# Rough Draft Studios

Rough Draft Studios, Inc. is an American animation production studio based in Glendale, California, with a second studio in Glendale and its sister studio Rough Draft Korea located in Seoul, South Korea. The studio was founded in Van Nuys, Los Angeles by Gregg Vanzo in 1991.
Rough Draft Studios and its divisions have produced specials, commercials and direct-to-video work for companies such as Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, 20th Television Animation, MTV Animation, Film Roman, Disney Television Animation and Nickelodeon Animation Studio.

## Founding

Rough Draft Studios was founded in a Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California garage by Gregg and Nikki Vanzo. While working on The Ren & Stimpy Show, Nikki approached John Kricfalusi, creator of The Ren & Stimpy Show, about taking the animation to Korea. Nikki founded and runs Rough Draft Korea.

## Growth in business

After working on The Ren & Stimpy Show, many other shows requested the assistance of Rough Draft Korea in animation and ink & paint. In 1992, Rough Draft Studios had produced animation for its first feature film, FernGully: The Last Rainforest. In the same year, the studio began producing animation for The Simpsons and then for Beavis and Butt-Head in 1993. Also in 1993, Gregg's brother Scott Vanzo was brought on board. Rough Draft Korea quickly built a strong portfolio in the animation business with shows like their first series produced outside of South Korea The Maxx in 1995, which was nominated for an Annie Award. Claudia Katz, who had joined Rough Draft Studios in 1994 to produce The Maxx, and Rich Moore, joining in 1995 after having worked with Gregg on The Simpsons, completed the core of a Rough Draft Studios which would help "drive the cartoon boom of the late ‘90s". It was also in 1995 that Rough Draft Studios moved to Glendale, California, where they enjoyed further success.

## Technology

Rough Draft Studios is known for its blending of 2-D with computer animation, or non-photorealistic rendering which it first used on The Maxx and further utilized with Matt Groening's projects like Futurama, The Simpsons Movie, a few episodes of The Simpsons after the film and Disenchantment.

## Filmography
### Rough Draft Studios

Most projects produced by Rough Draft Studios, Inc. in Glendale, California are also animated overseas by Rough Draft Korea Co., Ltd. in Seoul, South Korea.

#### TV series

| Show | Year(s) | Client | Notes |
| 1990s ||||
| The Maxx | 1995 | MTV Animation | |
| Futurama | 1999–2003; 2008–2013; 2023–present | The Curiosity Company20th Television Animation | |
| 2000s ||||
| Baby Blues | 2000 | Warner Bros. Animation | 5 episodes |
| Star Wars: Clone Wars | 2003–2005 | LucasfilmCartoon Network Studios | |
| Drawn Together | 2004–2007 | Double-Hemm ProductionsComedy Partners | |
| Korgoth of Barbaria | 2006 | Williams Street | TV pilot |
| Sit Down Shut Up! | 2009 | Adelaide Productions20th Century Fox Television | |
| 2010s ||||
| Good Vibes | 2011 | Rough House PicturesWarner Horizon TelevisionMTV Production Development | "Pilot" |
| Napoleon Dynamite | 2012 | Hess FilmsScully Productions20th Century Fox Television | |
| Full English | 2012 | Two Brothers Pictures | |
| Coffin Dodgers | 2013 | Williams Street | TV pilot |
| Clash-a-Rama | 2014–2018 | Tolerable EntertainmentSupercell | Web series |
| Tarantula | 2017 | Rough House PicturesSolid Brass Studio T | |
| Disenchantment | 2018–2023 | The ULULU CompanyNetflix | |
| 2020s ||||
| Fired on Mars | 2023 | Pat & Mike Productions NN Productions | |

#### Films/specials

| Title | Year | Client | Notes |
| 1990s ||||
| The Thief and the Cobbler | 1992 | The Completion Bond Company | ink-and-paint |
| RoboCop 3 | 1993 | Orion Pictures | "Johnny Rehab" commercial animation |
| 2000s ||||
| The Whizzard of Ow | 2003 | Warner Bros. Animation | theatrical short |
| Duck Dodgers: Attack of the Drones | 2004 | Warner Bros. Animation | theatrical short produced in 2003 |
| Futurama: Bender's Big Score | 2007 | The Curiosity Company 20th Century Fox Television | direct-to-video |
| Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs | 2008 | The Curiosity Company 20th Century Fox Television | direct-to-video |
| Futurama: Bender's Game | 2008 | The Curiosity Company 20th Century Fox Television | direct-to-video |
| The Pink Panther 2 | 2009 | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Columbia Pictures | opening title sequence only |
| Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder | 2009 | The Curiosity Company 20th Century Fox Television | direct-to-video |
| 2010s ||||
| How Murray Saved Christmas | 2014 | Universal Television | TV special |
| 2020s ||||
| King Star King!/!/!/ | 2023 | Williams Street | TV special |

#### Other

* The Simpsons - "Deep, Deep Trouble" music video (overseas animation provided by Anivision)
* MADtv - Spy vs. Spy shorts
* 2003 Wendy's "Go Wild" and Sprint “Duck Naked” commercials starring the Looney Tunes characters, promoting Looney Tunes: Back in Action
* 59th Primetime Emmy Awards - Brian and Stewie Griffin opening number
* Gravity Falls - "Weirdmageddon 3: Take Back The Falls" (ShackTron CG animation)
* Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow
* DuckTales - "Moonvasion!" (additional animation)

### Rough Draft Korea

Rough Draft Korea, RDS' sister studio based in Seoul, South Korea, has produced animation for the following series, features and specials:

#### TV series

| Show | Year(s) | Client | Client | Notes |
| 1990s |||||
| The Ren & Stimpy Show | 1992–1995 | SpümcøGames Animation | SpümcøGames Animation | |
| The Simpsons | 1992–present | Gracie FilmsFilm Roman (1992–2016)20th Television Animation (2016–present) | Gracie FilmsFilm Roman (1992–2016)20th Television Animation (2016–present) | season 4–present |
| Beavis and Butt-Head | 1993–1997; 2011 | MTV Animation | MTV Animation | |
| The Critic | 1994–1995 | Gracie FilmsFilm Roman | Gracie FilmsFilm Roman | |
| The Brothers Grunt | 1994–1995 | A.k.a. Cartoon | A.k.a. Cartoon | |
| Timon & Pumbaa | 1995 | Walt Disney Television Animation | Walt Disney Television Animation | 8 shorts |
| Eek! Stravaganza | 1995 | Film Roman | Film Roman | Klutter! segments only |
| The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat | 1995–1996 | Film Roman | Film Roman | |
| The Nanny | 1995 | TriStar Television | TriStar Television | "Oy to the World" |
| Rocko's Modern Life | 1996 | Joe Murray ProductionsGames Animation | Joe Murray ProductionsGames Animation | "Fatal Contraption" and season 4 only with Sunwoo Entertainment |
| Dexter's Laboratory | 1996–1999; 2001–2003 | Hanna-Barbera (1996–1998)Cartoon Network Studios (2001–2003) | Hanna-Barbera (1996–1998)Cartoon Network Studios (2001–2003) | |
| Pinky and the Brain | 1996–1998 | Warner Bros. Animation | Warner Bros. Animation | |
| Jumanji | 1996 | Adelaide Productions | Adelaide Productions | 6 episodes of season 1 |
| What a Cartoon! | 1996–1997 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | "Buy One, Get One Free*", "The Zoonatiks, in Home Sweet Home" |
| King of the Hill | 1997–2001 | Deedle-Dee ProductionsJudgemental Films3 Arts Entertainment20th Television Animation | Deedle-Dee ProductionsJudgemental Films3 Arts Entertainment20th Television Animation | 30 episodes |
| The Angry Beavers | 1997–2001 | Gunther-Wahl ProductionsNickelodeon Animation Studio | Gunther-Wahl ProductionsNickelodeon Animation Studio | |
| Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | 1997 | HBO | HBO | 8 episodes of season 2 |
| Johnny Bravo | 1997 | Hanna-Barbera | Hanna-Barbera | Season 1 alongside Sunwoo Entertainment |
| Cow and Chicken | 1997–1999 | Hanna-Barbera | Hanna-Barbera | |
| I Am Weasel | 1997–2000 | Hanna-Barbera | Hanna-Barbera | |
| Daria | 1998 | MTV Animation | MTV Animation | Season 2 |
| CatDog | 1998–2001 | Peter Hannan Productions | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | with Saerom Animation |
| Oh Yeah! Cartoons | 1998–2001 | Frederator Studios | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | |
| The Powerpuff Girls | 1998–2005 | Hanna-Barbera (1998–2001)Cartoon Network Studios (2002–2005) | Hanna-Barbera (1998–2001)Cartoon Network Studios (2002–2005) | |
| Dilbert | 1999–2000 | Adelaide Productions | Adelaide Productions | 11 episodes |
| SpongeBob SquarePants | 1999–present | United Plankton Pictures | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | |
| ChalkZone | 1999–2000 | Frederator Studios | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | season 1 |
| Dragon Tales | 1999–2005 | Adelaide Productions | Adelaide Productions | |
| 2000s |||||
| Family Guy | 2000–2001 | Fuzzy Door Productions20th Television Animation | Fuzzy Door Productions20th Television Animation | eight episodes of season 2 (production order) |
| The Cartoon Cartoon Show | 2000–2001 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| Sammy | 2000 | Adelaide Productions | Adelaide Productions | |
| Jackie Chan Adventures | 2000–2002 | Adelaide Productions | Adelaide Productions | 13 episodes of seasons 1 and 2 |
| Sheep in the Big City | 2000–2002 | Curious Pictures | Curious Pictures | |
| The Oblongs | 2001 | Film Roman | Film Roman | |
| Samurai Jack | 2001–2004; 2017 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | seasons 1-4 and "XCVIII" |
| Grim & Evil | 2001–2004 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| Harold and the Purple Crayon | 2001–2004 | Adelaide Productions | Adelaide Productions | |
| Kim Possible | 2002–2007 | Walt Disney Television Animation | Walt Disney Television Animation | 22 episodes |
| Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law | 2002–2003 | Williams Street | Williams Street | episodes 2-9 |
| Whatever Happened to... Robot Jones? | 2002–2003 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| 3-South | 2002–2003 | Hentemann FilmsWarner Bros. Animation | MTV Animation | |
| Clone High | 2002–2003 | Touchstone TelevisionDoozerLord Miller ProductionsNelvana | MTV Animation | |
| My Life as a Teenage Robot | 2002–2006 | Frederator Studios | Nickelodeon Animation Studio |
| Codename: Kids Next Door | 2002–2008 | Curious Pictures | Curious Pictures | |
| The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy | 2001–2005 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | seasons 1-5 |
| Evil Con Carne | 2001–2004 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| Danny Phantom | 2004–2007 | Billionfold Inc. | Nickelodeon Animation Studio |
| American Dad! | 2005 | Underdog ProductionsFuzzy Door Productions20th Television Animation | Underdog ProductionsFuzzy Door Productions20th Television Animation | Unaired pilot episode only |
| The Life & Times of Juniper Lee | 2005–2007 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| Catscratch | 2005–2007 | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | |
| Camp Lazlo | 2005–2008 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| Sunday Pants | 2005 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | "Periwinkle Around the World" |
| The X's | 2005–2006 | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | |
| Squirrel Boy | 2006–2007 | | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| Korgoth of Barbaria | 2006 | Williams Street | Cartoon Network Studios | TV pilot |
| American Dragon: Jake Long | 2006–2007 | Walt Disney Television Animation | Walt Disney Television Animation | Season 2 |
| Class of 3000 | 2006–2008 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | 14 episodes |
| Random! Cartoons | 2006–2007 | Frederator Studios | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | |
| The Modifyers | 2007 | | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | TV pilot |
| Tom and Jerry Tales | 2007–2008 | Warner Bros. Animation | Warner Bros. Animation | 5 episodes of season 2 |
| Phineas and Ferb | 2007–2012 | Disney Television Animation | Disney Television Animation | Seasons 1-3 |
| The Replacements | 2008–2009 | Disney Television Animation | Disney Television Animation | Season 2 |
| The Mighty B! | 2008–2011 | Paper Kite ProductionsPolka Dot PicturesNickelodeon Animation Studio | Paper Kite ProductionsPolka Dot PicturesNickelodeon Animation Studio | |
| The Cartoonstitute | 2009 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| 2010s |||||
| Adventure Time | 2010–2018 | Frederator Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | with Saerom Animation |
| Sym-Bionic Titan | 2010–2011 | Orphanage Animation Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| The Looney Tunes Show | 2011–2013 | Warner Bros. Animation | Warner Bros. Animation | |
| Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | 2012 | Warner Bros. Animation | Warner Bros. Animation | "The Night the Clown Cried" and "The Night the Clown Cried II" |
| Gravity Falls | 2012–2016 | Disney Television Animation | Disney Television Animation | 23 episodes |
| Ben 10: Omniverse | 2012–2014 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| Nickelodeon Animated Shorts Program | 2013–2018 | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | "Bug Salad", "Ice Station Zedonk", "Magic Children Doing Things", "Someone Needs to Stop Aunt Phyllis", "Camp Weedonwantcha" |
| Uncle Grandpa | 2013–2017 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| Steven Universe | 2013–2019 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | with Sunmin Image Pictures |
| Star vs. the Forces of Evil | 2015–2019 | Disney Television Animation | Disney Television Animation | "Blood Moon Ball", Season 2 until season 4 |
| We Bare Bears | 2015–2019 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | with Saerom Animation |
| Wabbit | 2015–2016 | Warner Bros. Animation | Warner Bros. Animation | Season 1 |
| Bug Salad | 2016 | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | web shorts |
| Billy Dilley's Super-Duper Subterranean Summer | 2017 | Disney Television Animation | Disney Television Animation | |
| Craig of the Creek | 2017–2025 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| Summer Camp Island | 2017–2023 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| Big City Greens | 2018–present | Disney Television Animation | Disney Television Animation | with Sugarcube Animation |
| Amphibia | 2019–2022 | Disney Television Animation | Disney Television Animation | with Saerom Animation and Sunmin Image Pictures |
| Steven Universe Future | 2019–2020 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | with Sunmin Image Pictures |
| 2020s |||||
| The Owl House | 2020–2023 | Disney Television Animation | Disney Television Animation | with Sunmin Image Pictures and Sugarcube Animation |
| Chibi Tiny Tales | 2020–present | Disney Television Animation | Disney Television Animation | interstitial series |
| Tig n' Seek | 2020–2022 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years | 2021 | United Plankton PicturesNickelodeon Animation Studio | United Plankton PicturesNickelodeon Animation Studio | "Kitchen Sponge", "Outhouse Outrage" and "Help Not Wanted" (2D sequences only) |
| The Patrick Star Show | 2021–present | United Plankton PicturesNickelodeon Animation Studio | United Plankton PicturesNickelodeon Animation Studio | |
| We Baby Bears | 2022–present | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | with Saerom Animation |
| Chibiverse | 2022–present | Disney Television Animation | Disney Television Animation | |
| Hailey's On It! | 2023–2024 | Disney Television Animation | Disney Television Animation | with Saerom Animation |
| Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake | 2023–present | Cartoon Network StudiosFrederator Studios | Cartoon Network StudiosFrederator Studios | with Saerom Animation |
| Jessica's Big Little World | 2023–2024 | Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios | with Saerom Animation |

#### Films/specials

| Title | Year | Client | Notes |
| 1990s ||||
| FernGully: The Last Rainforest | 1992 | 20th Century Studios Kroyer Films | |
| P. J. Sparkles | 1992 | Mike Young Productions | opening titles |
| The Bears Who Saved Christmas | 1994 | Film Roman | |
| Izzy's Quest for Olympic Gold | 1995 | Film Roman | |
| Beavis and Butt-Head Do America | 1996 | Paramount Pictures MTV Films Geffen Pictures Judgemental Films | overseas animation, 3-D sequences |
| The Story of Santa Claus | 1996 | Film Roman | |
| A Day in the Life of Ranger Smith | 1999 | Spümcø | |
| Boo Boo Runs Wild | 1999 | Spümcø | Uncredited |
| Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip | 1999 | Hanna-Barbera | |
| 2000s ||||
| The Flintstones: On the Rocks | 2001 | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| The Powerpuff Girls Movie | 2002 | Warner Bros. Pictures Cartoon Network Studios | |
| Globehunters: An Around the World in 80 Days Adventure | 2002 | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | produced in 2000 |
| The Electric Piper | 2003 | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | produced in 2000 |
| Polly Pocket: Lunar Eclipse | 2003 | Mike Young Productions | |
| Stitch! The Movie | 2003 | Disney Television Animation | |
| The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie | 2004 | Paramount Pictures Nickelodeon Movies United Plankton Pictures | |
| Inside the CIA | 2005 | 20th Century Studios Underdog Productions Fuzzy Door Productions | Short |
| Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama | 2005 | Disney Television Animation | |
| How to Eat Fried Worms | 2005 | New Line Cinema Walden Media | Animated sequences |
| The Simpsons Movie | 2007 | 20th Century Studios 20th Century Animation Gracie Films | also co-produced overseas with AKOM |
| Phineas and Ferb's Musical Cliptastic Countdown | 2009 | Disney Television Animation | |
| 2010s ||||
| Phineas and Ferb: Summer Belongs To You! | 2010 | Disney Television Animation | |
| Achmed Saves America | 2012 | Anchor Bay Entertainment | |
| Hotel Transylvania | 2012 | Columbia Pictures Sony Pictures Animation | End title sequence |
| Madea's Tough Love | 2015 | Lionsgate Tyler Perry Studios Bento Box Entertainment | |
| The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water | 2015 | Paramount Pictures Paramount Animation Nickelodeon Movies United Plankton Pictures | 2D hand-drawn animated sequences only |
| Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run | 2015 | Warner Bros. Animation | |
| Hotel Transylvania 2 | 2015 | Columbia Pictures Sony Pictures Animation | End title sequence |
| Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation | 2018 | Columbia Pictures Sony Pictures Animation | End title sequence |
| Steven Universe: The Movie | 2019 | Cartoon Network Studios | |
| 2020s ||||
| We Bare Bears: The Movie | 2020 | Cartoon Network Studios | |