Gametoons is a franchise of theatrical shorts and full-length feature films created by Games and William Anderson, produced by Pinwheel Animation and released by Paramount Pictures from 1945 to 1985. Influenced by Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse/Silly Symphonies, Warner Bros' Looney Tunes, and MGM's Tom and Jerry, Games and William Anderson decided to start producing theatrical cartoons for Paramount. This would be after the success of the Popeye cartoons. Due to the gargantuan success of the shorts, Paramount started a franchise that includes characters that are part of the Gametoons. The Sponge and the Star and The Teenage Robot Jenny were the first franchises to be incorporated as part of the Gametoons franchise.
The studio that produced the series was Pinwheel Animation, founded by Games and William Anderson, based in Los Angeles, California, on September 2, 1930. On April 6, 2003, Games Anderson passed away at the age of 92, while William Anderson also passed away on May 1, 2008, at the age of 96.
In 1985, Paramount announced that Gametoons would no longer have theatrical short films due to them focusing more on cartoons for television. Because of this, Pinwheel Animation was renamed Animatiount and moved to a new location in Studio City, Los Angeles, California. Some of the Pinwheel Animation staff, including Scott Anderson, Nova Anderson, and Julie Anderson, went on to join Animatiount. Gametoons has since eventually evolved into a media franchise, spawning several television series, feature films, comic books, music albums, video games, and amusement park rides.
Influenced by Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse/Silly Symphonies and Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes, Miltack and Thomas decided to start producing their own theatrical cartoons. Due to the success of the shorts, they started a franchise that includes characters that are part of the Gametoons.
Gametoons has since become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television series, feature films, comic books, music albums, video games, and amusement park rides, as well as serving as Games Animation's flagship franchise. The most famous Gametoons characters SpongeBob SquarePants and Jenny Wakeman are regarded as a cultural icon and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
History
Beginnings: 1945-1949
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Golden Age: 1949-1967
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Dark Age: 1967-1975
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2nd Golden Age: 1975-1985
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1985-1999
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2000-present
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Shorts
Main article: Gametoons filmography
Characters
Main article: List of Gametoons characters