Smiley Guy Studios is a Canadian television production company founded in 1998 by graduates of the Canadian Film Centre including Jeremy Diamond, Adrian Carter and Denny Silverthorne;[ 1] Jonas Diamond joined in 1999.[ 2] It is one of the most prominent creators of adult animation in Canada,[ 3] with shows like Odd Job Jack , The Dating Guy , Sons of Butcher and Corner Gas Animated ,[ 4] unlike most studios which focus primarily on shows targeting children's or family demographics. Smiley Guy also produces family content.[ 5]
Working with clients on a variety of animated television, film and new media projects such as Odd Job Jack [ 6] and Hotbox for The Comedy Network , The Ascent of Man with the National Film Board of Canada ,[ 7] Pillars of Freedom for TVO ,[ 8] The Dating Guy , Skatoony , and Sons of Butcher for Teletoon , Steve Jobs Resurrected for Mondo Media ,[ 9] The World of Bruce McCall ,[ 10] [ 11] The Curse of Clara: A Holiday Tale ,[ 12] [ 13] Canada's Smartest Person ,[ 14] Turbo Dogs , and The Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town for CBC , "The Politics Episode" of One Day at a Time for Pop ,[ 15] Beethoven's Wig ,[ 16] [ 17] Psi Cops , and Captain Canuck .[ 18] [ 19] It produced the animation for the UK adult animated series Warren United by Baby Cow Productions in 2014,[ 20] [ 21] as well as the proposed children's show What a Croc! with Whole Hog Creations in 2012.[ 22] [ 23]
Along with Vida Spark Productions, it was co-producer of Corner Gas Animated , a revival of the hit live action situation comedy Corner Gas . Its first episode, "Bone Dry", which aired on April 2, 2018, is currently the highest rated premier ever for The Comedy Network .[ 24] The fourth and final season aired in 2021.[ 25]
The studio has also pioneered an experimental form of described video , wherein rather than a neutral narrator, descriptions are provided by actors in-character.[ 26]
^ "Guys plot revolution" . Playback . 1999-06-28. Retrieved 2024-06-15 .
^ Barnard, Linda (2013-02-25). "Canadian Screen Awards: Digital nominee Jonas Diamond is delighted" . Toronto Star . Retrieved 2024-06-15 .
^ Valiquette, Mike (2020-05-13). "from the internets: Animation is Booming During Covid" . Canadian Animation Resource . Retrieved 2024-06-14 .
^ Mak, Philip (2018-09-25). "Corner Gas Animated is Canada's answer to the adult animation trend" . Toon Boom . Retrieved 2024-06-14 .
^ Ng See Quan, Danielle (2012-03-12). "The Brothers Sandhu coming to Kids' CBC" . Playback . Retrieved 2024-06-14 .
^ Ahearn, Victoria (2007-10-10). "Odd Job Jack comes full circle" . The Globe and Mail . Archived from the original on 2024-06-11. Retrieved 2024-06-10 .
^ "Mobile Stories: The Ascent of Man" . National Film Board of Canada . Retrieved 2024-06-15 .
^ Vlessing, Etan (2011-10-12). "Smiley Guy Studios' Jeremy Diamond says the kids are alright" . Playback . Retrieved 2024-06-14 .
^ "Steve Jobs rises from the dead to launch the new iPhone" . Digital Synopsis . Retrieved 2024-06-15 .
^ Arrant, Chris (2011-07-07). "Canada's CBC Picks Up Animated Series Based on "New Yorker" cartoonist Bruce McCall" . Cartoon Brew . Retrieved 2024-06-15 .
^ Valiquette, Mike (2011-06-07). "press release: iThentic/Bruce McCall/CBC/Kickstarter…whew" . Canadian Animation Resources . Retrieved 2024-06-15 .
^ Cummins, Julianna (2015-11-25). "Smiley Guy's hockey-ballet holiday mashup set for CBC" . Playback . Retrieved 2024-06-15 .
^ Valiquette, Mike (2015-11-20). "press release: Smiley Guys unleashing the CURSE OF CLARA, just in time for the holidays, on CBC!" . Canadian Animation Resources . Retrieved 2024-06-15 .
^ "HOW SMART ARE YOU, CANADA? PLAY ALONG WITH CANADA'S SMARTEST PERSON SUNDAY, MARCH 18 AT 8 P.M. ON CBC-TV" . CBC Media Centre . 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2024-06-15 .
^ Zahed, Ramin (2020-06-15). "Q&A: Smiley Guy's Jonas Diamond Helps Toon-Up 'One Day at a Time' " . Animation Magazine . Retrieved 2024-06-15 .
^ Abrams, Ken (2016-06-11). "Beethoven's Wig Coming to Newport Friday" . What's Up News . Retrieved 2024-06-15 .
^ "Smiley Guy Studios Animations" . Beethoven's Wig . Retrieved 2024-06-15 .
^ Ng See Quan, Danielle (2012-02-08). "Operation Unplugged plugs in with website launch" . Playback . Retrieved 2024-06-14 .
^ Claire Afan, Emily (2011-02-02). "The rise of the web series" . Playback . Retrieved 2024-06-14 .
^ "An animated discussion..." Chortle . 2014-05-13. Retrieved 2024-06-14 .
^ Vlessing, Etan (2014-06-23). "Bite TV debuts Smiley Guy Studios' cartoon Warren United" . Playback . Retrieved 2024-06-14 .
^ Arrant, Chris (2012-02-11). "Smiley Guy Studios & Whole Hog Crreations Team Up For Live Action/Animated Game Show "What A Croc!" " . Cartoon Brew . Retrieved 2024-06-14 .
^ Vlessing, Etan (2012-02-10). "Smiley Guy Studios partnering with U.K.-based Whole Hog on What a Croc!" . Playback . Retrieved 2024-06-14 .
^ "CORNER GAS ANIMATED Becomes the Most-Watched Series Premiere in the History of The Comedy Network" . CornerGas.com. April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018 .
^ Ahearn, Victoria (2021-06-14). " 'Corner Gas Animated' to end after 4th season" . Global News . Retrieved 2024-06-16 .
^ Aspevig, Kristen; Pedersen, Isabel (November 2011). "Death Comes to Town, Irreverent Humour, and Accessibility for the Blind and Low-Visioned" . Canadian Journal of Communication. Retrieved 2024-06-24 .