Saban Entertainment

This article is about Saban Entertainment. For Saban Entertainment Group, see Saban Capital Group.

Saban Entertainment

logo used from 1996 to 2002
Industry	Animation, production
Fate	Acquired by The Walt Disney Company
Successor(s)	BVS Entertainment Saban Brands (Certain properties reacquired from Disney)
Founded	1984 (defunct 2002)
Headquarters	Los Angeles California United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Haim Saban Shuki Levy
Products	Television programs Theatrical films
Parent	Fox Kids Worldwide/Fox Family Worldwide (1996-2001) The Walt Disney Company [2001-2002 (defunct)]

Saban Entertainment (along with Saban International, which operated outside the US) was a worldwide-served independent American television production company formed in 1984 by music and television producers Haim Saban and Shuki Levy as "Saban Productions", a U.S. subsidiary of "Saban International Paris" (now SIP Animation).

This company was known for importing, dubbing, and adapting several Japanese series such as, Maple Town (...Stories), Noozles (Fushigi na Koala Blinky and Printy), Funky Fables (Video Anime Ehonkan Sekai Meisaku Dowa), Samurai Pizza Cats (Kyatto Ninden Teyande), Dragon Ball Z and the first three Digimon series to North America and international markets for syndication, including both animation and live action shows.

Saban was involved in the co-production of French/American animated shows created by Jean Chalopin for DIC Entertainment. Some of these early 1980s co-productions were Camp Candy, Ulysses 31, Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors, and The Mysterious Cities of Gold (the third of which was a Japanese co-production).

Saban is also notable for their various toku adapts, which include Power Rangers (based on the Super Sentai series), Beetleborgs (based on Juukou B-Fighter), VR Troopers (featuring elements of Metal Hero Series Space Sheriff Shaider, Jikuu Senshi Spielban and Choujinki Metalder), and Masked Rider (an original interpretation using scenes from the Japanese Kamen Rider Black RX).

Saban has also provided music for various TV programs, such as The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! and Inspector Gadget.

History

Early operation

Saban logo used from 1988 - 1996, that consists of a globe containing the word "SABAN" above three contrasting lines which partially penetrate the globe.

Saban Entertainment was formed in 1984 as "Saban Productions". The first Saban logo depicted a Saturn-Like planet with the word "Saban" going across the planet's ring. The planet had five lines under the word "Productions". Several years later, the company created "Saban International" (now Disney-ABC International Television), for international distribution of its shows (note: though used interchangeably with "Saban International Paris", they were technically two different entities). In 1988 the company renamed itself "Saban Entertainment".

In 1986, Saban Productions bought the foreign rights to the DIC Entertainment library of children’s programming, and then sold the rights to Jean Chalopin. DIC then sued Saban for damages and in 1991, DIC and Saban reached a settlement.

New World Animation (The Incredible Hulk), Saban (X-Men), and Marvel Films Animation (Spider-Man) each produced a Marvel series for television.

In August 1996, Saban secured rights from Marvel Entertainment Group for Captain America, Daredevil and Silver Surfer and additional characters to be developed into four series and 52 episodes over seven years.

In 1996, Fox Children's Productions merged with Saban Entertainment to form Fox Kids Worldwide.

Marvel was developing a Captain America animated series with Saban Entertainment for Fox Kids Network to premier in fall 1998. However, due to Marvel's bankruptcy the series was canceled before the premier. Ironically, both Marvel and Saban would become parts of the The Walt Disney Company; Saban (renamed BVS Entertainment) in 2002 and Marvel by the end of 2009.

Renaming

On July 23, 2001, it was announced that the group would be sold to The Walt Disney Company as part of the sale of Fox Family Worldwide (now ABC Family Worldwide Inc.) by Haim Saban and News Corporation, and on October 24, 2001, the sale was completed and the group was renamed BVS Entertainment. Saban Entertainment's last program produced was Power Rangers Time Force.

Sensation Animation

Sensation Animation was a renamed Saban Entertainment to continue dubbing Digimon episodes from 2002 to 2003. His only production was Digimon Frontier in 2003, Digimon Data Squad was dubbed by the same Disney.

Saban International Paris

Saban International Paris, later SIP Animation, was a television production company based in France that operated from 1977 to 2008.

History

Saban International Paris was found in France by Haim Saban and Jacqueline Tordjman in 1977 as a television production company. In 1983, SIP moved into the animation field. Saban departed the company in 2001 with the purchase of Fox Family Worldwide, which was followed by The Walt Disney Company taking a stake in the company and a name change to SIP Animation on October 1, 2002. SIP co-produced a few animated series with Jetix Europe during the 2000s. SIP Animation was closed in 2008.

List of television series and films

Notes

• With the exception of Pinocchio, produced by "Saban International Paris"; some or most series had all but featured the "Saban's" corporate bug in their title.
• The Marvel Comics-based properties were acquired from New World Communications. They were all originally produced by Grantray-Lawrence Animation, DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and its successor Marvel Productions respectively.

1960s

• The Marvel Super Heroes (1966)
• Spider-Man (1967–1970)

1970s-1980s

• Fantastic Four (1978)
• Spider-Woman (1979–1980)
• The Hallo Spencer Show (1979–2001)
• Spider-Man (1981–1982)
• Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981–1983)
• The Incredible Hulk (1982-1983)
• Dungeons and Dragons (1983–1985)
• Kidd Video (1984–1985)
• Kids! (1984–1990)
• Button Nose (1985)
• Kidsings (1985–1996)
• Macron 1 (1985–1986)
• Bumpety Boo (1985–1986)
• Care Bears (1985-1986) (DiC episodes, international distribution)
• Spartakus and the Sun Beneath the Sea [a. k. a. Les Mondes Engloutis ("The Englufed Worlds")] (1985–1987)
• Kissyfur (1986–1990)
• Maple Town (1986–1987)
• Lazer Tag Academy (1986–1987)
• My Favorite Fairy Tales (1986) (video series)
• ALF: The Animated Series (1987-1989)
• Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics (1987–1989)
• I'm Telling! (1987–1988)
• The New Archies (1987-1988)
• Ox Tales (1987–1988)
• Diplodos (1987–1988)
• Noozles (1988–1993)
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1988)
• Tales of Little Women (1988)
• Treasure Mall (1988)
• Wowser (1988–1989)
• The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! (1989–1990) (international distribution)
• Dragon Warrior: Legend of the Hero Abel (1989–1991)
• Peter Pan: The Animated Series (1989)

1990s-2000s

• Saban's Adventures of Oliver Twist (1990–1991)
• Samurai Pizza Cats (1990–1991)
• Kid 'n Play (1990–1991)
• Video Power (1990–1992)
• Kabatotto (1990–1992)
• Maya the Bee (1990–1992)
• Saban's Kids Dinky Doo (1990–1994)
• Little Shop (1991)
• The Littl' Bits (1991–1995)
• Honeybee Hutch (1991–1992)
• Saban's Adventures of the Little Mermaid (1991–1992)
• Saban's Kids in Chorus and Kids in Instruments (1991–1995)
• Jin Jin and the Panda Patrol (1992)
• Pinocchio: The Series (1992)
• Huckleberry Finn (1992)
• Bob in a Bottle (1992)
• Scorch (1992)
• Funky Fables (1992) (video series released under the brand "Sugar & Spice")
• Saban's Around the World in 80 Dreams (1992–1993)
• Saban's Gulliver's Travels (1992–1993)
• X-Men (1992–1997)
• Saban's Children's Sing-a-Long (1992–1996)
• The Bots Master (1993–1994)
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993–1995)
• Journey to the Heart of the World (1993–1994)
• BattleTech: The Animated Series (1994)
• Super Pig (1994–1995)
• VR Troopers (1994–1996)
• Iron Man (1994–1996)
• Fantastic Four (1994–1996)
• Creepy Crawlers (1994–1996)
• Sweet Valley High (1994–1997)
• Spider-Man (1994–1998)
• Masked Rider (1995–1996)
• Teknoman (1995–1996)
• Space Strikers (1995–1996)
• Tenko and the Guardians of the Magic (1995–1996)
• Goosebumps (1995–1998) (International distribution only)
• Iznogoud (1995)
• Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers (1996)
• Power Rangers Zeo (1996)
• Eagle Riders (1996–1997)
• The Incredible Hulk (1996–1999)
• Bureau of Alien Detectors (1996–1997)
• The Mouse and the Monster (1996–1997)
• The Why Why Family (1996–1997)
• Big Bad Beetleborgs (1996–1998)
• Dragon Ball Z (1996–1998) (Seasons 1 and 2 only)
• Power Rangers Turbo (1997)
• Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (1997–1998)
• The All New Captain Kangaroo (1997–1998)
• Princess Sissi (1997–1998)
• Power Rangers in Space (1998)
• Silver Surfer (1998)
• Walter Melon (1998–1999)
• Bad Dog (1998–1999)
• Mad Jack the Pirate (1998–1999)
• Flint the Time Detective (1998–1999)
• Mister Moose's Fun Time (1998–1999)
• The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs (1998–1999)
• The Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog (1998–1999)
• Monster Farm (1998–1999)
• Cartoon Cabana (1998–2002)
• Power Rangers Lost Galaxy (1999)
• Digimon Adventure (1999–2000)
• Monster Rancher (1999–2000)
• Spider-Man Unlimited (1999, 2000–2001)
• The Avengers: United They Stand (1999–2000)
• The Kids from Room 402 (1999–2002)
• Xyber 9: New Dawn (1999–2007)
• Cybersix (1999–2000)
• NASCAR Racers (1999–2001)

2000s

• Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue (2000)
• Shinzo (2000)
• Dinozaurs (2000)
• Escaflowne (2000)
• Wunschpunsch (2000)
• Mon Colle Knights (2000)
• Diabolik (2000–2001)
• Jim Button (2000–2001)
• Digimon Adventure 02 (2000–2001)
• Power Rangers Time Force (2001)
• Los Luchadores (2001)
• Digimon Tamers (2001–2002)
• Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001–2002)
• What's with Andy? (2002–2007) (Season 1 only)
• Power Rangers Wild Force (2002) (production only, distributed by BVS Entertainment, but Saban was the only accredited)

Films

• Rescue Me (1988)
• Heathers (1989)
• A Perfect Little Murder (1990)
• Prey of the Chameleon (1992)
• Round Trip to Heaven (1992)
• A Passion for Murder (1992)
• Revenge on the Highway (1992)
• Till Death Us Do Part (1992)
• Anything for Love (1993)
• In the Shadows, Someone's Watching (1993)
• Under Investigation (1993)
• Terminal Voyage (1994)
• Samurai Cowboy (1994)
• Shadow of Obsession (1994)
• Guns of Honor: Rebel Rousers (1994)
• Blindfold: Acts of Obsession (1994)
• Guns of Honor: Trigger Fast (1994)
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995)
• Virtual Seduction (1995)
• Christmas Reunion (1995)
• Blind Vision (1996)
• Chimp Lips Theater (1997)
• Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997)
• Casper: A Spirited Beginning (1997)
• The Christmas List (1997)
• Gotcha (1998)
• Circles (1998)
• National Lampoon's Men in White (1998)
• Casper Meets Wendy (1998)
• Rusty: A Dog's Tale (1998)
• Addams Family Reunion (1998)
• Richie Rich's Christmas Wish (1998)
• The Christmas Takeover (1998)
• Men of Means (1999)
• Taken (1999)
• Don't Look Behind You (1999)
• Au Pair (1999)
• Digimon: The Movie (2000)
• Ice Angel (2000)
• Au Pair II (2001)

Media releases

• Most Saban owned media from the early 1990s made its way to VHS in most regions. However, from the late 1990s on, almost all Saban owned entities were only released as Region 4 (Australia). According to current rights holders in the US, Buena Vista Entertainment, which acquired it through their buyout of the Fox Family Channel, they currently have no plans to release these films on to DVD, instead, some of it is seen on their daughter network, Disney XD, and originally was seen on Toon Disney and ABC Family before the decease of Jetix in the US.

Digimon

• In Australia, Digimon: Digital Monsters seasons one and two is being re-released by Madman Entertainment as of August 17, 2011.

• In addition, the first three series is being released to DVD in North America through New Video.

Power Rangers

• In Germany they have released complete season box sets to every Power Rangers series, with the English Versions included up until season 6 due to problems with Disney. The series is available in the German Amazon.

• The first 15 series of Power Rangers have been licensed for DVD releases by Shout! Factory, which has released the first 7 series to DVD in Region 1.

Others

• On March 12, 2012, Shout! Factory announced a home video distribution deal with Saban, which includes VR Troopers, the two seasons of Beetleborgs and Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation.

Saban's library

Although most of Saban's library is currently owned by The Walt Disney Company, there are a few exceptions:

• The Power Rangers franchise, which was purchased back from Disney for $43 million on May 12, 2010. Later, the rights of Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation, Masked Rider, VR Troopers, Beetleborgs and Digimon also returned to Saban in 2011 and 2012.
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, and Digimon: The Movie are owned and controlled by 20th Century Fox.
• Addams Family Reunion and Richie Rich's Christmas Wish are owned by Warner Bros.
• Casper: A Spirited Beginning and Casper Meets Wendy are owned by DreamWorks Classics.

External links

• Saban Entertainment at the Internet Movie Database