshill and much of the staff went on to head up Universal Feature Animation in Universal City, California to work on Ama and the Mysterious Crystal. As of 2020, Universal currently owns the rights to most of Multimedia Animation's back catalog.

Early founding / Wildshill and Universal (1975–1984)
In 1975, animator Michael Wildshill, who wanted to realize his dream of producing an animated feature-length film on his own, and a small team of fellow CalArts graduates alongside some of the top animation staff from the defunct Walter Lantz Productions established an independent animation studio called Michael Wildshill Productions to begin production on the animated feature film The Master of Colors for a 1981 release, with backing from Universal Pictures. Though generally well-received by critics, who praised the richness and fluidity of the animation, some found the narrative unsatisfying. The Master of Colors returned only a modest box office performance, which was blamed on distributor Universal's poor promotion, regionally staggered releases, and competition from Chariots of Fire, which had been released on the same week.

Split-up with Universal (1984–1988)
Wildshill followed up with his project Gools on December 21, 1984, and it received mixed reviews from critics. After that, Wildshill left Universal and signed a deal with Paramount Pictures. Paramount however released Wildshill's third film Biancabella and the Snake, which is an adaptation of the children’s book of the same name, for a 1986 release. Wildshill followed up by collaborating with 20th Century Fox for The Workers in 1987.

Multimedia Animation (1988–1993)
In 1988, Michael Wildshill Productions was sold to Multimedia and it helped launch the animation channel Gingo. Wildshill's production company was renamed to Multimedia Animation and established divisions oversaw by Michael Wildshill. They again teamed up with Universal Pictures on Liche's Wish in 1990.

In 1989, Wildshill signed a deal with Orion Pictures. Among them, the first picture out of the deal, The Three Princes and Their Beasts was supposed to be released in 1991, but it was delayed to 1993 due to Orion's bankruptcy. The next picture East of the Sun and West of the Moon was sold in the U.S. to Universal Pictures due to Orion's bankruptcy and released in 1992.

Decline (1993–1996)
Multimedia was working with Universal Pictures on Romeo & Juliet for a 1994 release, and with Warner Bros. Pictures and Columbia Pictures on Ghost Vision for a 1995 release.

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Universal Feature Animation (1993–present)

 * See also: Universal Animation

During the production of The Three Princes and Their Beasts in early 1993, Wildshill met with then-President of Universal's then-parent MCA Sid Sheinberg to discuss the creation of a feature animation division. While Wildshill wanted to remain at the Multimedia studio, arguing that because Universal effectively had a working animation studio already, Sheinberg wanted Wildshill to head up a new studio in Universal City, California instead. Wildshill intended to remain in North Hollywood to complete work on Ghost Vision, but when he was forced to make changes to the film he left the studio and began working with Sheinberg and John Cohen to set up Universal Feature Animation. After Multimedia was sold to MCA in 1996, operations at the Multimedia animation studio wound down. Many of the staff moved to the new Universal Feature Animation studio, and the studio closed its doors later the same year.

Working at the new Universal City animation facility, Wildshill worked on Universal Feature Animation's first film, Ama and the Mysterious Crystal, which was released on December 19, 1997. The studio's most recent film, Imagimals 2, was released on September 18, 2020.

Direct-to-video films
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Short films
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Television series
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Video games
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Other
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Cancelled projects

 * The Little Mermaid - During the production of The Master of Colors in late 1978, Michael Wildshill began work on an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Little Mermaid, which was closer to Andersen's story, notably in its preservation of the original and tragic ending. However, production was canceled in favor of Gools.
 * The Loathsome Dragon - In 1989, an animated feature film adaption of the children's book The Loathsome Dragon by David Wiesner and Kim Kahng was in the works at Multimedia Animation, but was canceled when Multimedia decided to make East of the Sun and West of the Moon as their next movie instead.
 * Arzach - In 1993, an adult animated film was in the works at Multimedia Animation that was based on the French Arzach comic book series by artist/author Jean 'Moebius' Giraud, which was originally published in the French sci-fi/fantasy comics magazine Métal Hurlant. However, its production was shut down after no news came and due to problems at Multimedia.
 * The Snowman - Around this time, Multimedia considered making a feature-length animated film adaptation of the children's picture book The Snowman by English author Raymond Briggs.
 * Tarzan of the Apes - In early 1994, Gabriel Garza writer Dianne Dixon was hired by Multimedia to write the screenplay for an animated film adaption of the story Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs, but it was canceled when Multimedia heard the news of Disney making an animated film adaption of Tarzan. After that, Multimedia Animation was folded into Universal Feature Animation.
 * Vixa and the Beast Hunters - This proposed concept was to be Multimedia's first computer-animated feature, but the film did not get beyond its planning stage. The canceled project was revealed 19 years after the film's conception.
 * Galaxy Melody - Took inspirations from Star Wars and Disney's Fantasia, this proposed CGI film was intended as a sci-fi comedy musical film, and to prove Multimedia's ability to create CGI films other than hand-drawn films. Multimedia spent six months on the project, developing several concept art and animation tests. However, most staff members, besides Michael Wildshill, were not passionate about the project, and thought it was "one-dimensional". As a result, Galaxy Melody was scrapped. According to Wildshill, Galaxy Melody is a lesson for Multimedia and its first failure.

Trivia
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