Jam Filled Entertainment

Canadian animation studio

Jam Filled Entertainment

Formerly| Jam Filled Toronto:

* Dan Krech Productions (1985–2000)
* DKP Effects (2000–2004)
* DKP Studios (2004–2006)
* Starz Animation (2006–2011)
* Arc Productions (2011–2016)

Company type| Subsidiary
Industry|

* Harmony
* CGI animation

Founded| 2007; 17 years ago (2007)
Headquarters| 65 Auriga Drive,

Ottawa, Ontario

Canada

Parent| Boat Rocker Media
Divisions| Jam Filled Toronto
Jam Filled Halifax
Website| www.jamfilled.com

Jam Filled Entertainment is a Canadian animation studio based in Ottawa, Ontario (with additional facilities in Toronto and Halifax), and a division of Boat Rocker Media. The company is best known for animating Thomas & Friends (starting with season 17) and Nicktoons (such as The Loud House and its spinoff The Casagrandes).

## History

[edit]

Jam Filled Entertainment was founded in Manotick in 2007 by Kyle MacDougall, Phil Lafrance, and Jamie Leclaire. In January 2011, Jam Filled moved to a new location in Ottawa. On August 3, 2016, Boat Rocker Media acquired Jam Filled Entertainment.[1] On August 22, Jam Filled purchased the assets of Arc Productions, allowing them to expand into creating CGI animation in Toronto. Jam Filled opened a 10,000 square feet studio in Halifax, Nova Scotia in the fall of 2019 to work on more 2D animation projects.[2]

### Jam Filled Toronto

[edit]

The Toronto branch of Jam Filled Entertainment was originally established as Dan Krech Productions on June 24, 1985, as one of the first visual effects companies in Toronto. In 1987, DKP became the first company in Canada to have an in-house digital suite. DKP had produced visual effects and animation for over 2,000 commercials and long-form projects by 2000, many of them for U.S. companies. DKP moved to a new facility on Queen Street East in March 2001. American telecommunications company IDT Corporation acquired DKP Effects on March 16, 2004,[3] leading to the company being renamed DKP Studios.

On 26 May 2006, Liberty Media bought IDT Entertainment from IDT, including Anchor Bay Entertainment and Film Roman, and merged it with the Starz cable network to form Starz Media.[4] Under its new management in 2007, the studio began a "Starz Shortz" program which has produced Bundle of Joy, Enter the Sandbox, Ormie and Lovebirds.[5] In 2007, Starz Animation took over animating Shane Acker's feature 9 from Attitude Studio, Luxembourg.[6] In 2010, the studio opened a major VFX wing to create all the effects for the new Starz Channel/Graham King Productions miniseries, Camelot, Alcon Entertainment's Dolphin Tale, and producer Avi Arad's family feature, Robosapien: Rebooted.

In April 2011, Liberty Starz sold Starz Animation to a Canadian consortium, and it was renamed Arc Productions. Under the new owner, the studio was planning to do more proprietary production.[7][8][9][10]

On August 1, 2016, Arc Productions announced that they were closing down the studio because they were filing for bankruptcy and locked out over 500 employees after telling them there was a payroll glitch and no one had been paid.[11] On August 10, 2016, following Arc's closure, Jam Filled Entertainment entered an agreement to acquire Arc Productions' assets in which they call "substantially all of the business".[12] Jam Filled Entertainment also acquired 248 of Arc's former employees. Later on August 22, 2016, Arc Productions was reopened as Jam Filled Entertainment's Toronto facility.[13]

In 2020, Jam Filled announced that they would no longer animate episodes of the original Thomas & Friends series after the 24th and final series, with Nelvana taking over for the 2D-animated reboot series, Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go.

## Productions

[edit]

### Jam Filled Entertainment

[edit]

#### Television series

[edit]

Title  | Year(s)  | Notes  | Client

|
|
|

Almost Naked Animals | 2011–13 |  | 9 Story Entertainment
Crash Canyon |  | Breakthrough Entertainment
Camp Lakebottom | 2013–14 | pre-production to rough-cut; season 1 | 9 Story Entertainment
The Day My Butt Went Psycho! | 2014–15 | season 1 episode 20; season 2 | Nelvana
Studio Moshi
Nickelodeon Animated Shorts Program | 2013–18 | "The Loud House", "Off the Shelf", "My Friend Pancake", "Robo Wonder Kid", and "Fur-Ever Family" | Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Numb Chucks | 2014–16 |  | 9 Story Media Group
The Loud House | 2016–present | animation services | Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Thomas & Friends | 2016–21 | series 20–24; continued from Arc Productions | HiT Entertainment
The Bagel and Becky Show | 2016–17 | pre-production to rough-cut | Radical Sheep Productions
Rusty Rivets | 2016–20 | continued from Arc Productions | Spin Master Entertainment
WellieWishers | 2017 | season 2 | Mattel Creations
Kody Kapow |  | Zodiak Kids
Final Space | 2018–21 | animation services; seasons 1–3 | ShadowMachine
Pinky Malinky | 2019 | Nickelodeon Animation Studio
DC Super Hero Girls | 2019–20 | season 1 and shorts | Warner Bros. Animation
The Polos | 2019 |  | Boat Rocker Media
Bubble Guppies | 2019–23 | seasons 5–6 | Nickelodeon Animation Studio
The Casagrandes | 2019–22 | animation services
Kingdom Force | 2019–20 |  | Boat Rocker Media
Dino Ranch | 2021–present |
The Snow Ball | 2021 | short film |
A Tale Dark & Grimm |  | Boat Rocker Media
Netflix Animation
Inside Job | 2021–22 | animation services | Netflix Animation
What If...? | 2021 | additional effects for season 2; "What If... Iron Man Crashed into the Grandmaster?" | Marvel Studios Animation
Nickelodeon Intergalactic Shorts Program | 2022 | "Rock Paper Scissors" | Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Reindeer in Here |  | CBS Eye Animation Productions
We Lost Our Human | 2023 |  | Netflix Animation
Rubble & Crew | 2023–present |  | Spin Master Entertainment
Clone High | 2023–24 | animation services; season 2–3 | ShadowMachine
MTV Entertainment Studios
Praise Petey[14] | 2023 |

Animation services

| 20th Television Animation
Vida the Vet | 2024–present |  | Spin Master Entertainment
X-Men '97 | 2024 | additional effects for 2 episodes; "Tolerance Is Extinction: Part 2", "Tolerance Is Extinction: Part 3" | Marvel Studios Animation
Exploding Kittens | Animation services; post-production | Bandera Entertainment
Chernin Entertainment

#### Films

[edit]

Title  | Year(s)  | Notes  | Client

|
|
|

Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor | 2017  |  | Mattel Creations
The Great Northern Candy Drop |  | Boat Rocker Media
Thomas & Friends: Big World, Big Adventures! | 2018  |  | Mattel Creations
No Time to Spy: A Loud House Movie | 2024  | animation services  | Nickelodeon Animation Studio

### Jam Filled Toronto

[edit]

Formerly known as Dan Krech Productions, DKP Effects, DKP Studios (IDT Entertainment), Starz Animation, and Arc Productions.

Dan Krech Productions

* Eve of Destruction (1991) (post-production)
* High Tide (1994) (title design & graphics)
* Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog (1995) (special effects)
* National Lampoon's Senior Trip (1995) (special effects)
* Bogus (1996) (special effects)
* The Siege (1998)
* The Nuttiest Nutcracker (1999; with Columbia TriStar Home Video)
* X-Men (2000)
* CyberWorld (2000)
* Joseph: King of Dreams (2000) (3D effects)
* Picture Claire (2001) (main titles)

DKP Effects

* Space Station 3D (2002)
* The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest (2002) (special effects)
* 3-2-1 Penguins! (2002; with Big Idea Productions)
* Scourge of Worlds: A Dungeons & Dragons Adventure (2003) (special effects)

DKP Studios

* Game Over (2004)
* The Librarian: Quest for the Spear (2004)
* Nerf N-Strike (2004; with Hasbro)
* VeggieTales (2004–2005; with Big Idea Productions)
* Shoebox Zoo (2004–2005; with Blueprint Entertainment, BBC Scotland, and Alberta Filmworks) (TV)
* Surly Squirrel (2005) (short film)
* The Happy Elf (2005)
* Everyone's Hero (2006; with 20th Century Fox)

Starz Animation

Logo of Starz Animation

* VeggieTales (2006–07; with Big Idea Productions)
* The Reef (2006; with The Weinstein Company, WonderWorld Studios, and DigiArt Productions)
* The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie (2008; with Universal Pictures and Big Idea Productions)
* Space Chimps (2008; with 20th Century Fox and Vanguard Animation)
* Chop Socky Chooks (2008; with Aardman Animations and Decode Entertainment) (TV)
* 9 (2009; with Focus Features and Relativity Media)
* Yes, Virginia (2009) (TV)
* Gnomeo & Juliet (2011; with Touchstone Pictures and Rocket Pictures)
* Camelot (2011) (visual effects)
* The Simpsons ("Condiments" sequence) (2011)

Arc Productions

Logo of Arc Productions

* Matt Hatter Chronicles (2011)[15]
* Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil (2011)
* Dolphin Tale (2011)
* Snack Attack (2012) (short film)
* Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse (2012–15)
* Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn (2012) (visual effects)[16]
* Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload (2013)[17]
* Pixie Hollow Bake Off (2013)
* Robosapien: Rebooted (2013)
* Barbie & Her Sisters in A Pony Tale (2013)
* Thomas & Friends: Series 17–20 (2013–16, with HiT Entertainment)[18]
* Thomas & Friends: King of the Railway (2013, with HiT Entertainment)[18][19]
* Thomas & Friends: Tale of the Brave (2014, with HiT Entertainment)
* Thomas & Friends: The Adventure Begins (2015, with HiT Entertainment)
* Little Boy (2015; with Open Road Films and Metonia Films)
* Lost in Oz (pilot; 2015)
* Thomas & Friends: Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure (2015, with HiT Entertainment)
* Barbie & Her Sisters in The Great Puppy Adventure (2015)
* Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled (2015)[20]
* Before I Wake (2016) (special effects)
* Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade (2016)
* Thomas & Friends: The Great Race (2016, with HiT Entertainment)
* Elena of Avalor (2016)[13]
* Barbie: Star Light Adventure (2016)
* Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia (2016)[13]
* Tarzan and Jane (2017)[13]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Boat Rocker Media Acquires Jam Filled Entertainment". Boat Rocker Media. August 3, 2016. Archived from the original on October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
2. ^ "JAM FILLED IS DROPPING ANCHOR IN HALIFAX!". Jam Filled Entertainment. September 23, 2019.
3. ^ "DKP acquired by U.S. animator". Playback Magazine. 29 March 2004. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
4. ^ "Liberty Media to acquire IDT Entertainment". IDT. May 16, 2006. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
5. ^ Lacey, Liam (March 24, 2011). "Animation company aims for 3D without nausea and headaches". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
6. ^ "New Starz studio busy on Burton's 9". Playback Magazine. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
7. ^ Vlessing, Etan (April 13, 2011). "Starz Animation Studio Renamed Arc Productions". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
8. ^ DeMott, Rick (13 April 2011). "Starz Animation Toronto Rebrands as Arc Productions". Animation World Network. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
9. ^ Arrant, Chris (13 April 2011). "Starz Animation Toronto rebrands as Arc Productions Animation & Visual Effects". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
10. ^ Vlessing, Etan (14 April 2011). "Starz Animation Toronto rebrands as Arc Productions". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
11. ^ Valiquette, Mike (August 1, 2016). "BREAKING NEWS: Arc Productions Files for Bankruptcy". Retrieved August 2, 2016.
12. ^ "Jam Filled looks to acquire Arc Productions assets".
13. ^ a b c d Wolfe, Jennifer (August 22, 2016). "Jam Filled Entertainment Acquires Arc Productions". Animation World Network. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
14. ^ White, Peter (2021-12-09). "Annie Murphy, John Cho & Christine Baranski Star In Animated Series 'Praise Petey' From Anna Drezen For Freeform As Network Takes Another Crack At Genre". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
15. ^ Vlessing, Etan (June 6, 2011). "Arc To Animate 3D TV For Platinum and Endemol". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
16. ^ "Arc to Provide Visual Effects for 'Halo 4'". Animation World Network.
17. ^ "Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload". IMDb.
18. ^ a b Zahed, Ramin (February 6, 2012). "Arc is on Board HIT's 'Thomas & Friends'". Animation Magazine. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
19. ^ "King of the Railway (Thomas and Friends)". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
20. ^ Strom, Marc (November 12, 2015). "TV ULTRON CRASHES THE PARTY IN FIRST 'LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES: AVENGERS REASSEMBLED!' CLIP". Marvel. Archived from the original on January 8, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

Animation industry in Canada

Active
companies|

* 9 Story Media Group
* Portfolio Entertainment
* 10th Ave. Productions
* Alevy Productions
* a.k.a. Cartoon
* Amberwood Entertainment
* Animagic Studio
* Animal Logic
* Apartment 11 Productions
* Arcana Studio
* Atomic Cartoons
* Bardel Entertainment
* Bejuba! Entertainment
* Big Bad Boo
* BLT Productions
* Boat Rocker Media
* Brain Power Studio
* Bron Animation
* Breakthrough Entertainment
* Cambium Productions
* Carbunkle Cartoons
* Catapult Productions
* CCI Entertainment
* CinéGroupe
* Cinesite Animation
* Cinesite Animation Studios Montreal
* Clyde Henry Productions
* CINAR
* CINAR Films
* CINAR Studios
* CINAR Animation
* CINAR Productions
* Cookie Jar Group
* Coliseum Entertainment
* Company 3 Animation
* Copernicus Studios
* Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit
* Corus Entertainment
* Cuppa Coffee Studios
* Decode Entertainment
* Dinosaur Age Group
* Difuze Montreal
* Echo Media
* Fresh TV
* Frima Studio
* Global Mechanic
* Guru Studio
* Groundling Marsh Productions
* Heroic Television
* Hunkey Dorey Entertainment
* Icon Creative Studio
* Image Engine
* Image Entertainment Corporation
* Industrial Brothers
* Jam Filled Entertainment
* JuniorNet
* J.A. Delmage Productions
* Keyframe Digital Productions
* L'Atelier Animation
* Lionsgate Canada
* Light Chaser Animation Studios
* Look Mom! Productions
* Marblemedia
* Mainframe Entertainment
* Mercury Filmworks
* National Film Board of Canada
* Nelvana
* Neptoon Studios
* Nitrogen Studios
* Oasis Animation
* PiP Animation Services
* Pipeline Studios
* Quebec Film and Television Tax Credit
* Québec Production Services Tax Credit
* Radical Sheep Productions
* Rainmaker Studios
* Rodeo FX
* Scanline VFX
* Shoe Ink
* Sinking Ship Entertainment
* Sitting Ducks Productions
* Skyship Entertainment
* Skycron
* Slap Happy Cartoons
* Smiley Guy Studios
* Solis Animation
* Sony Pictures Imageworks
* Spaff Animation Incorporated
* Sound Ideas Canada Ltd.
* Spin Master Entertainment
* The Embassy Visual Effects
* Tonic DNA
* Toon Boom Animation
* ToonBox Entertainment
* VVS Films (Canada)
* Walt Disney Animation Studios Vancouver
* WildBrain
* House of Cool
* WildBrain Studios Vancouver
* Wow Unlimited Media
* Mainframe Studios
* Yowza! Animation

Defunct
companies|

* Arc Productions
* Atkinson Film-Arts
* C.O.R.E.
* Collideascope
* FatKat Animation
* Funbag Animation Studios
* Gordon Stanfield Animation
* Krantz Films
* Lacewood Productions
* March Entertainment
* Meteor Studios
* MokkoStudio
* Phoenix Animation Studios
* Pixar Canada
* Sardine Productions
* Spectra Animation
* Studio B Productions
* Tooncan
* Walt Disney Animation Canada

Related topics|

* Canadian comics
* Quebec comics
* Independent animation

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

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