Classic Media is adding Gumby and Pokey to its extensive roster of the iconic animated characters through a deal with property owner Premavision Inc. The long-term joint venture will see Classic Media handle U.S. and international television, feature film, home video, digital media and promotional rights to the Gumby library, which includes of 223 clay-animated TV episodes and a 1995 movie. New Gumby adventures are being produced by Clokey Prods., which originated the show 50 years ago.
Created by legendary animator/producer Art Clokey, the flexible, green Gumby made his first appearance on the Howdy Doody Show in 1956 before getting his own animated Saturday morning TV series. Classic episodes of The Gumby Show have continued to air on various outlets around the world ever since.
‘Gumby has had a huge impact on popular culture as well as influencing a generation of animators,’ says Classic Media CEO Eric Ellenbogen. ‘We are very enthusiastic about the addition of Gumby to our portfolio of classic brands and look forward to working with the Clokey family on many new productions.’
Classic and Clokey are developing a new direct-to-video movie that is slated for release in 2008, as well as an all-new TV series. Heat Licensing has been the licensing and merchandising agent for Gumby for the past seven years and will continue to work with Classic Media to co-license the brand. Several new licensing, marketing and promotional partnerships will be announced throughout the end of the year and into the first-quarter of 2007.
Joe Clokey, president of Clokey Prods., comments, ‘My dad and I are thrilled to be working with Classic Media on this exciting co-venture. Classic Media’s expertise across all facets of entertainment and classic brand management, makes them the perfect partner to ensure Gumby’s success for the next 50 years.’
Other time-honored cartoon franchises managed by Classic Media include
Casper the Friendly Ghost, Mr. Magoo, Richie Rich, Peter Cottontail, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Gerald McBoing Boing and Underdog. The company’s latest release, a live-action remake of Lassie, was distributed theatrically around the world to critical acclaim. Currently in production is a live-action/CG Underdog feature film with Spyglass Ent. and Disney, as well as the CG-animated feature The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie for Universal Pictures. Classic Media is also developing an animated Mr. Peabody & Sherman feature with DreamWorks. On the TV side, the company’s pre-school series Gerald McBoing Boing airs daily on Cartoon Network, which will soon premier Classic’s all-new George of the Jungle, an animated series now in production with Studio B in Vancouver.
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