20th Television Animation
20th Television Animation (formerly known as Fox Television Animation) is an American animation studio that creates, develops and produces adult animated television series and specials. It is a unit of Disney Television Studios, a subsidiary of Disney Entertainment, which is a division of The Walt Disney Company.[1][2][3]
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Formerly | Fox Television Animation (1999–2020) |
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Type | Division |
Industry | Television production |
Founded | May 19, 1999 |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Marci Proietto (President) Chris Cikowski (Vice President) |
Products | Television animation |
Owner | Disney Entertainment (The Walt Disney Company) |
Parent | Disney Television Studios |
History

1999–2020: 20th Century Fox Television and 20th Television Animation unit
The studio was established on May 19, 1999.[4] Its first project was the continued production of Family Guy for its third season, which it took over from the series' previous home at Film Roman for seasons one and two. The studio would become the home of future animated series co-created by Seth MacFarlane: American Dad! and The Cleveland Show.[5] In 2016, Fox Television Animation assumed production of Matt Groening's The Simpsons, once again taking over from Film Roman.
Most animated projects from 20th Television Animation are subcontracted to third party animation production companies such as Film Roman, Titmouse, Inc., Bento Box Entertainment and Rough Draft Studios, but the company maintains 20th Television Animation as an in-house option. Because the company acts as a production house for hire, it is not treated as a labeled division of 20th Century Studios like Touchstone Television or Searchlight Pictures. The studio specializes in animation pre-production and post-production, while the actual animation production is handled by studios in South Korea. 20th Television Animation's frequent contractors include Digital eMation, Yearim Productions, AKOM Production, and Rough Draft Korea.
The studio maintains a location in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles[6][7] Its workers are represented by The Animation Guild, I.A.T.S.E. Local 839.[8]
2019–present: under Disney Television Studios
In March 2019, 20th Century Fox Television, 20th Television and Fox Television Animation were acquired by the Walt Disney Company and integrated into Walt Disney Television as part of Disney Television Studios.[9] In September 2020, the animation company was renamed as 20th Television Animation starting with newer episodes of shows in production at the company.
In December 2020, it was announced that 20th Television Animation would be relaunched as a standalone unit from 20th Television. In March 2021, Marci Proietto was tentatively named as president of the company. It eventually went into effect in September with the on-screen logo for the company first appearing after the credits for the season 33 premiere of The Simpsons, the season 2 premiere of The Great North, the season 12 premiere of Bob's Burgers and the season 20 premiere of Family Guy. 20th Television Animation focuses on producing and developing animated projects targeted at adults, as opposed to their children-targeted sister studio Disney Television Animation. Under the new incarnation, 20th Television Animation would assume executive supervision of the production of all animated projects that had, up to that point, been overseen by 20th Television. This allowed series that 20th Television Animation was already producing animation for under 20th Television's watch to be brought entirely under one company, while series whose animation was produced by a third party company would retain that relationship, with 20th Television Animation only absorbing the above-the-line production and acting as the new client for the animation contractor.[10][11]
On March 16, 2022, it was announced that the studio would collaborate with children-targeted sister studio Disney Television Animation, for the creation of young adult animated series, mini-series and movies for Disney+.[12][13][14]
Filmography
Series
Title[15] | Creator(s) | Developer(s) | Year(s) | Network | Co-production with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Simpsons | Matt Groening | Matt Groening James L. Brooks Sam Simon |
1989–present | Fox | Gracie Films | Animation service from season 28–32; production company since season 33 |
King of the Hill | Mike Judge Greg Daniels |
1997–2010 TBA |
Fox (seasons 1–13) Hulu (season 14) |
3 Arts Entertainment Deedle-Dee Productions Judgemental Films Bandera Entertainment (season 14) |
Production company for upcoming revival[16] | |
Family Guy | Seth MacFarlane | Seth MacFarlane David Zuckerman |
1999–2002 2005–present |
Fox (entire run) Adult Swim (s03e22) BBC Three (s08e21) |
Fuzzy Door Productions | Animation service from season 3–19; production company since season 20 |
Futurama | Matt Groening | Matt Groening David X. Cohen |
1999–2003 2008–2013 2023 |
Fox (seasons 1–4) Comedy Central (seasons 5–7) Hulu (season 8) |
The ULULU Company[lower-alpha 1] Rough Draft Studios (animation) |
Production company for upcoming revival;[17] to be credited as "30th Television Animation" |
American Dad! | Seth MacFarlane Mike Barker Matt Weitzman |
2005–present | Fox (seasons 1–11) TBS (seasons 12–present) |
Fuzzy Door Productions Underdog Productions |
Animation service from season 1–18; production company since season 19 | |
The Cleveland Show | Seth MacFarlane Richard Appel Mike Henry |
2009–2013 | Fox | Fuzzy Door Productions Person Unknown Productions Happy Jack Productions |
Animation service only; credited as Fox Television Animation throughout its run | |
Bob's Burgers | Loren Bouchard | Loren Bochard Jim Dauterive |
2011–present | Wilo Productions Buck & Millie Productions (seasons 2–10) Bento Box Entertainment (animation) |
Production company since season 12 | |
Duncanville | Amy Poehler Mike Scully Julie Thacker Scully |
2020–2022 | Paper Kite Productions Scullys 3 Arts Entertainment (uncredited) Universal Television Fox Entertainment Bento Box Entertainment (animation) |
Production company for season 3; last six episodes produced for season 3 released on Hulu on October 18[18] | ||
Solar Opposites | Justin Roiland Mike McMahan |
2020–present | Hulu Disney+ (international) |
Justin Roiland's Solo Vanity Card Productions! (seasons 1–3) Important Science Bardel Entertainment (animation) |
Production company since season 3 | |
Central Park | Loren Bouchard Josh Gad Nora Smith |
2020–present | Apple TV+ | Wilo Productions Angry Child Productions Brillstein Entertainment Partners Bento Box Entertainment (animation) |
Production company since season 3 | |
The Great North | Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin & Wendy Molyneux Minty Lewis |
2021–present | Fox | Double Molyneux Sister Sheux Wilo Productions Fox Entertainment Bento Box Entertainment (animation) |
Production company since season 2 | |
Hit-Monkey[19] | Will Speck Josh Gordon |
2021–present | Hulu Disney+ (international) |
Speck Gordon Inc. Floyd County Productions Marvel Television (season 1) |
Production company for season 2 | |
Koala Man[20] | Michael Cusack | Michael Cusack Dan Hernandez Benji Samit |
2023–present | Cusack Creatures Hermit House Justin Roiland's Solo Vanity Card Productions! (season 1) Princess Bento Pictures (animation) |
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Upcoming | ||||||
Praise Petey[21] | Anna Drezen | TBA | 2023 | Freeform | ShadowMachine Bandera Entertainment |
|
Standing By[22] | Dan Levy Ally Pankiw |
TBA | Hulu | Not a Real Production Company Bento Box Entertainment |
||
Rhona Who Lives by the River | Emily Kapnek | TBA | Disney+ | Disney Television Animation Piece of Pie Productions Stoopid Buddy Stoodios |
Specials
Title | Release date | Network | Co-production with |
---|---|---|---|
The Paloni Show! Halloween Special![23] | October 17, 2022 | Hulu | Justin Roiland's Solo Vanity Card Productions! |
Theatrical
Title | Release date | Director(s) | Release with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Inside the CIA | April 8, 2005 | Ron Hughart | Fever Pitch (theatrical) American Dad! Volume 1 (DVD) |
Included in the special features of the American Dad! Volume 1 DVD. |
A Terrifying Message From Al Gore | May 26, 2006 | Peter Avanzino | An Inconvenient Truth (theatrical) Futurama: Bender's Big Score (DVD) |
Originally a short film to promote An Inconvenient Truth. Later included as a special feature of the Futurama: Bender's Big Score DVD. |
The Longest Daycare | July 13, 2012 | David Silverman | Ice Age: Continental Drift | The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2013. |
Playdate with Destiny | March 6, 2020 | Onward | It was released to Disney+ on April 10, 2020, a month after the films premiere due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[24] | |
My Butt Has a Fever | May 6, 2022 | Loren Bouchard & Bernard Derriman | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness[lower-alpha 2] | The short was planned for a theatrical release in 2020 in front of an undetermined Disney film, but was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic closing down movie theaters.[25] |
Direct-to-video
Title | Release date | Director(s) | Release with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Amazon Adventure | November 27, 2007 | Dwayne Carey-Hill | Futurama: Bender's Big Score | A full 22-minute episode of Everybody Loves Hypnotoad that was included as a special feature of the Futurama: Bender's Big Score DVD. |
Disney+
Title | Release date | Network | Co-production with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Force Awakens from Its Nap | May 4, 2021 | Disney+ | Gracie Films | The Simpsons's first homage to Star Wars |
The Good, the Bart, and the Loki | July 7, 2021 | The Simpsons's homage to the Marvel Cinematic Universe | ||
Plusaversary | November 12, 2021 | The Simpsons's celebration of Disney+ Day | ||
When Billie Met Lisa | April 22, 2022 | The Simpsons's homage to Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles | ||
Welcome to the Club | September 8, 2022 | The Simpsons's homage to the Disney Villains | ||
The Simpsons Meet the Bocellis in "Feliz Navidad" | December 15, 2022 | |||
Rogue Not Quite One | May 4, 2023 | The Simpsons's second homage to Star Wars |
Released films
Title | Release date | Director(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Co-production with | Distributor | Budget | Gross |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Simpsons Movie | July 27, 2007 | David Silverman | James L. Brooks Matt Groening Al Jean Ian Maxtone-Graham George Meyer David Mirkin Mike Reiss Mike Scully Matt Selman John Swartzwelder Jon Vitti |
James L. Brooks Matt Groening Al Jean Mike Scully Richard Sakai |
Gracie Films | 20th Century Fox | $75 million[26] | $536.4 million[26] |
The Bob's Burgers Movie | May 27, 2022 | Loren Bouchard Bernard Derriman |
Loren Bouchard Nora Smith |
Janelle Momary-Neely Loren Bouchard Nora Smith |
20th Century Family Wilo Productions |
20th Century Studios[lower-alpha 3] | $38 million[27] | $34.1 million[28] |
See also
Notes
- Credited as The Curiosity Company during first two runs.
- The short premiered exclusively at Alamo Drafthouse screenings only.
- under Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
References
- Low, Elaine (March 30, 2021). "Longtime Animation Exec Marci Proietto to Head New 20th Television Animation Production Unit". Variety. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- Goldberg, Lesley (March 30, 2021). "Marci Proietto to Lead New 20th TV Animation Division". The Hollywood Reporter.
- Nakamura, Reid (March 30, 2021). "20th Television Launches Animation Unit Led by Marci Proietto". The Wrap.
- Fox Television Animation, Inc. Delaware corporate filing
- "Al Jean Speaks". The Animation Guild Blog. February 3, 2016.
- LinkedIn. "Fox Television Animation" about page.
- Fox Television Animation Inc OpenGovUS page
- The Animation Guild Studio List
- "Lachlan Murdoch takes control of Fox Corp. But how will he deal with President Trump?". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
- Andreeva, Nellie (December 1, 2020). "Dana Walden Merges 20th TV & Touchstone TV Under Karey Burke, ABC & Hulu Original Content Under Craig Erwich In Sweeping Reorg; Bert Salke Gets Producing Deal". Retrieved August 22, 2021.
- White, Peter (March 30, 2021). "Disney Launches 20th Television Animation, Promotes Veteran Exec Marci Proietto To Run New Unit Responsible For 'The Simpsons' & 'Family Guy'". Deadline. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- "EXCLUSIVE: Disney Television Animation to Collab with Sister Adult Orientated Studio to Create Young Adult Animated Series,Mini-Series and Movies for Disney+".
- @DisneyTVANews (March 16, 2022). "EXCLUSIVE: @DisneyTVA and @20thTVAnimation Collaborating For Young Adult Animated ShowsLisa Fragner former Blue S…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Animated People: Disney TVA's Lisa Fragner Gives Us the Scoop on the Mouse's Upcoming Slate". March 16, 2022.
- Sarkar, Samit (December 14, 2017). "Here are the Fox movies and TV shows that Disney now owns". Polygon. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- Otterson, Joe (January 31, 2023). "'King of the Hill' Revival Ordered at Hulu". Variety. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- Goldberg, Lesley (February 9, 2022). "'Futurama' Revived at Hulu". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- White, Peter (June 30, 2022). "'Duncanville' Canceled At Fox After 3 Seasons". Deadline.
- Otterson, Joe (February 2, 2023). "'Hit-Monkey' Renewed for Season 2 at Hulu". Variety. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- Del Rosario, Alexandra (March 23, 2021). "Hulu Orders 'Koala Man' Animated Series From Michael Cusack, Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit & Justin Roiland". Deadline. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- White, Peter (December 9, 2021). "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. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- Staff, CL (December 16, 2022). "Dan Levy's Animated Comedy 'Standing By' Ordered at Hulu". Collider. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
- "Hulu Picks Up 'The Paloni Show! Halloween Special!' from Justin Roiland". Animation Magazine. August 31, 2022.
- Miller, Shannon (April 9, 2020). "The Simpsons Short Maggie Simpson in 'Playdate with Destiny' Crawls onto Disney+ Tomorrow". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- Steve Russell (November 3, 2020). "Bob's Burgers Boss Says the Pandemic Canceled Planned Short, 'My Butt Has a Fever'". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- "The Simpsons Movie (2007)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2007.
- Bouchard, Loren [@lorenbouchard] (July 7, 2022). "Am I supposed to share these numbers? $38M for production. Maybe another $20M to market it?" (Tweet). Retrieved July 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
- "The Bob's Burgers Movie (2022)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 17, 2022.