Powerhouse Animation Studios

American animation studio

Powerhouse Animation Studios, Inc.Company type| Private

|

Industry| Animation
Founded| April 1, 2001; 24 years ago (2001-04-01)
Headquarters| Austin, Texas
Hollywood, California

Key people

| Frank Gabriel, Brad Graeber, Bruce Tinnin
Products| Animation

Number of employees

| 175
Divisions| Powerhouse Animation LLC
Website| www.powerhouseanimation.com

Powerhouse Animation Studios, Inc. is an American animation studio based in Austin, Texas. It was founded in April 2001 with a subsidiary called Powerhouse Animation LLC, established in the summer of 2014. The company develops and produces traditional 2D animation, motion comics, motion graphics, art assets, digital paint, illustration for television series, motion pictures, video game cinemas, commercials, advertising campaigns, educational properties, and entertainment companies.

## History

[edit]

Powerhouse Animation's name is partially inspired by Raymond Scott's song "Powerhouse", which was often placed in scores that Carl Stalling wrote for Warner Bros. shorts and has been featured in numerous animated cartoons. In 2002, Powerhouse produced the short "Heroes" which parodied the film Clerks as well as Marvel Comics characters. After seeing the short, Kevin Smith, the director of Clerks, contacted the firm to produce an unfinished commercial from Dogma. After producing the short, Smith hired Powerhouse to create an arcade machine that featured a custom video game. The game was given, as a wrap party present, to Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez for their work on Jersey Girl. In the game, the main character is Lopez trying to rescue Affleck from an unknown villain and a band of ninjas. In 2003, the firm created a 35 mm test for a feature film based on Clerks: The Animated Series for Smith. They animated Clerks: The Lost Scene[1][2] which was included on the Clerks X: 10th Anniversary DVD. As writer–director Smith explains in the introduction to the scene on the DVD, it had originally been written for Clerks, but was not filmed due to budgetary costraints. In 2004, they animated the "Mr. Mom" video for the band Lonestar.

The firm produces animated versions of many syndicated comic strips including Dilbert, Pearls before Swine, Cul de Sac, Liō, Pooch Café[3] and Over the Hedge produced by RingTales. Powerhouse has animated over 300 Dilbert shorts. It has produced animated content for educational companies including TED-Ed, Brain Chase, Compass Learning, Ignite! Learning and the National Fire Protection Association.[citation needed] It produces animated content for websites, podcasts and other internet companies including several segments of the "B.S. Report Animated Archives" and "Jalen Rose Story Time" for ESPN's Grantland, and episodes of Kevin Smith's Spoilers series for SModcast and Hulu.

In November 2010, they finished working with Disney Interactive Studios to make the cutscenes for Epic Mickey, and in 2012, Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two. In November 2013, Powerhouse worked with Disney Interactive Media Group and Disney Television Animation with collaboration by language instruction company Rosetta Stone to create a nine-episode season of It's a Small World: The Animated Series, Based on the Disney Parks attraction, It's a Small World. In 2014, Powerhouse Animation Studios, Inc. opened its first satellite office in Burbank, California. Powerhouse Animation LLC, a division of parent company Powerhouse, joined The Animation Guild and became a Signatory of IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees) in May 2015.

Powerhouse has produced animated advertising content for brands such as Old Spice, IAMS, Disney Parks, Disneyland, Metlife, Coca-Cola, Oreo, Mountain Dew, Ruffles, GoDaddy.com and many others. In 2015, they worked with Weiden+Kennedy to animate a segment for a Weight Watchers ad called "All You Can Eat" that aired during Super Bowl XLIX. Powerhouse has produced animated music videos for Lizzo, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Wale ft. French Montana, A Sound of Thunder and Lonestar. The firm also develops original IPs and has optioned a series to a toy company. In 2015, the company wrote, created, designed and voiced a short series for AwesomenessTV/DreamWorksTV called Advice Times with Grandpa Theo that can be seen on DreamWorksTV's YouTube page.

In 2017, Powerhouse worked on numerous cutscenes featured in the action-adventure game Agents of Mayhem. In October 2021, the studio worked with OfflineTV to create an animated music video called "Break Out"[4] and worked with Sega to release a launch trailer for Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania.[5] In November 2022, the Sonic Frontiers promotional short "Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Divergence" was released, featuring animation by Powerhouse Animation.[6] In September 2023, the Sonic Superstars promotional short "Trio of Trouble" was released. In November 2023, the Sonic Dream Team opening animation was released.

In February 2017, Powerhouse Animation announced their first adult animated series for Netflix titled Castlevania which is based on the video game franchise of the same name.[7][8] In May 2018, Powerhouse announced their first series based on original property titled Seis Manos.[9] In March 2019, Powerhouse announced a series based on Greek mythology titled Blood of Zeus.[10] In August 2019, Powerhouse announced the series Masters of the Universe: Revelation which serves as a direct sequel to the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe series.[11] In January 2021, Powerhouse announced two series based on the King Kong and Tomb Raider franchises titled Skull Island and Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, respectively.[12] In June 2021, the studio signed a first-look deal with Netflix.[13] In June 2022, Powerhouse announced the series Castlevania: Nocturne which acts as a sequel to their previous Castlevania series.[14]

## Projects

[edit]

### Television series

[edit]

Title  | Year  | Notes  | Refs.

|
|
|

It's a Small World: The Animated Series | 2013  | Based on the Disney theme park attraction It's a Small World |
Castlevania | 2017–2021  | Based on the Castlevania video game franchise  | [7]
The Adventures of Kid Danger | 2018  | Based on the Henry Danger (2014–2020) television series  |
Seis Manos | 2019  |  | [9]
Epithet Erased |  |
Blood of Zeus | 2020–2025  | Based on Greek mythology | [10]
Masters of the Universe: Revelation | 2021–2024  | Sequel to the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983–1985) television series  | [11]
Skull Island | 2023  | Part of the MonsterVerse franchise. Based on the King Kong fictional monster.  | [12]
Castlevania: Nocturne | 2023–present  | Based on the Castlevania video game franchise. Sequel to the Castlevania (2017–2021) television series  | [14]
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft | 2024–present  | Based on the Tomb Raider video game franchise. Sequel to the Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) video game  | [12]

### Miscellaneous

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Type  | Refs.

|
|
|

2002  | Heroes | Short  |
2003  | Clerks: The Lost Scene | 35 mm test for a feature film  | [15]
2004  | "Mr. Mom" | Animated video for the band Lonestar |
2015  | "All You Can Eat"  | Weight Watchers ad  |
Advice Times with Grandpa Theo | Short series  |
2017  | Agents of Mayhem | Action-adventure game cutscenes  |
2021  | "Break Out"  | Animated music video  | [16]
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania | Launch trailer  | [17]
2022  | Sonic Frontiers "Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Divergence"  | Promotional short  | [18]
2023  | Sonic Superstars "Trio of Trouble"  |
Sonic Dream Team | Opening animation  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Animated Clerks "Lost Scene": First Look!
2. ^ Kevin Smith Hopes To Make Jay And Silent Bob Animated Film
3. ^ Pooch Café animated strips now on YouTube
4. ^ ""BREAK OUT" - Powerhouse Animation Credits". Google Docs. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
5. ^ "Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania launches with animated video and original song". Nintendo Wire. 2021-10-05. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
6. ^ "Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Divergence animated short". November 2022.
7. ^ a b Williams, Mike (February 8, 2017). "Castlevania Headed To Netflix in 2017, From Warren Ellis and Adi Shankar". US Gamer. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
8. ^ "Castlevania". Netflix Media Center. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
9. ^ a b "Netflix, VIZ Announce Original Anime Series 'Seis Manos'". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
10. ^ a b "Netflix Orders Greek Mythology Anime Series". The Hollywood Reporter. March 12, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
11. ^ a b "Masters of the Universe Reboot from Kevin Smith Ordered at Netflix". Den of Geek. 2019-08-19. Archived from the original on 2020-03-28. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
12. ^ a b c Ramos, Dino-Ray (January 27, 2021). "Netflix And Legendary To Expand 'Skull Island' And 'Tomb Raider' Universes With New Anime Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
13. ^ Andreeva, Nelli (2021-06-30). "'Castlevania' Animation Studio Powerhouse Inks First-Look Deal With Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
14. ^ a b Skrebels, Joe (June 10, 2022). "Castlevania: Nocturne Announced - a Spin-Off of the Beloved Netflix Show". IGN. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
15. ^ Animated Clerks "Lost Scene": First Look!
16. ^ ""BREAK OUT" - Powerhouse Animation Credits". Google Docs. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
17. ^ "Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania launches with animated video and original song". Nintendo Wire. 2021-10-05. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
18. ^ "Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Divergence animated short". November 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Powerhouse Animation Studios TV productions

* It's a Small World: The Animated Series (2013)
* Castlevania (2017–21)
* The Adventures of Kid Danger (2018)
* Seis Manos (2019)
* Epithet Erased (2019)
* Blood of Zeus (2020–25)
* Masters of the Universe (2021–24)
* Skull Island (2023)
* Castlevania: Nocturne (2023–present)
* Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (2024–present)

* v
* t
* e

Animation industry in the United States

Companies and studios

| Active|

| Majors|

| Universal Studios|

* DreamWorks Animation
* DreamWorks Animation Television
* DreamWorks Classics
* Big Idea Entertainment
* Harvey Films
* Illumination
* Universal Animation Studios

|

Paramount Pictures|

* CBS Eye Animation Productions
* Late Night Cartoons
* MTV Animation
* Nickelodeon Animation Studio
* Nickelodeon Digital
* Nickelodeon Movies
* Paramount Animation
* Miramax Animation Studios
* Skydance Animation

|

Walt Disney Studios|

* 20th Century Animation
* 20th Television Animation
* Disney Television Animation
* Lucasfilm Animation
* Industrial Light & Magic
* Marvel Animation
* Marvel Studios Animation
* Pixar Animation Studios
* Walt Disney Animation Studios

|

Warner Bros.|

* Cartoon Network Studios
* Warner Bros. Animation
* Warner Bros. Pictures Animation
* Warner Bros. Television Animation
* Williams Street

|

Sony Pictures|

* Aniplex of America
* Crunchyroll
* Sony Pictures Animation
* Sony Pictures Imageworks

|

* 41 Entertainment
* AMC Networks
* Sentai Filmworks
* Section23 Films
* Augenblick Studios
* Awesome Inc
* Fox Corporation
* Bento Box Entertainment
* Bandera Entertainment
* Bang Zoom!
* Billionfold Inc.
* Blur Studio
* Cartuna
* CHRLX
* Cloudco Entertainment
* CMCC Cartoons
* DNEG
* Digital Domain
* Floyd County Productions
* Fred Wolf Films
* Fuzzy Door Productions
* Hasbro Entertainment
* Jay Ward Productions
* Joe Murray Productions
* Kanbar Animation
* Kartoon Studios
* Wow Unlimited Media
* Bolder Media
* Frederator Studios
* Kinofilm
* Klasky Csupo
* Kurtz & Friends
* Laika, LLC
* Lee Mendelson Films
* Lionsgate
* Lionsgate Canada
* Melendez Films
* Man of Action Entertainment
* Mattel Television
* Media Blasters
* Mexopolis
* Mondo Media
* 6 Point Harness
* Netflix Animation
* Noble
* NYAV Post
* Parallax Studio
* Powerhouse Animation Studios
* Psyop
* Reel FX Animation
* Renegade Animation
* Rough Draft Studios
* Rovio Animation
* Screen Novelties
* Scholastic
* Weston Woods Studios
* SD Entertainment
* ShadowMachine
* Snee-Oosh, Inc.
* SpindleHorse Toons
* Splash Entertainment
* Sprite Animation Studios
* Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
* Stretch Films
* Studiopolis
* Tau Films
* Threshold Entertainment
* Titmouse, Inc.
* The Kerner Entertainment Company
* The ULULU Company
* Toei Animation Inc.
* United Plankton Pictures
* Vanguard Animation
* Wild Canary Animation
* World Events Productions
* Worker Studio
* WWE Studios
* Walden Media

Former|

* 4Kids Entertainment
* 70/30 Productions
* Adelaide Productions
* Adventure Cartoon Productions
* Allspark
* Amblimation
* Animation Collective
* Animation Lab
* Animation Magic
* Blue Sky Studios
* BVS Entertainment
* Cartoon Pizza
* Chorion
* Circle 7 Animation
* Cookie Jar
* Crest Animation Productions
* Curious Pictures
* DePatie–Freleng Enterprises
* DIC Entertainment
* Disneytoon Studios
* DNA Productions
* Famous Studios
* Filmation
* Film Roman

* Phil Roman Entertainment

* Fleischer Studios
* Format Films
* Fox Animation Studios
* Frederator Films
* Golden Films
* Hanna-Barbera
* HIT Entertainment
* Jetlag Productions
* Justin Roiland's Solo Vanity Card Productions!
* Kroyer Films
* Laugh-O-Gram Studio
* Little Airplane Productions
* Marvel Productions
* Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation
* MGM Animation/Visual Arts
* MGM Cartoons
* Mirari Films
* MoonScoop
* O Entertainment
* Omation Animation Studio
* Pacific Data Images
* PorchLight Entertainment
* Prana Studios
* Radical Axis
* Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment
* Rhythm and Hues Studios
* Rooster Teeth
* Ruby-Spears
* Screen Gems
* Skellington Productions
* Soup2Nuts
* Spümcø
* Storyboard, Inc./Hubley Studios
* Sullivan Bluth Studios
* Sunbow Entertainment
* Terrytoons
* Total Television
* United Productions of America
* Van Beuren Studios
* Walter Lantz Productions
* Warner Bros. Cartoons
* Wētā FX
* Wildbrain Entertainment
* Will Vinton Studios
* Zodiac Entertainment

Industry associations

* The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839
* ASIFA-Hollywood

Other topics

| Awards|

* Academy Awards
* Best Animated Feature
* Annie Awards
* Emmy Awards
* Children's and Family
* Primetime
* Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
* Favorite Cartoon
* Animated Movie
* NAACP Image Awards
* Motion Picture
* Series
* GLAAD Media Awards
* Kids and Family Programming (Animated)
* Writers Guild of America Awards
* Television Animation

|

History|

* Silent era
* Golden age
* World War II
* Television era
* Modern era

Related|

* Animated sitcom
* American comics
* History of American comics
* Tijuana bible
* Humorous Phases of Funny Faces
* Flash animation
* Labor strikes
* Fleischer Studios (1937)
* Disney (1941)
* Multiple studios (1982)

* Category

*[Refs.]: References
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