DreamworkS Animation HistorY...
1994
DreamWorks SKG is formed in October by its three principal partners — Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen — to produce live-action motion pictures, animated feature films, network and cable television programming, home video entertainment, records, books, toys and consumer products. Development and pre-production begins on the company’s first animated feature, The Prince Of Egypt.
1995
The animation division begins development and pre-production on several more animated features, among them The Road To El Dorado and Shrek.
1996
DreamWorks forms a partnership with Pacific Data Images (PDI), the Northern California-based animation and visual effects production studio and the two companies form a partnership to produce animated features, starting with Antz.The company breaks ground on a state-of-the-art, 14-acre animation campus in Glendale, Calif.
1998
In early January, the animation division moves to the new Glendale campus from its previous facility a few miles away in Burbank. PDI’s first computer-animated feature film, Antz, directed by Eric Darnell and Tim Johnson, is released on October 2nd.DreamWorks releases the animated epic-adventure, The Prince Of Egypt, directed by Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner and Simon Wells.Development and pre-production begins on Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron. Nick Foster receives an Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Technical Achievement Award for his software development in the field of water simulation systems. Toonsylvania, DreamWorks’ first foray into TV animation, launches on the Fox Kids Network in January. Directed by Bill Kopp and Jeff DeGrandis, the show was executive produced by Steven Spielberg. Invasion America , DreamWorks’ first prime-time animated series for television, launches in March on the WB Network. The show was executive produced by Harve Bennett and Steven Spielberg.
AntzThe Prince of EgyptToonsylvaniaInvasion America
1999
DreamWorks signs an exclusive multi-picture deal with the Academy Award®-winning British animation studio, Aardman Animations. Antz is recognized by the Motion Picture Sound Editors with a Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing - Music for an Animated Feature. The Prince Of Egypt receives an Academy Award® for Best Original Song (When You Believe ) with music & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. The Prince Of Egypt and Antz rank among the top five best-selling videos of 1999.
2000
DreamWorks SKG acquires the majority interest in PDI. The new company is called PDI/DreamWorks. The animated comedy The Road To El Dorado , directed by Bibo Bergeron and Don Paul, is released domestically on March 31st.Aardman’s first animated feature, Chicken Run , is released through DreamWorks Pictures. Directed by Nick Park and Peter Lord, the film goes on to become one of the best-reviewed films of the year. The film is also among the top 10 best selling videos of 2000. DreamWorks Home Entertainment launches its first direct-to-video animated feature, Joseph: King Of Dreams. Chicken Run is nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and receives critics’ awards nationwide. The film also receives a Golden Reel Award from the Motion Picture Sound Editors for Best Sound Editing in Music for Animation.
The Road to El DoradoChicken RunJoseph: King of Dreams
2001
Shrek opens nationwide on May 16th. Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, the film goes on to gross more than $479 million in worldwide box office receipts. The movie also holds the distinction of being the first animated film in 48 years to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Shortly thereafter, plans are announced to produce a sequel to the blockbuster, and the studio’s first animated franchise is born. Shrek goes on to become the best-selling DVD of all-time in North America, and still ranks among the top best sellers ever with over 50 million units sold.
HP became DreamWorks’ preferred technology provider in October.
Shrek
2002
Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron opens nationwide on May 24th. Directed by Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook, the film receives an Academy Award® nomination for Best Animated Feature. It premieres at the Cannes Film Festival with a live performance of the music by Grammy Award®-winning singer/songwriter Bryan Adams and Oscar®-winning composer Hans Zimmer.Production begins on two exciting new projects — the computer-animated comedy, Madagascar and Aardman’s next stop-motion feature, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit. Shrek wins the first-ever Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature on March 24th and receives an Academy Award® nomination for Best Original screenplay. The film also wins a BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, eight Annie Awards, two People’s Choice Awards and awards from various critics’ groups. Dick Walsh is awarded an American Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Technical Achievement Award for the development of the PDI/DreamWorks Facial Animation System.
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
2003
The interactive theme park experience Shrek 4D premieres at Universal Studios’ Los Angeles park on Memorial Day weekend. Later that summer, Shrek 4D also launches in Orlando, Florida, and Osaka, Japan. Directed by Patrick Gilmore and Tim Johnson, Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas opens nationwide on July 2nd.Production begins on Shark Tale , the first fully computer-animated film to be made at the Glendale studio. Bee Movie , an animated comedy written, produced by and starring Jerry Seinfeld, is announced and begins development and pre-production.
Shrek 4DSinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas
2004
DreamWorks spins off DreamWorks Animation SKG in an initial public offering. DreamWorks Animation SKG acquires the remaining minority interest in PDI/DreamWorks. Jeffrey Katzenberg is named chief executive officer, Ann Daly is named chief operating officer, Katherine Kendrick is named general counsel and Kristina M. Leslie is named chief financial officer. Shortly thereafter, Roger Enrico, formerly CEO of Pepsico, Inc., is named executive chairman. Shrek 2 is released nationwide on May 19th to a $108 million opening weekend domestically. It goes on to gross more than $915 million worldwide and becomes the then third highest grossing domestic release of all time at more than $436 million in U.S. box office receipts. It also becomes the highest-grossing animated film of all time. Shrek 2 premieres at the Cannes Film Festival and is nominated for the Palme d’Or. It is also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song, for Accidentally in Love. Shrek 2 sets an all-time record selling over 30 million units in just over four weeks (worldwide). Shark Tale, the first computer animated film to be made at the Glendale studio, opens on October 1st. The film goes on to gross more than $367 million in worldwide box office receipts. The film holds its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in the historic Piazza San Marco to an audience of over 5,000 moviegoers, marking the first time ever that the piazza was closed for the premiere of a major feature film. Father Of The Pride, a prime-time computer animated comedy, debuts on NBC. Following the success of Shrek 2, development and pre-production begins on Shrek 3.
Shrek 2Shark TaleFather of the Pride
2005
DreamWorks Animation SKG announces that it has reached a seven-year distribution agreement with Paramount Pictures for the rights to distribute DreamWorks Animation films in theatrical, home entertainment and television markets worldwide. Lew Coleman, DreamWorks Animation board member and former vice chairman and chief financial officer of Bank of America, is named president of DreamWorks Animation. PDI/DreamWorks’ fourth computer animated film, Madagascar, is released on May 27th to a $47 million opening weekend. To date, the film has gone on to gross more than $530 million in worldwide box office receipts. The film is also featured in the Electronic Theater at Siggraph 2005. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit , Aardman’s second stop-motion animation feature, is released on October 5th to great critical acclaim. The film has grossed more than $180 million in worldwide box office to date. Madagascar and Shark Tale are among the five top-selling DVDs of 2005. In September, DreamWorks Animation unveils its future slate of six new computer-animated comedies – Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar 2, How To Train Your Dragon, Rex Havoc, It Came From Earth and Route 66. Shrek 2 receives two Academy Award® nominations — for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, Accidentally in Love. Shark Tale is nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature. AMD and DreamWorks Animation announce a three-year strategic alliance naming AMD the Preferred Processor Provider for DreamWorks Animation and enabling the company to experience significant advantages in its computer-generated filmmaking process. DreamWorks Animation and McDonald’s Corporation announce a two-year worldwide marketing and promotional relationship.established begins with Flushed Away in the fall of 2006.
Wallace & Gromit:The Curse of the Were-RabbitMadagascar
2006
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit wins the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film, in additon to several other awards.
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