DreamWorks Animation, L.L.C., doing business as DreamWorks Animation SKG (NYSE: DWA) is an American animation studio, producing primarily feature animated films. DreamWorks Animation was formed by the merger of the feature animation division of DreamWorks and Pacific Data Images (also known as PDI). Originally formed under the banner of DreamWorks SKG, it was spun-off into a separate public company in 2004. Its films are currently distributed by Paramount Pictures (in turn owned by Viacom) who acquired the rest of DreamWorks SKG in February of 2006. DreamWorks Animation maintains two studios: the original DreamWorks feature animation studio in Glendale, California and the PDI studio in Redwood City, California in the Silicon Valley region.

History

In 1980, Carl Rosendahl, Glenn Entis, and Richard Chuang founded computer animation production company Pacific Data Images (also know as PDI). During the 1980s, PDI created many animated logos and commercials for television. They shifted into motion picture visual effects beginning in 1991 with a contribution to Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

In 1997, DreamWorks SKG signed a co-production deal with PDI to form PDI's subsidiary PDI, LLC (PDI owned 60% of PDI, LLC while DreamWorks SKG owned 40%). PDI, LLC would produce computer-generated feature films beginning with Antz in 1998. In the same year DreamWorks SKG produced The Prince of Egypt using traditional animation techniques.

In 2000, DreamWorks SKG created a new business division, DreamWorks Animation, that would regularly produce both types of animated feature films.

The traditionally animated feature films were produced by the division's Southern California branch. DreamWorks SKG acquired majority interest (90%) in PDI, reforming it into PDI/DreamWorks, the Northern California branch of its new business division.

The business division separated from its parent in 2004, forming DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. and purchasing the remaining interest in PDI as well as its subsidiary PDI, LLC. The logo is a boy fishing on the moon.

Films and series

Traditionally animated films

• The Prince of Egypt (1998)

• Joseph: King of Dreams (2000) (direct-to-video)

• The Road to El Dorado (2000)

• Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)

• Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)

Computer-animated films produced alone

• Antz (1998)

• Shrek (2001)

• Shrek 2 (2004)

• Shark Tale (2004)

• Madagascar (2005)

• The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper (2005) (short)

• Over the Hedge (2006)

• Shrek 3 (2007) (in production)

• Bee Movie (2007) (in production)

• Kung Fu Panda (2008) (in production)

• Madagascar 2 (2008) (in production)

• Crood Awakening (2008) (in production)

• Puss in Boots: Ogre Killer (2008) (in production)

• Punk Farm (2009) (casting)

• Shrek 4 (2009) (in production)

• Route 66 (2010) (in production)

• How to Train Your Dragon (2010) (in production)

• Rex Havoc (2011) (in production)

• It Came From Earth! (2011) (in production) [1]

Computer-animated films produced with Aardman Animations

• Flushed Away (2006)

Stop-motion animated films

Co-productions with Aardman Animations:

• Chicken Run (2000)

• Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

Traditionally-animated television series

• Invasion America (1998-1999)

• Toonsylvania (1998-2000)

Computer animated television series

• Father of the Pride (2004)

LINKS

• History of Pacific Data Images

• DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. 2004 Annual Report (PDF file)

• Official site

• DreamWorks Animation at the Internet Movie Database

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