Wang Film Productions
 | |
| Industry | Animation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Taipei, Taiwan |
| Products | Feature films, television series |
| Services | Animation outsourcing |
| Owner | Government of Taiwan |
Wang Film Productions (also known as Hong Guang (宏廣) and Cuckoo's Nest Studio) is one of the oldest and most prolific Taiwanese animation studios. The company, based in Xindian, Taipei,[1] has done animation/ink and paint for various TV shows and films for studios in North America, Europe and Asia.
Its founder, James Wang (王中元), started the studio in 1978 as an overseas facility for the U.S. animation outlet Hanna-Barbera.[2] At the time, it was called Cuckoo's Nest Studio.[2]
The company is also famous for their work on the overseas production for Nelvana's Care Bears franchise, Film Roman's Garfield and Friends, Klasky Csupo's Rugrats pilot and first season, Disney's DuckTales and Stretch Films' Courage the Cowardly Dog. They also helped produce effects for the 1982 film Tron and some Peanuts television specials.
Feature films
Films produced by Wang Films
- Fire Ball (2005)
- Lin Wang (TBA) (currently in production)
Films outsourced from other studios
- Annabelle's Wish (1997)
- Babes in Toyland (1997)
- Balto II: Wolf Quest (2002)
- Balto III: Wings of Change (2003)
- Bebe's Kids (1992)
- Bionicle: Mask of Light (2003)
- Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui (2004)
- Bionicle 3: Web of Shadows (2005)
- The Brave Little Toaster (1987) (also co-produced with Hyperion Pictures and The Kushner-Locke Company)
- The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland (1987)
- The Care Bears Movie (1985)
- Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (1986)
- Curious George (2006)
- Felidae (1994) (uncredited)
- FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
- FernGully 2: The Magical Rescue (1998)
- GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords (1986)
- How the Toys Saved Christmas (1997)
- Jetsons: The Movie (1990)
- Joseph: King of Dreams (2000) (animation assistance)
- Leroy & Stitch (2006)
- The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000) (animation assistance)
- Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
- Mulan II (2005)
- Once Upon a Forest (1993)
- The Pagemaster (1994)
- Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension (2011)
- The Prince and the Pauper (additional ink and paint)
- The Powerpuff Girls Movie (2002, uncredited)
- Rover Dangerfield (1991)
- Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico (2003)
- My Little Pony Direct-to-Video films (also co-produced with Sabella Dern Entertainment and Hasbro Studios)
- Tarzan & Jane (2002)
- The Thief and the Cobbler (1993) (ink and paint: American unit)
- Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1992) (additional animation)
- Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie (1993) (additional animation)
TV shows
Out Sourced form other Studios
- The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo (1985-1986, uncredited) - 13 half hour episodes: To All the Ghouls I've Loved Before, Scoobra Kadoobra, Me and My Shadow Demon, Reflections in a Ghoulish Eye, That's Monstertainment, Ship of Ghouls, A Spooky Little Ghoul Like You, When You Witch Upon a Star, It's a Wonderful Scoob, Scooby in Kwackyland, Coast-to-Ghost, The Ghouliest Show on Earth and Horror-Scope Scoob
- 101 Dalmatians: The Series (1997-1998)
- 2 Stupid Dogs
- Aladdin (TV series) (1994) - 14 half-hour episodes: Elemental, My Dear Jasmine, To Cure a Thief, My Fair Aladdin, Web of Fear, Seems Like Old Crimes: Part 1, Seems Like Old Crimes: Part 2, The Love Bug, The Vapor Chase, The Day the Bird Stood Still, Smells Like Trouble, Armored and Dangerous, Dune Quixote, The Prophet Motive and Sea No Evil.
- American Dragon: Jake Long
- Animaniacs (1993-1998)
- Around the World with Willy Fog (2nd series produced in association with BRB Internacional, Spain)
- Baby Looney Tunes (2002-2005)
- Back to the Future: The Animated Series
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)
- Beetlejuice (TV series)
- Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures (Hanna-Barbera version)
- Bobby's World (1990-1998)
- Bonkers (1993-1994)
- Brandy & Mr. Whiskers
- The Busy World of Richard Scarry
- Captain N: The Game Master (1991-1992)
- Captain Planet and the Planeteers (Hanna-Barbera version)
- Capitol Critters
- Care Bears (Nelvana series)
- ChalkZone
- Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (Seasons 2 and 3 only)
- Challenge of the GoBots
- The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show
- Clifford the Big Red Dog (Nelvana series)
- The Comic Strip
- The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures
- Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999-2002)
- Darkwing Duck (1991) - 3 half-hour episodes: The Darkwing Squad, Inside Binkie's Brain and Slime Okay, You're Okay.
- Detention
- Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds (2nd series produced in association with BRB Internacional, Spain; and Thames Television, UK)
- Donkey Kong Country (1996-2000)
- DuckTales (some 1987 and 1989-1990 episodes only)
- The Emperor's New School (2006-2008)
- The Fairytaler (2004-2005)
- Family Dog (1993)
- Fantastic Four (First Season only. Animation production shared with Kennedy Cartoons)
- Fievel's American Tails
- Fillmore! (2002)
- The Flintstone Kids (1986-1988)
- Free Willy (TV series)
- The Further Adventures of SuperTed
- Foofur (1986-1988)
- Galtar and the Golden Lance (1985-1987)
- Garfield and Friends (1988-1994)
- The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible (1985-1993, direct-to-video series)
- Generation O!
- Goof Troop (1992–1993) - 8 half-hour episodes: Buddy Building, Where There's a Will, There's a Goof, Terminal Pete, Rally Round the Goof, Frankengoof, Calling All Goofs, Pistolgeist and Tee for Two.
- Hercules: The Animated Series (1998-2000)
- Hey Arnold! (1st season only)
- Histeria! (1998-2000)
- House of Mouse (2001-2004)
- Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling (1985-1987, Animation production shared with Shaft and Hanho Heung-Up)
- Inspector Gadget (first season only, 12 episodes: Down on the Farm, Gadget at the Circus, The Amazon, Movie Set, Amusement Park, Art Heist, M.A.D. Trap, Eye of the Dragon, King Wrong, Pirate Island, Smeldorado and So It Is Written)
- James Bond Jr. (1991)
- The Jetsons (1980's revival, 1985 episodes only)
- Jungle Cubs (1996-1998)
- Jungledyret Hugo (TV series, overseas animation)
- The Legend of Tarzan
- Life with Louie
- Lilo & Stitch: The Series
- The Little Mermaid (1992 TV series)
- The Little Lulu Show
- Madballs
- Madeline
- Marsupilami (1993-1994)
- Mickey Mouse Works (1999-2001)
- Mighty Ducks (1996-1997, Animated series)
- Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures (1987-1988)
- Mother Goose and Grimm
- My Life as a Teenage Robot
- Mythic Warriors
- Ned's Newt
- The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (3 1991 episodes: A Pooh Day Afternoon, The Wise Have It and To Dream the Impossible Scheme)
- New Kids on the Block (TV series)
- Phineas and Ferb
- The Pink Panther (1993 series)
- Pinky and the Brain (1995-1998)
- Pippi Longstocking
- Popeye and Son (1987-1988)
- Police Academy: The Animated Series
- A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (1988-1991)
- Rambo and the Forces of Freedom
- Raw Toonage (1992)
- Slimer! And The Real Ghostbusters (final 3 seasons only)
- The Ren & Stimpy Show (3 episodes only)
- Rugrats (Pilot & 1st season only in 1991)
- Sandokan (BRB International) (1992)
- The Shnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show (1995)
- Snorks (1984-1989)
- The Smurfs (Animation production shared with Toei Animation on some episodes during season 6-8)
- Star Wars: Ewoks (1985-1987)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (1993-1994)
- Stuart Little: The Animated Series
- The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries (1995)
- Tales from the Cryptkeeper
- TaleSpin (1990-1991) - 8 half-hour episodes: The Bigger They Are, the Louder the Oink, Bearly Alive, On a Wing and Bear, The Old Man and the SeaDuck, Sheepskin Deep, Waiders of the Wost Tweasure, Mach One for the Gipper and A Jolly Molly Christmas.
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996)
- Timon and Pumbaa (1995-1996)
- Tiny Toon Adventures (1990-1992) - 31 half-hour episodes: The Looney Beginning (animated by Kennedy Cartoons with a few scenes by Wang Film Productions), You Asked for It, Rock 'n' Roar, Career Oppor-Toon-ities, Dating, Acme Acres Style, Hare Raising Night, Citizen Max, Prom-ise Her Anything, The Acme Acres Zone, Starting from Scratch, Looking Out for the Little Guy, Spring in Acme Acres, Ask Mr. Popular, Europe in 30 Minutes, Fairy Tales for the 90's, Here's Hamton, No Toon Is An Island, Return to the Acme Acres Zone, Mr. Popular's Rules of Cool!, Viewer Mail Day, K-ACME TV, High Toon (animated by Kennedy Cartoons with a few scenes by Wang Film Productions), Going Places, Best of Buster Day, Toon TV, New Class Day, Flea for Your Life, Weekday Afternoon Live, Buster's Directorial Debut and The Horror of Slumber Party Mountain.
- Tom & Jerry Kids (1990-1993)
- The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat
- What's New, Scooby-Doo? (2002-2003) - 4 half-hour episodes: It's Mean, It's Green, It's the Mystery Machine, Roller Ghoster Ride, A Scooby-Doo Christmas and Pompeii and Circumstance.
- Yo Yogi! (1991-1992)
- Yogi's Treasure Hunt (1985-1987)
- What-A-Cartoon (some shorts)
- Wisdom of the Gnomes
- W.I.T.C.H. (TV series) (1st Season)
- Wildfire (1986-1987)
- Winx Club
Television films and specials
- The Betty Boop Movie Mystery (1989) (co-produced by King Features)
- Care Bears Nutcracker Suite (1988)
- Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue (1990) (co-produced by Southern Star Productions)
- Garfield: His 9 Lives (1988)
- Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10 TV Movies (1987-1988)
- Peanuts specials
- Scooby-Doo in Arabian Nights (1994)
- Tiny Toon Spring Break Special (1994)
- The Town Santa Forgot (1993)
See also
References
- ↑ Chang, Violet (1 May 1998). "Wang's World". Taiwan Review (Government Information Office, Republic of China (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2010-04-12.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lent, John A. (1 November 2000). "Animation in Asia: appropriation, reinterpretation, and adoption or adaptation". Screening the Past. La Trobe University. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
It was while he was in the U.S., after completing his masters degree at Indiana University and looking for ways to enter animation, that James Wang convinced Bill Hanna of Hanna-Barbera to back an offshore animation facility that Wang proposed in his native Taiwan. His Cuckoo's Nest (Wang Film Productions) quickly became one of the world's largest animation producers.
External links
- Official website, October 2007 (accessed at the Wayback Machine)
- Wang Film Productions at the Internet Movie Database
- Cuckoo's Nest Studios at the Internet Movie Database