 Logo used in 1956. | |
| Industry | Animation |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Van Beuren Studios |
| Founded | 1929 |
| Founders | Paul Terry Frank Moser Joseph Coffman |
| Defunct | December 1972[1] |
| Fate | Closed |
| Headquarters | 1929–1930, Long Island, New York, United States[2]
|
| Parent | Viacom (1956–1972) |
Terrytoons was an American animation studio headquartered in New Rochelle, New York that produced animated cartoons for theatrical release from 1929 to 1973 (and briefly returned between 1987 and 1996 for television in-name only). It was founded by Paul Terry, Frank Moser, and Joseph Coffman, and operated out of the "K" Building in downtown New Rochelle. The studio created many cartoon characters including Fanny Zilch, Mighty Mouse, Heckle and Jeckle, Gandy Goose, Sourpuss, Dinky Duck, Little Roquefort, the Terry Bears, Dimwit, and Luno; Terry's pre-existing character Farmer Al Falfa was also featured often in the series.
The "New Terrytoons" period of the late 1950s through the mid-1960s produced such characters as Clint Clobber, Tom Terrific, Deputy Dawg, Hector Heathcote, Hashimoto-san, Sidney the Elephant, Possible Possum, James Hound, Astronut, Sad Cat, The Mighty Heroes, and Sally Sargent. Also during that time, Ralph Bakshi got his start as an animator, and eventually as a director, at Terrytoons.[3]
Terrytoons shorts were originally released to theaters by 20th Century Fox from 1935 until 1973. After Paul Terry had retired, Terrytoons was sold to CBS, which would later purchase the entire library. Paramount Pictures would eventually take theatrical rights ownership of the Terrytoons library in 1994 (which was then already purchased by Viacom), and would purchase CBS in 2000. As of 2019, Paramount Pictures has owned the rights to the studio and its library after the re-merger of Viacom and CBS.
- ^ Tracy, Dick (January 4, 1973). "Terrytoons' departure ends an era". Tarrytown Daily News. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Terrytoon's "Club Sandwich" (1931)". Cartoon Research. Jerry Beck. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
- ^ Maltin, Leonard (1987). Of Mice and Magic: A history of American animated cartoons (Rev. ed.). New York: New American Library. ISBN 0452259932.