Buddy Studios

Logo used since 2010

**Buddy Studios, Inc.** (formerly **Buddy Entertainment, Inc.** until 2009) is an Australian motion picture and television animation production studio based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Founded on January 1, 2000 by Cal Brunker, Bob Barlen, Robert Baird, and Andrew Millstein, the company was an independent production studio, specializing in film and television production. On March 28, 2000, the company released its first feature, *Purple Squirrel*, which was released by Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Roadshow Entertainment. Released to critical acclaim, the film grossed $840 million worldwide against its production budget of $50 million.

In October 2009, with the release of *Hammy*, Buddy Entertainment reorganized its facility at its headquarters in Elizabeth Park, and had its company name changed to Buddy Studios, which is still used to present day. The company's official logo was shown on a release poster for *Purple Squirrel: The Reckoning*, and was first shown in-film in the opening logos. Released on January 1, 2010, the film became both a critical and commercial success, with the film grossing $1.8 billion worldwide against its production budget of $130 million, and won the 2011 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

On January 15, 2016, ToonBox Entertainment, a Canadian entertainment company, announced its plans to purchase most of Buddy Studios' assets for $39.8 billion. Paramount Global, at the time known as Viacom before the merger between CBS Corporation and Viacom, had intentions on acquiring the company, with other buyers including Warner Bros. Entertainment, Sony Pictures, The Walt Disney Company, and NBCUniversal. However, the latter four backed out of the bidding. On May 25, 2016, Buddy Studios approved the acquisition from the Canadian company. On July 5, ToonBox Entertainment announced the acquisition of Buddy Studios that was finalized on July 16.

On March 9, 2017, Buddy Studios CFO Bob Persichetti founded its animation division, Buddy Animation, which is based at the Buddy Studios headquarters in Elizabeth Park, Australia.

## History

### 2000-2009: Founding, creation of pre-branded movies

The film was founded on January 1, 2000 as Buddy Entertainment in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia by Cal Brunker, Bob Barlen, Robert Baird and Andrew Millstein.

### 2010-2015 Creating post-branded movies and continued success

 File:Buddy Studios (Brand Logo).png
TBA

### 2015-2020: New subsidiaries, founding of Buddy Animation, Buddy+ streaming service, Robert Baird and Andrew Millstein's departure and new head of operations

In 2015, with the success of motion pictures from Laughing Out Loud Entertainment, Buddy Studios founded the production company Fry and Lewis Productions, and is based in Los Angeles, California, making it its second subsidiary company. Bikini Bottom Pictures and Happy-Go-Lucky Studios, two American production studios, were both founded in 2016.

*More coming soon!*

On March 9, 2017, Buddy Studios CFO Bob Persichetti founded Buddy Animation, the animation division of the Sydney-based company, which is located in Melbourne. It, like Buddy Studios and its divisions, is owned by ToonBox Entertainment.

*More coming soon!*

In 2018, the company founded the streaming service Buddy+, an over-the-top streaming service, set to compete with Netflix and CBS All Access (now Paramount+). In December 2018, Robert Baird and Andrew Millstein left the company to work at Blue Sky Studios, leaving Cal Brunker and Bob Barlen as the only two remaining in the company in the higher power. Ita Buttrose, the CEO of the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), was appointed as the COO of Buddy Studios.

#### 2016: ToonBox Entertainment's acquisition of Buddy Studios

Further information: Acquisition of Buddy Studios by ToonBox Entertainment
On January 15, 2016, Canadian entertainment company ToonBox Entertainment proposed an acquisition of Buddy Studios for a price of $21.5 billion. Prior to ToonBox's planned acquisition of the company, Paramount Global (at the time known as Viacom, later ViacomCBS after the former merged with CBS Corporation), Warner Bros. Entertainment, Sony Pictures, The Walt Disney Company, and NBCUniversal had intentions of acquiring the company. But, on May 2, 2016, the latter five companies backed out of the bidding to purchase the company.

On May 25, 2016, Buddy Studios approved the acquisition from the Canadian company, though told ToonBox through corporate talks to pay $39.8 billion in the acquisition process. On July 5, 2016, ToonBox announced that the acquisition was in its finalization, and it was eventually completed on July 16, 2016. With the acquisition of the Australian-based studio, ToonBox acquired its divisions, which included its television production division, its short film division, its home entertainment division, its American, British, Canadian and international divisions, its family entertainment division, its cartoon studios division, and its violence studios division.

### 2021-present: Acquisition of Rhythm & Hues Studios, acquisition of former companies and new era of Buddy Studios

*Main article(s): Acquisition of Rhythm & Hues Studios by Buddy Studios*
In November 2020, Rhythm & Hues Studios ceased operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2021, Buddy Studios acquired the rights to Rhythm & Hues Studios, and re-branded the company to simply Rhythm & Hues, and is currently operating as Rhythm & Hues Animation. The company's first production under the ownership of Buddy Studios was *Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Second Part*, released in July 2022.

*More coming soon!*

## Divisions

* Buddy Television - founded in 2001
* Buddy Animation - founded in 2017
* Buddy Games - founded in 2000
* Buddy Shorts - founded in 2002
* Buddy Home Entertainment - founded in 2000
* Buddy Studios UK - founded in 2010
* Buddy Studios US - founded in 2010
* Buddy Studios Canada - founded in 2010
* Buddy Family Studios - founded in 2002
* Buddy Cartoon Studios - founded in 2012
* Buddy Violence Studios - founded in 2011
* Buddy Studios International - founded in 2008

## Subsidiaries

* Rhythm & Hues - founded and acquired by Buddy Studios in 2021, doing business as Rhythm & Hues Animation
* Happy-Go-Lucky Studios - founded in 2016
* Laughing Out Loud Entertainment - founded in 2010 as Funny Pictures, closed in 2015 and relaunched in 2016
* Touchstone Studios - founded in 1984, originally owned by Walt Disney Studios, closed in 2017 and acquired by Buddy Studios in 2018
* Vargskelethor Films - founded in 2019
* Bikini Bottom Pictures - founded in 2016
* Blue Sky Studios - founded in 1987, originally owned by 20th Century Studios, closed in 2021 and acquired by Buddy Studios in 2022
* Fry and Lewis Productions - founded in 2015
* Outfit7 Films - founded in 2021

## Projects

### Theatrical films

Every theatrical films will be produced or co-distributed by Buddy Studios.

#### Animated films

The studio's first animated film, *Purple Squirrel*, under the direction of Cal Brunker. Released on March 26, 2000, the film proved to be a commercial triumph, amassing a hefty $632 million in other territories and an impressive $840 million globally. Building on this triumph, the studio released their second animated flick, *V-Team*, on September 5, 2000. Helmed by Scott Bindley, the film featuring a team of furry animals garnered a worldwide box office collection of $720 million. Subsequently, Buddy Studios embarked on a movie adaptation of the popular television series, *Futurama*, debuting on January 21, 2001. This highly anticipated project, directed by David X. Cohen, attained commendable success, earning $420 million in the United States and Canada, alongside $514 million in other territories, resulting in an impressive worldwide total of $935 million. Concluding their early achievements, Buddy Studios released *Looney Tunes*, expertly directed by Joe Dante with co-direction by Eric Goldberg, on June 8, 2001. This film generated immense popularity and financial prosperity, grossing a staggering $978 million worldwide.

### Streaming films

Every streaming-exclusive film will be distributed by Buddy+.

## Filmography

*Main article(s): Lists of Buddy Studios films and List of Buddy Studios productions*

## Franchises

*Main article: List of Buddy Studios franchises*
This does includes the films made by Buddy Studios.

## Highest-grossing films

*Main article: List of highest-grossing films produced by Buddy Studios*
## Streaming platform

Template:Infobox streaming service
On August 18, 2017, Buddy Studios revealed plans for his own streaming platform. Buddy+, set to showcase original content from their various film and TV production studios, including Buddy Studios, will be developed by the company. Additionally, Cal and Bob confirmed that Buddy Studios would resume creating smaller-budgeted genre films for theatrical release, a venture they had halted a few years earlier. The announcement of nine films in production or development for Buddy+ was made on October 21, 2017. The budget for these films ranged from $120 million to $260 million. Buddy Studios plans to release about 3-4 films per year exclusively for Buddy+, in addition to their regular theatrical releases. Buddy+ was introduced on January 12, 2018, in the United States, Canada, and other regions, and it later expanded internationally. Within the first two months of its launch, Buddy Studios had already released three films exclusively for Buddy+.

* List of Buddy+ original films
* List of Buddy+ original series
* List of Buddy+ original specials
* List of Buddy+ Premier Access releases

## Logo

Logo: TBA

Music/Sounds: TBA

* Buddy Studios/Standard Logos
* Buddy Studios/Logo Variations
* Buddy Studios/Trailer Variations
* Buddy Studios/On-Screen Logos
* Buddy Studios/Print Logos
* Buddy Studios/Other

### Summaries

* Buddy Studios/Logo Variations/Summary
* Buddy Studios/Trailer Variations/Summary

## See also

* List of Buddy Studios employees
* List of Buddy Studios staff
* List of unproduced Buddy Studios projects
* List of unproduced Buddy Animation projects
* List of Buddy Animation employees
* List of Buddy Animation staff
* List of Buddy Studios and Buddy Animation pre-branded and branded logos
* List of Buddy Studios posters
* List of Buddy Animation posters