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34-563: Mainframe Studios is a Canadian animation studio owned by Wow Unlimited Media and based in Vancouver , British Columbia . Founded in 1993 as Mainframe Entertainment Inc. by Christopher Brough, Ian Pearson, Phil Mitchell, Gavin Blair and John Grace, the company established itself as a leading contributor to the introduction of computer-generated imagery (CGI) live action in animation, film and television. The company previously operated as

68-461: A noted Los Angeles -based animation producer and a British animation team known as "The Hub" – Gavin Blair, Ian Pearson, Phil Mitchell and John Grace. They were looking to create ReBoot , the first fully computer-animated television series, after having used the technology to produce music videos like Money for Nothing and Let's Get Rocked . Due to the cost of shipping equipment back home, advantageous tax credits and proximity to Los Angeles,

102-492: A reason for the move, nor did it indicate whether it was his decision or the company's, though it was the latest event in a restructuring that began the previous month, as several top executives were laid off from the company. However, Bleeding Cool reported that he was fired. On April 28, 2022, it was officially announced that Dan DiDio would serve as publisher for Frank Miller 's newly-announced comic book company Frank Miller Presents (FMP). On August 23, 2022, Dan DiDio

136-584: A representative of Bell Support revealed that Comedy Gold would be shutting down anywhere between August 30 and September 1; Comedy Gold was ultimately shuttered on September 1, 2019. Wow would reveal in their Q2 financial report that they would have completed their acquisition of Comedy Gold's broadcast license on August 30, 2019. However, the license was revoked on February 5, 2021 before it could ever be launched. On October 27, 2021, Genius Brands (now Kartoon Studios) announced that it had agreed to acquire Wow Unlimited Media for C$ 66 million (US$ 53 million), with

170-494: A subsidiary of Starz Inc. (at the time a division of IDT Corporation ) between 2003 and 2007. Local post production firm, Rainmaker Income Fund, acquired a majority stake in the company, initially rebranding it in the process as Rainmaker Animation and would fold into it in 2008, permanently rebranding it as Rainmaker Entertainment . Rainmaker would revive the "Mainframe Entertainment" name for its then-newly-created division meant for television production . On October 25, 2016,

204-491: A television channel that will carry programs targeting children and young adults. The company also entered into agreements to provide content for Bell Media's over-the-top content services (including CraveTV ). In exchange for the channel, Bell Canada will acquire 3.4 million common voting shares in the company. Bell confirmed the deal in September 2017, further stating that it had agreed to provide operational services for

238-515: The COVID-19 pandemic , Mainframe Studios initiated remote work measures for its employees. On June 24, 2021, the company confirmed that it would develop a 2D-animation pipeline in support of its first production in the medium, an animated series inspired by YouTube personality Guava Juice. The following August, Mainframe announced that it would open a virtual studio in Toronto in the east of

272-487: The "Mainframe Entertainment" brand for its title, starting with a CG-animated incarnation of Bob the Builder . Rainmaker released its second theatrical feature film, Ratchet & Clank based on the video game series of the same name by Insomniac Games , in the first quarter of 2016 to financial failure. This poor reception to the film caused Rainmaker to take a $ 10 million impairment charge on their investment in

306-610: The 2008 and 2009 DC Halloween specials and the 2009 Holiday special. In 2009, he returned to regular writing duties with the weekly Metal Men feature in Wednesday Comics . In January 2010, DiDio wrote the Weird Western Tales tie-in issue of the Blackest Night crossover and took over regular monthly scripting of The Outsiders . As Co-Publisher, he oversaw the reboot of all current DC titles and

340-573: The Year" in 2003 for his work in the DC Universe line of comics. Prior to joining DC Comics, DiDio worked in television, beginning in 1981. DiDio was a freelance writer and story editor for Mainframe Entertainment , specifically working on ReBoot and War Planets . DiDio joined DC Comics in January 2002, as vice president–editorial, as well as writer for Superboy (issues #94 to 100). He

374-566: The animated reboot/spin-off of the Spy Kids (franchise) in 2018. In 2019, the studio released its first traditionally-animated production, a pilot based on Knowledge Network mascots made in Toon Boom Harmony . On March 16, 2020, the studio announced it would be rebranding as Mainframe Studios and consolidate Rainmaker Studios under the "Mainframe" branding and fully returning the studio to their original "Mainframe" name. Due to

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408-494: The best makeup according to each episode's theme. Lee and DiDio presented the contestants with that episode's challenge, to create a new superhero, with six DC Comics artists on hand to help them develop their ideas. The winning entry's character, Infernal Core by Anthony Kosar, was featured in Justice League Dark #16 (March 2013), which was published January 30, 2013. The episode premiered on January 22, 2013, as

442-448: The cancellation of Spider-Man: The New Animated Series that same year, the company moved away from producing television series. While a number of projects were announced they ultimately did not see fruition, including a pre-school oriented ReBoot spinoff called Binomes as well as Mainframe's first live-action production, an adaptation of Harriet the Spy . In 2005, the company acquired

476-399: The channel, and co-develop content. The sale of Comedy Gold to Wow Unlimited Media was approved on July 9, 2018, and CraveTV launched "Wow! Preschool Playdate" and "Wow! World Kids" collections in September. However, on March 12, 2019, Wow issued a press release announcing an extension to the transfer of the channel's license "to pursue sponsorships and partnerships". On July 24, 2019,

510-401: The company announced a triple acquisition and merger of Frederator Networks and Ezrin-Hirsh Entertainment to create the holding company, WOW! Unlimited Media, and rebrand a second time to Rainmaker Studios . In 2020, the company would rebrand a third and final time to Mainframe Studios to return to their "Mainframe Entertainment" name roots. The company is best known for the production of

544-489: The company changed the names of its home-base divisions to Rainmaker Studios and Mainframe Studios . Since the reorganization, the company has been heavily involved in television production animating ReBoot: The Guardian Code , a live-action/CGI-animated re-imagining of the ReBoot brand, Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures , the first-ever full-length TV series in the "Barbie" media franchise and Spy Kids: Mission Critical ,

578-616: The company set up shop in Vancouver, Canada . In 1994, ReBoot launched on ABC in the United States and YTV in Canada. The series intermittently ran for four seasons with production ending in 2001. The company's second project was produced for American toy company Hasbro . Beast Wars (known in Canada as Beasties ), a relaunch of the Transformers brand, debuted in 1996 and concluded in 1999. A follow-up, Beast Machines

612-525: The company worked on a number of projects, including cut-scenes for Prototype , 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand and Ghostbusters: The Video Game , as well as the 2006 MTV Movie Awards . Finding itself under new ownership, IDT sold its 62% stake in Mainframe to Vancouver-based post-production firm Rainmaker Income Fund on July 20, 2006, for $ 13.8 million. The next month Rainmaker announced it would acquire

646-793: The company, lowering their ownership to 7.8%. Christopher Brough became the CEO , Pearson the president, Blair as director of operations and Mitchell as Blair's assistant/vice. In its first year on the stock exchange, Mainframe posted an $ 11 million loss despite producing hit multi-award-winning computer-animated shows during this period. Mainframe opened its American division in Los Angeles on April 17, 1998, to be led by Dan DiDio and oversee content development, production and local distribution. DiDio previously worked with Mainframe through his stint as executive director of children's programming at ABC. After having earlier produced two ReBoot themed rides for

680-487: The company, the IMAX Corporation made a $ 16 million investment in the company in 1999, which gave IMAX roughly 30% ownership of Mainframe, included the creation of a new joint venture meant to facilitate the creation of animated films based on Gulliver's Travels and Pied Piper , with a third project titled Pandora’s Box. The films were intended to be stereoscopic, 3D feature length releases, though none of

714-562: The country, building upon its earlier remote work experience. Features/cinematic/theatrical: Television: Direct-to-video (DTV) : Wow Unlimited Media On October 26, 2016, a three-way merger was announced between Rainmaker and Frederator, with the addition of EHE. On December 16 of that year, the merger was completed. On June 7, 2017, the company announced its intent to acquire an unspecified category B specialty television service from Bell Media , later revealed by company president Randy Lennox to be Comedy Gold , to form

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748-545: The distribution rights to the live-action/CGI-animated television series Zixx . Mainframe also provided animation for the show's second and third seasons in conjunction with Thunderbird Films . The bulk of the company's work now consisted of direct-to-video projects and television specials . After producing the visuals for the 2003 MTV Movie Awards , Mainframe started a creative services division to produce video game animation, graphic design, motion graphics, titling, show opening sequences and branding in 2005. This branch of

782-473: The first fully computer-animated half-hour television series ReBoot ; Beast Wars , a reimagined relaunch of Transformers from Hasbro ; and Barbie since 2001, in partnership with American toy company Mattel — the majority of films which later expanded into other audiovisual media to create a multimedia franchise for the flagship fashion doll property. The company was established in 1993 as Mainframe Entertainment Inc. by Christopher Brough,

816-520: The production and was later cited as the reason the company abandoned plans to adapt the Sly Cooper video game franchise into a theatrical film. Later that year on October 25, Rainmaker announced their intent to acquire and merge Erzin-Hirsh Entertainment and American-based Frederator Networks (and its main division, Frederator Studios ) and consolidate them under its then-new holding company, WOW! Unlimited Media Inc. ( TSX :WOW.A) At that time,

850-515: The release led to a longstanding relationship between Mattel and the animation studio. Mainframe (and its successors) would later produce the majority of the franchise's direct-to-video films, as well as a television series . Following financial losses of $ 18.9 million and $ 7.5 million in fiscal 2002 and 2003, the American IDT Corporation announced it would purchase 56% of Mainframe for $ 14 million on September 16, 2003. After

884-443: The remaining 38% of Mainframe. On January 30, 2007, Mainframe was renamed to Rainmaker Animation . Later that year, Rainmaker sold its visual effects and post production divisions to Deluxe Entertainment Services Group , leaving only the animation business. In June 2012, Chinese animation studio Xing Xing Digital announced its intent to purchase Rainmaker, with the company willing to pay off Rainmaker's $ 7 million debt. The purchase

918-657: The second episode of the fourth season. A Phantom Stranger ongoing series written by DiDio and drawn by Brent Anderson began in September 2012. DiDio and Keith Giffen reunited on Infinity Man and the Forever People in 2014. DiDio, Justin Jordan , and Kenneth Rocafort created the Sideways series as part of DC's "Dark Matter" line. On February 21, 2020, DiDio stepped down as Co-Publisher of DC Comics after ten years at that position. The company did not give

952-548: The success, the company faced a major management shakeup that year. Pearson had stepped down as president in June and left the company shortly after, with fellow co-founders Blair and Mitchell also leaving in 2002 and 2005, respectively. In 2001, American toy maker Mattel partnered with Mainframe to produce Barbie in the Nutcracker . The direct-to-video feature sold more than 3.4 million units in its first year. The success of

986-461: The three saw completion. At the end of the 1999 fiscal year, the company reported a $ 17 million loss. Thanks to episode deliveries for Beast Machines , Beast Wars , Shadow Raiders and Weird-Oh's the company posted its first profit of $ 1.4 million in fiscal 2000. Buoyed by Heavy Gear , Action Man and their first direct-to-video film, Casper's Haunted Christmas , Mainframe posted another profit of $ 2.4 million for fiscal 2001. Despite

1020-473: The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022. The acquisition was completed on April 7, 2022. Dan DiDio Dan DiDio ( / d ɪ ˈ d iː oʊ / ; born October 13, 1959) is an American writer, editor, and publisher who has worked in the television and comic book industries. From February 2010 until February 2020, he was the co-publisher of DC Comics , along with Jim Lee . Wizard magazine recognized him as its first ever "Man of

1054-431: Was called off after Rainmaker and Xing Xing were unable to finalize the sale by September 14, 2012. In 2013, Rainmaker completed its first theatrical feature film, Escape from Planet Earth . Directed by Cal Brunker, it received mixed reviews from critics but was a success at the box office, grossing around $ 75 million worldwide. On October 7 that same year, Rainmaker launched a television production division and revived

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1088-486: Was produced between 1999 and 2000. Both ReBoot and Beast Wars were produced with Alliance Communications , who had taken a 50% ownership of Mainframe. In 1996, Mainframe paid $ 17 million to reduce Alliance's share to 15%. Mainframe became a publicly traded company with a listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange on June 17, 1997. In conjunction with the public offering, Alliance sold 700,000 shares in

1122-537: Was promoted to vice president–executive editor, DC Universe in October 2004. In 2006, DiDio began writing a weekly column called "DC Nation" which appeared on the end page of most of DC Comics' main superhero titles. Originally, the column was tied to 52 , a project he was overseeing. On February 18, 2010, DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson named DiDio as co-publisher of DC Comics, along with Jim Lee . Dan DiDio returned to writing comics with short stories for

1156-618: Was the co-writer of the OMAC series with artist Keith Giffen . DiDio wrote a Challengers of the Unknown storyline for DC Universe Presents which was drawn by Jerry Ordway . In July 2012, as part of San Diego Comic-Con , DiDio and DC co-publisher Jim Lee participated in the production of "Heroic Proportions", an episode of the Syfy reality television competition series Face Off , in which special effects makeup artists compete to create

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