Powerhouse Animation Studios

American animation studio

Powerhouse Animation Studios, Inc.Company type| Private

|

Industry| Animation
Founded| April 1, 2001; 23 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 the fall of 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.

In 2021, Powerhouse signed a first-look deal with Netflix to produce new animated shows for them.[1]

## Projects[edit]

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[2][3] 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 restraints.

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[4] 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.

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, the firm worked on numerous cutscenes featured in the action-adventure game Agents of Mayhem.

From 2017 to 2021, Powerhouse Animation Studios worked on the Netflix animated series, Castlevania, written by Warren Ellis; produced by Frederator Studios and Adi Shankar.[5][6] Castlevania released July 7, 2017, on Netflix.[7]

Powerhouse work on a Greek mythology–based anime-influenced animation series titled Blood of Zeus, released on Netflix in March 2019.[citation needed]

In August 2019, it was announced Powerhouse would be working on Masters of the Universe: Revelation for Netflix. It will serve as a sequel series to the original He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.[8]

In late June 2021, the studio signed a first look deal with Netflix.[9]

October 2, 2021: the studio worked with OfflineTV to create an animated music video called "Break Out".[10]

October 5, 2021: Powerhouse Animation worked with Sega to release a launch trailer for Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania.[11]

October 11, 2022: Mark Phillips of RDCWorld1 announced that their new animated show, Dark Lights, is being animated by Powerhouse Animation.[citation needed]

November 1, 2022: the Sonic Frontiers promotional short "Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Divergence" was released, featuring animation by Powerhouse Animation.[12]

September 20, 2023: the Sonic Superstars promotional short "Trio of Trouble" was released, animated by Powerhouse Animation. November 22, 2023: the Sonic Dream Team opening animation was released, with animation by Powerhouse Animation.

### Television series[edit]

Title  | Year  | Notes  | Refs.

|
|
|

Castlevania | 2017–2021  | Based on the Castlevania video game franchise  | [13]
Seis Manos | 2019  |  |
Blood of Zeus | 2020–present  | Based on Greek mythology |
Masters of the Universe | 2021–present  | Sequel to the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983–1985) television series  | [14]
Skull Island | 2023  | Part of the MonsterVerse franchise. Based on the King Kong fictional monster.  |
Castlevania: Nocturne | 2023–present  | Sequel to the Castlevania (2017–2021) television series  |
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft | 2024  | Based on the Tomb Raider video game series  |

### Projects[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 |
2013  | It's a Small World: The Animated Series | nine-episode season  |
2015  | "All You Can Eat"  | Weight Watchers ad  |
2015  | Advice Times with Grandpa Theo | short series  |
2017  | Agents of Mayhem | action-adventure game cutscenes  |
2021  | Break Out  | animated music video  | [16]
2021  | Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania | launch trailer  | [17]
2022  | Sonic Frontiers "Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Divergence"  | promotional short  | [18]
2023  | Sonic Superstars "Trio of Trouble"  | promotional short  |
2023  | Sonic Dream Team | opening animation  |

## References[edit]

1. ^ Nellie Andreeva (2021-06-30). "'Castlevania' Animation Studio Powerhouse Inks First-Look Deal With Netflix". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
2. ^ Animated Clerks "Lost Scene": First Look!
3. ^ Kevin Smith Hopes To Make Jay And Silent Bob Animated Film
4. ^ Pooch Café animated strips now on YouTube
5. ^ "The Frederator Studios Tumblr". The Frederator Studios Tumblr. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
6. ^ Castlevania (TV Series 2017– ), retrieved 2017-06-01
7. ^ "Castlevania". Netflix Media Center. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
8. ^ "Masters of the Universe Reboot from Kevin Smith Ordered at Netflix". Den of Geek. 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
9. ^ Andreeva, Nelli (2021-06-30). "'Castlevania' Animation Studio Powerhouse Inks First-Look Deal With Netflix". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
10. ^ ""BREAK OUT" - Powerhouse Animation Credits". Google Docs. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
11. ^ "Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania launches with animated video and original song". Nintendo Wire. 2021-10-05. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
12. ^ "Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Divergence animated short". November 2022.
13. ^ "Castlevania". Netflix Media Center. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
14. ^ "Masters of the Universe Reboot from Kevin Smith Ordered at Netflix". Den of Geek. 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
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

Cartoon Network|

* OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes (2017–19)

Disney Television Animation|

* It's a Small World: The Animated Series (2013)

Netflix|

* Castlevania (2017–21)
* Seis Manos (2019)
* Blood of Zeus (2020–present)
* Masters of the Universe: Revelation (2021–present)
* Skull Island (2023)
* Castlevania: Nocturne (2023–present)
* Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (2024)

Nickelodeon|

* The Adventures of Kid Danger (2018)

VRV|

* Epithet Erased (2019)

* v
* t
* e

Animation industry in the United States

Companies and studios

| Active|

| Majors|

| NBCUniversal|

* DreamWorks Animation
* DreamWorks Animation Television
* DreamWorks Classics
* Big Idea Entertainment
* Harvey Entertainment
* Jay Ward Productions
* Illumination

|

Paramount Global|

* CBS Eye Animation Productions
* Late Night Cartoons
* MTV Animation
* Nickelodeon Animation Studio
* Nickelodeon Digital
* Nickelodeon Movies
* Paramount Animation
* Miramax Animation (49%)

|

Disney Entertainment|

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

|

Warner Bros.|

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

|

Sony Pictures|

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

|

* 41 Entertainment
* Augenblick Studios
* Awesome Inc.
* Fox Corporation
* Bento Box Entertainment
* Bandera Entertainment
* Billionfold Inc.
* Blur Studio
* Bolder Media
* Cartuna
* Charlex
* CMCC Cartoons
* DNEG
* Digital Domain
* Film Roman
* Phil Roman Entertainment
* Floyd County Productions
* Fred Wolf Films
* Fuzzy Door Productions
* Genius Brands
* Wow Unlimited Media
* Frederator Studios
* Frederator Films
* Hasbro Entertainment
* Joe Murray Productions
* Kinofilm
* Kanbar Animation
* Klasky Csupo
* Kurtz & Friends
* Laika
* Lee Mendelson Films
* Lionsgate
* Entertainment One
* Media Blasters
* Melendez Films
* Man of Action Entertainment
* Mattel Television
* Mexopolis
* Mondo Media
* 6 Point Harness
* Netflix Animation
* Noble
* O Entertainment
* Parallax Studio
* Powerhouse Animation Studios
* Psyop
* Reel FX Creative Studios
* Renegade Animation
* Rhythm and Hues Studios
* Rough Draft Studios
* Rovio Animation
* Screen Novelties
* Scholastic
* Weston Woods Studios
* SD Entertainment
* Sentai Filmworks
* ShadowMachine
* Skydance Animation
* Snee-Oosh, Inc.
* SpindleHorse Toons
* Splash Entertainment
* Sprite Animation Studios
* Stretch Films
* Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
* Tau Films
* Threshold Entertainment
* Titmouse, Inc.
* The ULULU Company
* United Plankton Pictures
* Vanguard Animation
* Wild Canary Animation
* World Events Productions
* Worker Studio

Former|

* 4Kids Entertainment
* 70/30 Productions
* Adelaide Productions
* Adventure Cartoon Productions
* Allspark
* Amblimation
* Animation Collective
* Animation Lab
* Animation Magic
* Blue Sky Studios
* Cambria Productions
* Cartoon Pizza
* Chorion
* Circle 7 Animation
* Cookie Jar
* Copernicus Studios
* Crest Animation Productions
* Curious Pictures
* DePatie–Freleng Enterprises
* DIC Entertainment
* Disneytoon Studios
* DNA Productions
* Famous Studios
* Filmation
* Fleischer Studios
* Format Films
* Fox Animation Studios
* 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
* Omation Animation Studio
* Pacific Data Images
* PorchLight Entertainment
* Prana Studios
* Radical Axis
* Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment
* Rooster Teeth Animation
* Ruby-Spears
* Saban Entertainment
* Screen Gems
* Skellington Productions
* Soup2Nuts
* Spümcø
* Storyboard, Inc./Hubley Studios
* Sullivan Bluth Studios
* Sunbow Entertainment
* Terrytoons
* Total Television
* United Productions of America
* Universal Animation Studios
* 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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