Smiley Guy Studios

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]

  1. ^ "Guys plot revolution". Playback. 1999-06-28. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  2. ^ Barnard, Linda (2013-02-25). "Canadian Screen Awards: Digital nominee Jonas Diamond is delighted". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  3. ^ Valiquette, Mike (2020-05-13). "from the internets: Animation is Booming During Covid". Canadian Animation Resource. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  4. ^ Mak, Philip (2018-09-25). "Corner Gas Animated is Canada's answer to the adult animation trend". Toon Boom. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  5. ^ Ng See Quan, Danielle (2012-03-12). "The Brothers Sandhu coming to Kids' CBC". Playback. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Mobile Stories: The Ascent of Man". National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  8. ^ Vlessing, Etan (2011-10-12). "Smiley Guy Studios' Jeremy Diamond says the kids are alright". Playback. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  9. ^ "Steve Jobs rises from the dead to launch the new iPhone". Digital Synopsis. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Valiquette, Mike (2011-06-07). "press release: iThentic/Bruce McCall/CBC/Kickstarter…whew". Canadian Animation Resources. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  12. ^ Cummins, Julianna (2015-11-25). "Smiley Guy's hockey-ballet holiday mashup set for CBC". Playback. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "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.
  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.
  16. ^ Abrams, Ken (2016-06-11). "Beethoven's Wig Coming to Newport Friday". What's Up News. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  17. ^ "Smiley Guy Studios Animations". Beethoven's Wig. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  18. ^ Ng See Quan, Danielle (2012-02-08). "Operation Unplugged plugs in with website launch". Playback. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  19. ^ Claire Afan, Emily (2011-02-02). "The rise of the web series". Playback. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  20. ^ "An animated discussion..." Chortle. 2014-05-13. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  21. ^ Vlessing, Etan (2014-06-23). "Bite TV debuts Smiley Guy Studios' cartoon Warren United". Playback. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ Vlessing, Etan (2012-02-10). "Smiley Guy Studios partnering with U.K.-based Whole Hog on What a Croc!". Playback. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ Ahearn, Victoria (2021-06-14). "'Corner Gas Animated' to end after 4th season". Global News. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  26. ^ 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.