User:Tv's emory/Sandbox/Nickelodeon Animation Studios

Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Inc. (unofficially referred to as Nicktoons Studios on the network of the same name) is an animation studio located in Burbank, California. The studio was founded in 1991 as Games Animation, and is best-known for producing several animated television series for Nickelodeon and Nicktoons Network.

Games Animation (1991-1998)
In 1991, Nickelodeon founded Games Animation, Inc. as its in-house animation studio. Its initial duty was to carry on the production of The Ren and Stimpy Show, after Nickelodeon relieved Spumco and its creator John Kricfalusi of their duties on the show. At the time, Games was located in an office building in Studio City, California. Except for Ren and Stimpy, Nickelodeon's other original animated shows were done out-of-house at Jumbo Pictures (now known as Cartoon Pizza) in New York City, and locally at Klasky-Csupo.

Games Animation had no studio logo. Instead, every show it worked on had its own customized Games Animation logo.

A year later, Nickelodeon greenlit its first fully original in-house series, Rocko's Modern Life, which was produced at Games Animation. Games worked on the show for three years, and employed over 70 people during the course of its run. Like most animation studios in the United States, the show's actual animation production was handled overseas, in this case by Rough Draft Korea.

Production doubles, and then some
With the success of animation on basic cable in the 1990s and especially on Nickelodeon gaining more and more momentum, Games Animation ended up with two more series in 1996: Hey Arnold! and KaBlam!. KaBlam! also had its segments produced by other companies throughout the world. Unfortunately, 1996 would mean the end for Rocko's Modern Life for the network, and creator Joe Murray ended his animation career temporarily to work on children's books. While Games continued with its three shows, Nickelodeon also had Aaahh!!! Real Monsters happening at Klasky-Csupo, as well as a revival of Rugrats.

1997 came along and so did another new Games series, The Angry Beavers. It also brought the end of another, the floundering Ren and Stimpy Show. Nickelodeon's ex-show, [Doug]], was revived on ABC, while Klasky-Csupo began work on The Wild Thornberrys and Frederator Studios was ramping up for [[Oh Yeah! Cartoons]]. Across town, competitor Cartoon Network was making strides with its own original animated shows, which was helping boost animation production and employment across the Los Angeles area.

Nickelodeon Animation Studios (1998-)
In 1998, Nickelodeon decided to build its own animation studio in Burbank, California. The network advertised this as its new animation headquarters to make its audience more and more cartoons, with characters shouting "We need more cartoons!" The new studio allowed the crews of KaBlam!, Hey Arnold!, and The Angry Beavers to move across the valley and into the brand new building. By this time, Rocko's Modern Life had ceased production. The same year brought another new show under the studio's wing, CatDog. Across town at Cartoon Network, its new original The Powerpuff Girls as well as anime acquisition Dragon Ball Z would create stronger competition at Nickelodeon, but this would not hinder Nick's desire to continue making cartoons for kids. In 1999, Nickelodeon Animation Studios began work on what would ultimately be the network's most popular series ever, SpongeBob SquarePants. Unfortunately, other circumstances would hurt the network's production.

The attempt to organize begins
Beginning in 1997, The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) staged multiple pickets outside of Nickelodeon in an attempt to unionize the studio and improve working conditions for its artists. Unfortunately, not enough representation cards were collected to file with the National Labor Relations Board. This issue would not be re-visited for a couple years and the studio continued to operate under no union contracts.

Nickelodeon vs. The Writers Guild of America
By the year 2001, Nickelodeon had generated over $12 billion in revenue worldwide from shows it made out of its in-house Nickelodeon Animation Studios, which was still a non-union labor house. In response to this, Writers Guild of America West organizer Jerry Daly contacted The Animation Guild to work in tandem to organize the studio. The WGA, not far off from organizing a series of primetime animated shows, wished to continue its efforts in organizing animation. The organizers both collected representation cards from studio members, with almost all of the writing staff signing. In August 2001, a picket was organized outside of Nickelodeon Animation Studios, demanding that the studio go union. The WGA attempted to publicize the events and shame Nickelodeon into negotiating, but since there was no legal requirement by the National Labor Relations Board to do so without an official election, Nickelodeon simply ignored the WGA. In addition to this, Nickelodeon began weeding out those who aggressively pushed for the union contract, including writer Micah Wright, and firing over 20 writers. Months later, the WGA conceded and walked away from the studio.

The Aftermath
As a result of its internal rebellion, Nickelodeon ended up shutting down Hey Arnold!, The Angry Beavers, CatDog, and Invader ZIM, as well as shows that were still in production. Over 250 employees were laid off or fired. Hey Arnold! had enough episodes stockpiled to last it through 2004.

List of Nickelodeon Studios productions

 * Doug (co-production with Jumbo Pictures) (1991-1994)
 * Rugrats (co-production with Klasky-Csupo) (1991-1994; 1996-2004)
 * The Ren and Stimpy Show (co-production with Sp&uuml;mc&oslash; International) (1991-1996)
 * Rocko's Modern Life (co-production with Joe Murray Productions and Games Animation Inc.) (1993-1996)
 * Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (co-production with Klasky-Csupo) (1994-1997)
 * KaBlam! (1996-2000)
 * Hey Arnold! (co-production with Snee-Oosh, Inc.) (1996-2004)
 * The Angry Beavers (co-production with Gunther-Wahl Productions, Inc.) (1997-2001)
 * Oh Yeah! Cartoons (co-production with Frederator Studios) (1998-2001)
 * The Wild Thornberrys (co-production with Klasky-Csupo) (1998-2004)
 * CatDog (co-production with Peter Hannan Productions) (1998-2001)
 * Rocket Power (co-production with Klasky-Csupo) (1999-2004)
 * SpongeBob SquarePants (co-production with United Plankton Pictures Inc.) (1999-Present)
 * Pelswick (co-production with Nelvana and Suzhou Hong Ying Animation) (2000-2002)
 * As Told By Ginger (co-production with Klasky-Csupo) (2000-2004)
 * The Fairly OddParents (co-production with Frederator Studios) (2001-Present)
 * Invader ZIM (co-production with Nova Star Productions) (2001-2003)
 * ChalkZone (co-production with Frederator Studios) (2002-2004)
 * The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (co-production with O Entertainment and DNA Productions) (2002-2006)
 * All Grown Up! (co-production with Klasky-Csupo) (2003-On Hiatus)
 * My Life as a Teenage Robot (co-production with Frederator Studios) (2003-2006)
 * Danny Phantom (co-production with Billionfold Studios) (2004-2007)
 * Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
 * Catscratch (2005-2007)
 * The X's (2005-2006)
 * Mr. Meaty (co-production with 3Js Productions and CBC Television) (2006-2007)
 * El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera (co-production with Mexopolis) (2007-Present)
 * Wayside (co-production with Nelvana and Teletoon) (2007-Present)
 * Tak and the Power of Juju (2007-Present)
 * Back at the Barnyard (co-production with the Omation division of O Entertainment) (2007-Present)
 * Mighty B (2008-Present)