Film Roman

Film Roman was an American animation production company founded by veteran animator and director Phil Roman on October 26, 1984. It began as a practical response to a production problem surrounding the Garfield television specials. Bill Melendez Productions had worked on both the Peanuts and Garfield properties, but its limited capacity and the concerns of the respective creators made it difficult to continue serving both franchises. Roman established his own studio and accepted responsibility for producing and directing Garfield in the Rough, a 1984 CBS primetime special. The special won an Emmy and gave the new company an early creative and commercial foothold. The studio initially concentrated on television animation, particularly work connected with established character and comic-strip properties. CBS commissioned a regular Garfield animated series in 1985, and after an extended development period Garfield and Friends premiered on September 17, 1988. It became Film Roman's first regular television series and helped the company expand its production capacity. In 1986, Roman recruited Michael Wahl, a Marvel Productions executive and his personal attorney, as president, and Bill Schultz, formerly Marvel's director of development, as vice president of production and development. This management expansion supported a broader slate beyond Garfield. Film Roman subsequently developed, sold, or produced a range of animated television projects. Bobby's World, launched through the Fox Kids network in 1990, was an important early expansion into original television programming. The studio later became closely associated with major American animated sitcoms and series, including The Simpsons, The Critic, King of the Hill, Family Guy, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, The Goode Family, and Dan Vs. From 1992 through 2016, Film Roman handled source production for The Simpsons after Klasky-Csupo's work on the earlier Tracey Ullman Show shorts and the program's initial seasons. The company also produced animated films, television specials, commercials, music videos, and animation for interactive and theme-park projects. The company's ownership changed several times. Phil Roman left and sold the company in 1999, although he remained a shareholder and returned to its board in 2001. Film Roman entered an unsuccessful attempt to develop a syndicated programming venture called Max Degree TV and also pursued international distribution and outside investment. In 2003, Digital Production Services, a division of IDT Corporation, acquired a controlling interest; the company was temporarily known as DPS Film Roman and later became part of IDT Entertainment. Liberty Media acquired IDT Entertainment in 2006, placing Film Roman within Starz's entertainment operations. Waterman Entertainment acquired the studio from Starz Distribution in 2015, while Starz retained the in-house catalog. In 2016, Film Roman formed a joint venture with Boxel Studios in Tijuana, Mexico, reflecting the industry's use of cross-border production capacity. The company did not remain operational, however. California corporate records indicate that Film Roman, LLC was forfeited by the Secretary of State in October 2017, following a failure to file a required Statement of Information for 2016. The California Franchise Tax Board followed with its own forfeiture action in May 2018. Waterman Entertainment subsequently closed, and Film Roman's operations ended. Its historical significance rests on its role as a long-running television-animation producer and on its contribution to several highly visible American animated franchises.

Film Roman was founded by Phil Roman on October 26, 1984, after Roman's experience at MGM Animation/Visual Arts and Bill Melendez Productions. The immediate reason for its creation was the need to continue producing Garfield television specials. Melendez's studio had produced the first two Garfield specials while also serving the Peanuts franchise, but the studio could not comfortably handle both properties. The differing interests of Charles M. Schulz and Jim Davis, together with the studio's limited capacity, helped prompt the transfer of Garfield production to Roman's new company. Roman's first major assignment was Garfield in the Rough, a CBS primetime special that he produced and directed in 1984. Its Emmy recognition gave Film Roman early credibility. CBS later commissioned a regular Garfield series. Roman spent several years developing the project before Garfield and Friends premiered on September 17, 1988. The series became the studio's first regular television production and expanded to an hour within CBS's highly rated Saturday-morning schedule. To diversify the business, Roman brought in Michael Wahl as president and Bill Schultz as vice president of production and development in 1986. The reorganized company developed Bobby's World for the newly launched Fox Kids network. Film Roman's later reputation was built through a mixture of original development, franchise-based work, and production services. It became the source-production studio for The Simpsons from 1992 through 2016, following the earlier Klasky-Csupo work associated with The Tracey Ullman Show shorts and the series' first seasons. The studio also worked on The Critic, King of the Hill, Family Guy, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, The Goode Family, and Dan Vs. Film Roman also explored businesses beyond conventional television production. In 2000, The Harvey Entertainment Company became its international sales representative and distributor. The studio attempted to establish Max Degree TV as a syndicated programming venture, but the project did not obtain the necessary international backing. A proposed investment by India's Pentamedia Graphics for a 51 percent stake and $15 million was terminated in 2001. Ownership changed materially during the late 1990s and 2000s. Phil Roman sold the company in 1999 to establish Phil Roman Entertainment, although he remained a shareholder and later returned to Film Roman's board in 2001. In 2003, IDT Corporation's Digital Production Services division acquired a 51 percent controlling interest. Film Roman was briefly called DPS Film Roman and was subsequently incorporated into IDT Entertainment. Liberty Media acquired IDT Entertainment in 2006 for $186 million, with the transaction completed on August 31. The assets then operated within Starz Media and related Starz businesses. Waterman Entertainment acquired Film Roman from Starz Distribution in 2015. Starz retained the company's in-house catalog, later associated with Lionsgate Television. In November 2016, Film Roman and Boxel Studios formed Film Roman Baja J.V. in Tijuana, an attempt to extend production through a cross-border facility. The company nevertheless ceased operations after California corporate authorities forfeited Film Roman, LLC in October 2017 for failing to file a required 2016 Statement of Information. A further tax-related forfeiture followed in May 2018. Waterman Entertainment closed the following year. Film Roman's legacy is therefore primarily one of television animation: it helped establish and sustain a substantial body of American animated series, specials, commercials, music videos, and related media work.

• 2018

  Tax-related forfeiture followed

  [1]Film Romanen.wikipedia.org

  The California Franchise Tax Board followed with a related forfeiture action, confirming the end of the company's operations.

• 2017

  California forfeited Film Roman, LLC

  [1]Film Romanen.wikipedia.org

  The Secretary of State of California forfeited the company's registration after a required filing was not submitted.

• 2016

  Film Roman Baja joint venture established

  [1]Film Romanen.wikipedia.org

  Film Roman and Boxel Studios formed a production joint venture in Tijuana.

• 2015

  Waterman Entertainment acquired Film Roman

  [1]Film Romanen.wikipedia.org

  Waterman Entertainment purchased the studio from Starz Distribution.

• 2006

  Film Roman became part of Starz Media

  [1]Film Romanen.wikipedia.org

  Liberty Media completed its acquisition of IDT Entertainment, bringing Film Roman into the Starz organization.

• 2003

  IDT acquired control

  [1]Film Romanen.wikipedia.org

  IDT's Digital Production Services division acquired a 51 percent controlling interest.

• 1999

  Phil Roman sold the company

  [1]Film Romanen.wikipedia.org

  Founder Phil Roman left and sold Film Roman while retaining a shareholder connection.

• 1992

  Film Roman began source production for The Simpsons

  [1]Film Romanen.wikipedia.org

  The studio took over source production of The Simpsons from Klasky-Csupo.

• 1990

  Bobby's World entered production

  [1]Film Romanen.wikipedia.org

  Film Roman developed and produced Bobby's World for Fox Kids.

• 1988

  Garfield and Friends premiered

  [1]Film Romanen.wikipedia.org

  Film Roman's first regular television series premiered on CBS on September 17.

• 1984

  Film Roman founded

  [1]Film Romanen.wikipedia.org

  Phil Roman founded Film Roman on October 26 to continue producing Garfield television specials outside Bill Melendez Productions.

• 1984

  Garfield in the Rough produced

  [1]Film Romanen.wikipedia.org

  The new studio produced and directed the CBS primetime special Garfield in the Rough, which received an Emmy.

A television-focused animation production studio specializing in recurring series, primetime specials, character-based franchises, and outsourced animation production for broadcasters, networks, studios, and rights holders.

• Animated television series · 1988

  Garfield and Friends

  Film Roman's first regular television series, based on the Garfield comic strip and related characters. Commissioned by CBS in the mid-1980s, the series premiered in 1988 and became a major Saturday-morning production for the studio. Its success established Film Roman as a dependable producer of recurring television animation rather than only a supplier of individual primetime specials.

• Animated television series · 1992

  The Simpsons

  Film Roman handled source production for The Simpsons from 1992 through 2016. The work followed the property's origins as animated shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show and its initial production relationship with Klasky-Csupo. The series became the studio's most internationally recognizable association and placed Film Roman at the center of long-running American television animation.

• Animated television series · 1990

  Bobby's World

  A television animation project developed and produced by Film Roman for Fox Kids. The series represented the company's expansion beyond the Garfield property and demonstrated its ability to develop programming for the emerging Fox children's television network.

• Animated television series

  King of the Hill

  Film Roman was involved in the production of this adult-oriented animated sitcom, one of the studio's prominent television credits during the expansion of American prime-time animation.

• Animated television series

  Family Guy

  Film Roman produced animation for Family Guy, adding another widely distributed Fox animated property to its television portfolio.

• Animated television series

  The Critic

  An animated television series produced with Film Roman participation as part of the studio's work in American prime-time animation.

• Animated television series

  Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!

  A children's animated series among Film Roman's later television production credits, showing the studio's continued work beyond adult-oriented sitcom animation.

• Animated television series

  The Goode Family

  An animated comedy series included among Film Roman's television productions.

• Animated television series

  Dan Vs.

  An animated comedy series produced with Film Roman involvement during the studio's later operating period.

• 2016Film Roman Baja production expansion

  United States · Mexico

  Film Roman created a Tijuana-based joint venture with Boxel Studios to extend its production capabilities through a Baja California animation facility.

  Outcome. The venture did not prevent the subsequent closure of Film Roman's operations.

  Source
• 2000The Harvey Entertainment international distribution arrangement

  International

  Film Roman appointed The Harvey Entertainment Company as its international sales representative and distributor as part of an effort to broaden the commercial reach of its properties.

  Outcome. The arrangement was a distribution initiative rather than a consumer advertising campaign; no later performance outcome is specified in the reference material.

  Source

• 2017

  Corporate registration forfeitedOther

  Background

  Business records indicated that Film Roman had failed to file a required Statement of Information for 2016.

  Action taken

  The California Secretary of State forfeited Film Roman, LLC in October 2017, followed by a California Franchise Tax Board forfeiture in May 2018.

  Aftermath

  The studio closed its operations, and Waterman Entertainment later became defunct.

  Source

• 2015

  Transferred ownership to Waterman EntertainmentM&A

  Background

  Starz Distribution separated Film Roman from its broader ownership structure.

  Action taken

  Waterman Entertainment acquired the studio while Starz retained the in-house catalog.

  Aftermath

  Film Roman continued doing business with Starz but ultimately ceased operations after California corporate forfeiture actions.

  Source

• 2006

  Entered Liberty Media and Starz ownershipM&A

  Background

  IDT sold its entertainment division as part of a broader restructuring of its media assets.

  Action taken

  Liberty Media acquired IDT Entertainment, including Film Roman, for a reported $186 million; the transaction closed on August 31.

  Aftermath

  Film Roman operated within Starz Media and related Starz entertainment businesses.

  Reported acquisition price for IDT Entertainment. $186 million (2006)

  Source

• 2003

  Accepted IDT controlM&A

  Background

  Film Roman was seeking a larger corporate platform and additional entertainment-industry resources.

  Action taken

  Digital Production Services, an IDT Corporation division, acquired a 51 percent controlling interest and temporarily renamed the studio DPS Film Roman.

  Aftermath

  Film Roman became part of the newly formed IDT Entertainment division.

  Source

• 1999

  Attempted expansion into syndicated programmingStrategy

  Background

  Film Roman sought to diversify beyond commissioned television production and enter the syndication market.

  Action taken

  The company developed Max Degree TV, planned around several proposed animated and genre programs.

  Aftermath

  The venture never launched because it did not secure sufficient international backing.

  Source

• 1992

  Assumed source production for The SimpsonsOther

  Background

  The Simpsons had previously been associated with Klasky-Csupo, which produced the Tracey Ullman Show shorts and the program's earliest episodes.

  Action taken

  Film Roman took over source production for the series.

  Aftermath

  The relationship continued through 2016 and became Film Roman's best-known production association.

  Source

• 1984

  Created an independent studio around Garfield productionStrategy

  Background

  Bill Melendez Productions could not continue balancing the Peanuts and Garfield specials within its limited production capacity, creating an opening for a separate studio.

  Action taken

  Phil Roman founded Film Roman and accepted responsibility for producing and directing the next Garfield primetime special.

  Aftermath

  The Emmy-recognized special led to further CBS work and ultimately to Garfield and Friends, Film Roman's first regular television series.

  Source

1. 1Film Romanen.wikipedia.org