Felix the Cat Productions, Inc. is an independent studio and the former owner of the Felix the Cat and other characters until 2014 when DreamWorks Animation via DreamWorks Classics acquired the rights to the characters (with exception of Poindexter whose rights remain with Don Oriolo).
Although Felix the Cat Productions is an overall independent studio, it didn't release Felix the Cat: The Movie on its own. It once had a distribution deal with New World Pictures, but during the theatrical and TV releases only, as Felix Productions fully owns that title on video.
History[]
Felix the Cat Productions was founded in May 1950, succeeded Felix the Cat Inc. In October, Pat Sullivan Jr. attended a meeting of the directors of the studio, who included Emmet Poindexter and Otto Messmer.[1]
In 1958, Felix the Cat Creations was incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Felix the Cat Productions,[2] and Joe Oriolo became a business partner with Sullivan and the original copyright owner of Felix the Cat.
In 1960, a second television series with Felix, and several other pilots including The Kewpies, Don Poco, Beetle Bailey and Albert and Cholmondeley, were planned by Oriolo's studio.[3] Trans-Lux refused to accommodate the money to support it, and he was forced to disband. After his studio dissolved, he set up a separate studio called Adventure Cartoon Productions, where he produced and directed The Mighty Hercules. Oriolo also licensed Japanese animated productions such as Wonders 3 and Princess Knight for American TV (renaming them The Amazing 3 and Choppy and the Princess, respectively), and produced television commercials. Oriolo also acted as producer on Johnny Cypher in the Dimension Zero, which aired in late 1967.[4]
After Pat Sullivan Jr. passed away in 1971, Felix the Cat Creations was dissolved and Oriolo became president of Felix the Cat Productions. A year later, he formed Oriolo Film Studios with his partner Bert Hecht. Their studio was given an option to produce the feature film, Raggedy Ann and Andy: A Musical Adventure. The project was ultimately taken over by Richard Williams.[4]
When Joe Oriolo died in 1985, his son Don Oriolo took over as the CEO of the iconic cartoon franchise.
In June 2014, Don Oriolo sold the trademark and remaining copyrights to the Felix characters except Poindexter to DreamWorks Animation.[5]
In January 2025, the company appointed Surge Licensing to develop licensing and merchandising programs, as well as original content for the former character from Felix the Cat franchise, Poindexter.[6][7]
Productions[]
- Felix the Cat (1960-1962) (as FELIX THE CAT PRODS.)
- Felix The Cat Live (1982)
- Felix the Cat: The Movie (1989) (with New World Pictures)
- The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat (1995-1997) (with Film Roman)
- Baby Felix and Friends (2000-2001) (with Radix Ace Entertainment)
- The Squishees (2002)
- Felix the Cat Saves Christmas (2004)
Canceled projects[]
- Felix the Cat's Halloween Spooktacular!
- Felix the Cat's Valentine Surprise!
- Poindexter: The Movie
- Felix & Pals Puppet Party!
- Felix the Cat (TeamTO)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Felix: The Twisted Tale of the World's Most Famous Cat, page 148.
- ↑ Felix: The Twisted Tale of the World's Most Famous Cat, page 150.
- ↑ https://tralfaz.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-trip-to-dimension-zero.html
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/moonlighting-animation-artists-in-comics-joe-oriolo/
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20160414111719/http://www.licensemag.com/license-global/dreamworks-picks-felix-cat
- ↑ https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/01/felix-the-cats-poindexter-returns-with-new-licensing-content-program/
- ↑ https://www.licenseglobal.com/character/surge-brands-named-global-licensing-agent-for-reimagined-poindexter-ip