Saban Entertainment
The logo utilized as Saban Entertainment from 1996-2001. | |
Formerly called |
Saban Productions, Inc. (from 1980) Saban Entertainment, Inc. (to 2001) |
---|---|
Industry |
Animation Production |
Fate | Acquired then inactive |
Founded | 1980 |
Defunct | 2002 |
Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
Haim Saban Shuki Levy |
Products |
Television programs Theatrical films |
Parent |
ABC Family Worldwide (Disney–ABC Television Group) |
Saban Entertainment, Inc. (along with Saban International, which operated outside the US; current legal name is BVS Entertainment, Inc.), was a worldwide-served independent American-Israeli television production company formed in 1980 by music and television producers Haim Saban[1] and Shuki Levy as "Saban Productions".
This company was known for importing, dubbing, and adapting several Japanese series such as, Maple Town (...Stories), Noozles (Fushigi na Koala Blinky and Pinky), Funky Fables (Video Anime Ehonkan Sekai Meisaku Dowa), Samurai Pizza Cats (Kyatto Ninden Teyande) and the first three Digimon series to North America and international markets for syndication, including both animation and live action shows. Saban is also notable for their various toku adapts of several shows from Toei Company, which include Power Rangers (based on the Super Sentai series), Big Bad Beetleborgs (based on Juukou B-Fighter), VR Troopers (featuring elements of Metal Hero series like Space Sheriff Shaider, Jikuu Senshi Spielban and Choujinki Metalder), and Masked Rider (an original interpretation using scenes from the Japanese Kamen Rider Black RX).
Saban was involved in the co-production of French/American animated shows created by Jean Chalopin for DIC Entertainment. Some of these early 1980s co-productions were Camp Candy, Ulysses 31, Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors, and The Mysterious Cities of Gold (the third of which was a Japanese co-production).
Saban has also distributed and provided music for TV programs produced by other companies, such as The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, Inspector Gadget and the first two dub seasons of Dragon Ball Z.
History
Early years
Saban Entertainment was formed in 1980[2] as "Saban Productions". The first Saban logo depicted a Saturn-like planet with the word "Saban", in a Pac-Man style font, going across the planet's ring. The planet had five lines under the word "Productions". Several years later, the company created Saban International), for international distribution of its shows (note: though used interchangeably with "Saban International Paris", they were technically two different entities).
In 1986, Saban Productions bought the foreign rights to the DIC Entertainment library of children's programming, and then sold the rights to Jean Chalopin's C&D.[3][4] DIC then sued Saban for damages and in 1991, DIC and Saban reached a settlement.[5]
In 1988, the company renamed itself Saban Entertainment. As the company grew additional executive were hired as to push into new areas like prime time programming. Saban hired, to head Saban International distribution arm, Stan Golden from Horizon International TV. Then in August 1989, Tom Palmieri came from MTM Enterprises to become Saban president. By January 2, 1990, Saban formed Saban/Scherick Productions division for production done with Edgar Scherick, primarily miniseries and made-for-TV movies.[2]
Partnership with Marvel Comics
New World Animation (The Incredible Hulk), Saban (X-Men), and Marvel Films Animation (Spider-Man) each produced a Marvel series for television.[6]
In July 1996, Fox Children's Network secured rights from Marvel Entertainment Group for Captain America, Daredevil and Silver Surfer and additional characters to be developed into four series and 52 episodes over seven years.[7] Also in July, Saban formed a new division, Saban Enterprises International, to handle international licensing, merchandising and promotional activities under president Michael Welter. Oliver Spiner, senior vice president of Saban International, takes over operational duties previously handled by Welter. Eric Rollman was promoted from senior vice president production to executive vice president of Saban Animation.[8]
Saban and ARD TV Network of Germany agreed in August 1996 to a three-year, $50 million co-production and library program licensing agreement. Six co-produced children's series totaling 182 from German author Michael Ende with two new shows, Jim Button and Night of the Wishes. Also, a part of the agreement 390 half-hour episodes of existing children's TV programs and 30 telefilms were acquired by ARD.[8]
In 1996, Fox Children's Productions merged with Saban Entertainment to form Fox Kids Worldwide bring the Marvel Productions and Marvel Films Animations library.[9][10][11]
Marvel was developing a Captain America animated series with Saban Entertainment for Fox Kids to premiere in fall 1998.[12] However, due to Marvel's bankruptcy the series was canceled before the premiere.[13] Ironically, both Marvel and Saban would become parts of The Walt Disney Company; Saban (renamed BVS Entertainment) in 2002 and Marvel by the end of 2009. Then in 2010, Haim Saban founded a new company, Saban Capital Group (SCG), they produced shows under the name Saban Brands such as all Power Rangers seasons starting with Power Rangers Samurai and Glitter Force.
BVS Entertainment
On July 23, 2001, it was announced that the group would be sold to The Walt Disney Company as part of the sale of Fox Family Worldwide (now ABC Family Worldwide) by Haim Saban and News Corporation,[14] and on October 24, 2001, the sale was completed[1][15] and the group was renamed BVS Entertainment,[16] which may or may not have still existed as a separate company. The last official program and fully produced and distributed by Saban Entertainment was Power Rangers Time Force. However, Power Rangers Wild Force was the last series created by Saban and the latest which had a collaboration (Saban created the series and produced only pre-production, following the acquisition of Fox Family Worldwide, the show belongs to copyright of Disney and was distributed by BVS, although the show was produced by MMPR Productions, the producer of the Power Rangers during the Saban era). As of 2009, it appears that BVS Entertainment has become inactive, putting its future in question.
Saban International Paris
Saban International Paris, later SIP Animation, was a television production company based in France that operated from 1977 to 2008.
Saban International Paris was found in France by Haim Saban and Jacqueline Tordjman in 1977 as a television production company. In 1983, Saban International Paris moved into the animation field. The studio would go on to produce many animated series for Fox Kids Europe in the 1990s and 2000s. Haim Saban departed the company in 2001 with the purchase of Fox Family Worldwide, which was followed by The Walt Disney Company taking a stake in the company and a name change to SIP Animation on October 1, 2002.[17][18][19] SIP continued to co-produce animated series with Jetix Europe (previously Fox Kids Europe) during the 2000s.[20][21] SIP Animation was closed in 2008.[22]
Sensation Animation
Sensation Animation was a renamed portion of Saban Entertainment[23] to continue dubbing Digimon (Digimon Frontier) episodes from 2002 to 2003 after Disney bought the company. It ceased in 2003 after Disney lost the rights to dub Digimon.
List of television series and films
Animation TV series
Saban Entertainment animated TV series
- Camp Candy (NBC)[2]
With Marvel
- Kid 'n Play (1990–1991)
- Little Shop (1991)
- X-Men (1992–1997) Fox Kids with Graz Entertainment[24]
- Iron Man (1994–1996)
- Fantastic Four (1994–1996)
- Spider-Man (1994–1998) Fox Kids[25] first season by Marvel Films Animation
- The Incredible Hulk (1996–1997) UPN Kids[24]
- Silver Surfer (1998) Fox Kids[25]
- The Avengers: United They Stand (1999–2000)
- Spider-Man Unlimited (1999–2001)
With DIC Entertainment
- Kidd Video (1984–1985) NBC[2]
- Care Bears (1985–1986) DiC episodes, international distribution
- Kissyfur (1986–1990)
- ALF: The Animated Series (1987–1989)
- The New Archies (1987–1988)
- Barbie and the Rockers: Out of this World (1987)
- Barbie and The Sensations: Rockin' Back to Earth
- ALF Tales (1988–1989) NBC[2]
- The Karate Kid (1989)
- The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! (1989–1990, international distribution)
With Nelvana
- Eek! The Cat/The Terrible Thunderlizards (1992–1997) (rights to the series held by Saban and Fox Kids Worldwide prior to 2001)[26]
with CineGroupe
- Bad Dog (1998–1999)
- The Kids from Room 402 (1999–2000)
With others
- Lazer Tag Academy (1986–1987)
- Zazoo U (1990–1991)
- Mad Scientist Toon Club (1993-1994)
- The Tick (1994) (distribution only)[27]
- Little Mouse on the Prairie1997-1998) Fox Family Channel: Morning Scramble block[25]
- Bureau of Alien Detectors (1996–1997) UPN Kids[24]
- The Mouse and the Monster (1996–1997) UPN Kids[24]
- Mad Jack the Pirate (1998–1999) Fox Kids[25]
- The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs (1998–1999) Fox Kids[25]
- Monster Farm (1998–1999)
- NASCAR Racers (1999–2001)
- Xyber 9: New Dawn (1999, 2007)
- Action Man (2000-2002)
- Tootuff (2002)
Saban International Paris' animated TV series
Some or most series had all but featured the "Saban's" corporate bug in their title.
- Diplodos (1987–1988)
- Saban's Around the World in 80 Dreams (1992–1993)
- Saban’s Gulliver’s Travels (1992–1993)
- The Bots Master (1993–1994)
- Journey to the Heart of the World (1993–1994)
- BattleTech: The Animated Series (1994)
- Creepy Crawlers (1994–1996)
- Space Strikers (1995–1996)
- Tenko and the Guardians of the Magic (1995–1996)
- Iznogoud (1995)
- The Why Why Family (1995–1998) syndication[24]
- Saban's Adventures of Oliver Twist (1996–1997) syndication,[24] (1998-1999) Fox Family Channel: Tic Tac Toons (1998-1998)[25]
- Princess Sissi (1997–1998)
- Space Goofs (1997–2000) (season 1 only)
- Walter Melon (1998–1999)
- Wunschpunsch (2000)
- Diabolik (2000–2001)
- Jim Button (2000–2001)
- Gadget & the Gadgetinis (2001-2003)
- What's with Andy? (2003–2004) (season 2 only)
- W.I.T.C.H. (2004–2006) Jetix
- The Tofus (2004–2007)
- A.T.O.M. (2005–2006)
- Combo Ninos (2008)
Other foreign animated TV series
Saban Entertainment dubbed the following foreign animated TV series in English:
- The Mysterious Cities of Gold [a.k.a. Les Mystérieuses Cités d'or] (1982–1983)
- Spartakus and the Sun Beneath the Sea [a.k.a. Les Mondes Engloutis (The Englufed Worlds)] (1985–1987)
- Jin Jin and the Panda Patrol (1994)
Japanese anime
Saban Entertainment dubbed and or distributed the following anime television series in English:
- Macron 1 (1985–1986)
- Bumpety Boo (1985–1986)
- Maple Town (1986–1987)
- My Favorite Fairy Tales (1986) (video series)
- Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics (1987–1989)
- Ox Tales (1987–1988)
- Noozles (1988–1993)
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1988)
- Tales of Little Women (1988)
- Wowser (1988–1989), (1998-)Fox Family Channel: Morning Scramble block[25]
- Dragon Warrior (1989–1991)
- Peter Pan: The Animated Series (1989)
- Maya the Bee (1990–1992)
- Hyppo and Thomas (1990–1992) (released under the brand "Tic Tac Toons")
- Tamagon the Counselor (1990–1992) (released under the brand "Tic Tac Toons")
- Samurai Pizza Cats (dubbed in 1991; released during 1993-1996) syndication[24]
- Jungle Tales (1991)
- The Littl' Bits (1991–1995)
- Honeybee Hutch (1991–1992)
- Saban's Adventures of the Little Mermaid (1991–1992)
- Bob in a Bottle (1992)
- Funky Fables (1992) (video series released under the brand "Sugar & Spice")
- Huckleberry Finn (1992)
- Jin Jin and the Panda Patrol (1992)
- Rock 'n Cop (1992)
- Three Little Ghosts (1992)
- Pinocchio: The Series (1992)
- Dream-Star Button Nose (1994)
- Super Pig (1994–1995)
- Teknoman (1995–1996)
- Eagle Riders (1996-1997) Syndication[24]
- Bit the Cupid (1998-) Fox Family Channel: Morning Scramble block[25]
- Dragon Ball Z (1996–1998) Syndication (TV distributor and musical composer for the Funimation-Ocean Productions dub of the first two seasons)[28][29][24]
- Digimon Adventure (1999–2000)
- Cybersix (1999–2000)
- Hello Kitty's Paradise (1999-2000)
- Flint the Time Detective (2000)
- Shinzo (dubbed in 2000; released during 2002-2005)
- Dinozaurs (2000)
- Escaflowne (2000)
- Digimon Adventure 02 (2000–2001)
- Digimon Tamers (2001–2002)
- Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001–2002)
- Mon Colle Knights (2001-2002)
Live-action TV series
Saban Entertainment produced and or distributed the following live action TV series:
- I'm Telling! (1987–1988)
- Treasure Mall (1988)
- Couch Potatoes (1989)
- Video Power (1990–1992)
- Scorch (1992)
- The Hallo Spencer Show (1993–1994)
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993–1996)
- VR Troopers (1994–1996) [30]
- Sweet Valley High (1994–1997)
- Goosebumps (1995–1998) (International distribution only)
- Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers (1996)
- Masked Rider (1995–1996)[30]
- Power Rangers Zeo (1996)
- Big Bad Beetleborgs (1996–1998) [31]
- Power Rangers Turbo (1997)
- Breaker High (1997-1998)
- Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (1997–1998)[31]
- The All New Captain Kangaroo (1997–1998) (season 1 only)
- Power Rangers in Space (1998)
- Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog (1998–1999)[31]
- The New Addams Family (1998-1999)
- Power Rangers Lost Galaxy (1999)
- Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue (2000)
- Power Rangers Time Force (2001)
- Los Luchadores (2001)[31]
- Power Rangers Wild Force (2002)
Live-action films
- Rescue Me (1988)
- Heathers (1989)
- A Perfect Little Murder (1990)
- Prey of the Chameleon (1992)
- Round Trip to Heaven (1992)
- A Passion for Murder (1992)
- Revenge on the Highway (1992)
- Till Death Us Do Part (1992)
- Anything for Love (1993)
- In the Shadows, Someone's Watching (1993)
- Under Investigation (1993)
- Terminal Voyage (1994)
- Samurai Cowboy (1994)
- Shadow of Obsession (1994)
- Guns of Honor: Rebel Rousers (1994)
- Blindfold: Acts of Obsession (1994)
- Guns of Honor: Trigger Fast (1994)
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995)
- Virtual Seduction (1995)
- Christmas Reunion (1995)
- Blind Vision (1996)
- Chimp Lips Theater (1997)
- Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997)
- Casper: A Spirited Beginning (1997)
- The Christmas List (1997)
- Gotcha (1998)
- Circles (1998)
- National Lampoon's Men in White (1998)
- Casper Meets Wendy (1998)
- Rusty: A Dog's Tale (1998)
- Addams Family Reunion (1998)
- Richie Rich's Christmas Wish (1998)
- The Christmas Takeover (1998)
- Men of Means (1999)
- Taken (1999)
- Don't Look Behind You (1999)
- Au Pair (1999)
- Ice Angel (2000)
- Au Pair II (2001)
- Oh, Baby! (2001)
Saban/Scherick Productions
- The Phantom of the Opera (1990) NBC miniseries starring Burt Lancaster and Charles Dance[2]
- The Secret Life of Ian Fleming (1990) TNT TV movie[2]
- Nightmare in the Daylight (1992) CBS-TV TV movie with Smith/Richmond Productions[32]
Animated films
- Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (1997) (TV distributor and musical composer for the 1997 Funimation-Ocean Productions dub)
- Digimon: The Movie (2000)
Media releases
- Most Saban Entertainment-owned media from the early 1990s made their way to VHS in most regions. However, from the late 1990s on, almost all Saban Entertainment-owned entities were only released as Australian and New Zealand Region 4 VHSes. And also, according to current North American rights holders, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment had (and still has) no plans to release these titles to DVD and Blu-ray, and as such, some of them instead aired on their sibling television channel, Disney XD and originally was on Toon Disney and ABC Family before the retirement of the Jetix branding in the United States.
Digimon
- In Australia, Digimon: Digital Monsters seasons one and two was re-released by Madman Entertainment on August 17, 2011.[33][34]
- In addition, the first four series was released on DVD in North America through New Video.
Power Rangers
- In Germany they have released complete season box sets to every Power Rangers series, with the English Versions included up until season 6 due to problems with Disney. The series is available in the German Amazon.[35]
- The first 17 seasons of Power Rangers have been licensed for DVD releases by Shout! Factory, which has released the first 17 seasons to DVD in Region 1.[36]
- Saban is teaming up with Lions Gate Entertainment to make a live-action reboot movie of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers[37]
Others
- On March 13, 2012, Shout! Factory announced a home video distribution deal with Saban, which includes VR Troopers, the two seasons of Beetleborgs and Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation.
Saban's library
Although most of Saban's library is currently owned by The Walt Disney Company, there are a few exceptions: The Power Rangers franchise, which was purchased by Haim Saban from Disney for $43 million on May 12, 2010[38] and the Digimon franchise, which Saban re-acquired in September 2012.[39][40][41]
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie and Digimon: The Movie are owned by 20th Century Fox.
- Addams Family Reunion and Richie Rich's Christmas Wish are owned by Warner Bros. Entertainment.
- The licenses to various anime series dubbed by Saban Entertainment eventually reverted to their original Japanese authors (in most cases Tatsunoko Production or Toei Company).[26] There were certain exceptions with more recent Saban dubbed titles, such as Mon Colle Knights (2000), Shinzo (2000) and Digimon (1999), which were briefly distributed by Disney/Buena Vista.
Anime dubbing
Saban had a dubbing studio. Whenever Japanese anime were released in North America by Saban, they were heavily edited and localized for US audiences. The original music score was completely removed and a brand new completely different musical score was added in its place. Furthermore, the original Japanese sound effects for some of their adaptations were completely replaced by brand new sound effects, either completely original or different and some of them newly designed and some of them newly recorded. In some Japanese anime, the episode title card would be kept, replaced by a new one or removed allowing for the episode's English dub title to appear on screen at the beginning of the episode. Then the opening credits for the writer of the English version and the English version producers and story editors will appear.
References
- 1 2 "Haim Saban". Saban. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Apodoaca, Patrice (January 2, 1990). "Saban Seeks Older TV Audience : Programs: The founder of Saban Entertainment, which produces children's shows, takes the leap to prime time.". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
- ↑ "Haim Saban, producer, in Hollywood, Washington, Israel". The New Yorker. May 10, 2010. p. 3. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
- ↑ Perlmutter, David (2014). America Toons In: A History of Television Animation. pp. 207–212. ISBN 9780786476503. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ↑ "Haim Saban, producer, in Hollywood, Washington, Israel". The New Yorker. May 10, 2010. p. 4. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
- ↑ Goldman, Michael. "Stan Lee: Comic Guru". Animation World Magazine. Animation World Network. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
- ↑ "AWM's July 7, 1996 Email News Flash:Marvel Super Heroics To Continue On Fox Kids Network". Animation World Magazine. August 1996. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- 1 2 "AWM's July 21, 1996 Email News Flash: Welter New President In Saban's Overhaul". Animation World Magazine. August 1996. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- ↑ "Fox Family Worldwide Inc". Saban. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
- ↑ "Haim Saban, producer, in Hollywood, Washington, Israel". The New Yorker. May 10, 2010. p. 5. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
- ↑ Hillier, Barry (November 1, 1996). "Fox Kids Worldwide is born". Kidscreen. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
- ↑ "TV News: Fox Kids, Family Channel To Get [Very] Animated.". Animation World Magazine. February 1998. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
- ↑ "Captain America "Skullhenge"". Animation. Steve Engelhart. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
- ↑ "News Corp. and Haim Saban Reach Agreement to Sell Fox Family Worldwide to Disney for $5.3 Billion". saban. July 23, 2001. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
- ↑ "Haim Saban, producer, in Hollywood, Washington, Israel". The New Yorker. May 10, 2010. p. 6. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
- ↑ "Company Overview of BVS Entertainment, Inc.". Bloomberg Business. Bloomberg. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
- ↑ "SIP Animation Appoint Sylvie Barro As Head of Development". 4rfv.co.uk. January 17, 2007. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
- ↑ Godfrey, Leigh (September 25, 2002). "Saban Becomes SIP Before Journey To Mipcom". Animation World Network. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
- ↑ Waller, Ed (October 1, 2002). "SIP Animation adapts Italian comic books". C21 Media. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
- ↑ DeMott, Rick (April 12, 2005). "W.I.T.C.H. Licensed on Free TV To 13 Countries Across Europe". AWN News. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
- ↑ Baisley, Sarah (May 10, 2007). "Jetix Europe, SIP Animation & TF1 to Co-Produce Combo Ninos". AWN News. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
- ↑ Zahed, Ramin (December 2, 2011). "French TV Animator Bruno Bianchi Passes Away". Animation Magazine. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Criteria for DISNEY ANIMATED MOVIES". thecompletistgeek.com. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "TV's Fall Animation Lineup". September 1996. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bevilacqua, Joe (September 9, 1998). "Tooning in the 1998 Fall Season". Animation World Network. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
- 1 2 "ABC FAMILY WORLDWIDE INC - Securities Registration Statement (S-1/A) EXHIBIT 10.19".
- ↑ "Saban signs new licensees". Kidscreen. 1996-10-01. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
- ↑ Hontz, Jenny (3 December 1996). "Saban to sell new’Kangaroo,’ ‘X-Men’".
- ↑ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television cartoon shows: an illustrated encyclopedia, 1949 through 2003. McFarland & Co. pp. 283–285.
- 1 2 Dean, Charles (March 5, 2017). "Power Strangers: 15 Weird Power Rangers Knock-Offs". CBR.com. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4
- ↑ Scott, Tony (November 20, 1992). "Review: ‘Cbs Sunday Movie Nightmare in the Daylight’". Variety. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
- ↑ "Digimon: Digital Monsters on Madman". www.madman.com. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- ↑ "Digimon: Digital Monsters (Season 2) on Madman". www.madman.com. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- ↑ "Power Rangers on German Amazon". German Amazon. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- ↑ "Power Rangers: Seasons 13-17". Shout! Factory. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
- ↑ Lionsgate (2014-05-07). "LIONSGATE AND SABAN BRANDS PARTNER FOR POWER RANGERS LIVE ACTION FEATURE FILM - SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 7, 2014". Newswire.ca. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
- ↑ Bond, Paul (August 10, 2010). "Disney's Q3 boosted by TV operations profit; Power Rangers sale added $43 million to coffers". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
- ↑ Crowe, Deborah (September 25, 2012). "Saban Brands Acquires Digimon Anime Brand". Los Angeles Business Journal. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
- ↑ "Saban Brands Acquires Digimon Anime Franchise". AnimeNewsNetwork. September 25, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
- ↑ Sarah (September 25, 2012). "Saban Brands Acquires Digimon Brand". BSCKids. Retrieved September 26, 2012.