Big Idea Productions
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| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founder(s) | Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki |
| Industry | Animation productions |
Big Idea, Inc. is an American Christian computer animation production company best known for its VeggieTales series of Christian-themed family home videos and sometimes in co-production with Warner Home Video. The company is now a subsidiary of Classic Media, an American production company and distributor that has the rights to a large variety of children's properties. In January 2007, Classic Media was purchased by Entertainment Rights of London, England. On April 1, 2009, Entertainment Rights was acquired to Boomerang Media and is now under the right of Classic Media.[1]
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[edit] Company history
Big Idea Productions was originally founded in 1989 by Phil Vischer and officially launched in 1993 with its first film, Where's God When I'm S-Scared?. Rapidly growing out of space, in 1997, Big Idea decided to relocate out to the Chicago suburbs and purchased the DuPage Theater in Lombard, Illinois.[2] Delays for the completion of the renovation resulted from initial discovery of the disrepair of the building and lengthy zoning battles. In a pinch, the company was guided by City of Lombard officials to rent space at the Yorktown Center, also located in Lombard. The space was a two-story retail space formerly occupied by a Woolworth store.
Ultimately, the bankruptcy of the Montgomery Ward department store made the Yorktown Mall management realize that the entire end of the mall where Montgomery Ward had once been located would be useless until a new anchor store tenant was found and thus changed their minds and allowed Big Idea to renew its lease. Big Idea never moved out of Yorktown Mall until it was relocated after being purchased by Classic Media to Franklin, Tennessee, where it is still headquartered.[citation needed] Big Idea had maintained a separate office in the Nashville area since 1996 to facilitate its relationship with its video distributor.[citation needed] Classic Media sold Big Idea to London-based Entertainment Rights in 2007. In late March, Entertainment Rights sold its UK and US-based subsidiaries, including Big Idea, to Boomerang Media, which is headed by previous owners of Classic Media.[1]
[edit] VeggieTales history
VeggieTales is a series of English language children's computer animated films featuring anthropomorphic vegetables and conveying moral themes based on Christianity, spliced with joking references to pop culture and current events. VeggieTales was created by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki, who also provide many of the voices.VeggieTales has also been released as books, games, and many other branded items such as toys and clothing. Additionally, the series has been adapted for television broadcast on Qubo.[3]
[edit] Series produced by Big Idea
- VeggieTales: 1993–Present
- 3-2-1 Penguins: 1999–2003, 2007–Present (New television episodes have been produced for qubo)
- Larry-Boy: The Cartoon Adventures: 2002–2003, 2009-2010 Present (Original television episodes heave been produced for Gospel Music Channel)
[edit] Films
- Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002) (co-production with FHE Pictures)
- The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie (2008) (co-production with Universal Pictures)
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Boomerang buys Big Idea". ChristianCinema.com. April 6, 2009. http://www.christiancinema.com/catalog/newsdesk_info.php?newsdesk_id=996. Retrieved on 2009-05-15.
- ^ "Big Idea Productions, Inc. -- Company History". Funding Universe. http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Big-Idea-Productions-Inc-Company-History.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-15.
- ^ Munoz, Lorenza (September 23, 2006). "NBC Issues New Explanation for `VeggieTales' Cuts". Los Angeles Times. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/1134002121.html?dids=1134002121:1134002121&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Sep+23,+2006&author=Lorenza+Munoz&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=NBC+Issues+New+Explanation+for+`VeggieTales'+Cuts;+After+first+blaming+time+constraints,+the+network+says+some+references+to+God+were+edited+out+of+the+kids'+series+to+avoid+advocating+any+religion. Retrieved on May 15, 2009.
[edit] External links
- Official site
- Big Idea Productions, Inc. at the Internet Movie Database
- What Happened To Big Idea? article by Phil Vischer
