FilmFair
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAmerican-British animation studio and production company known for stop-motion children's television, educational films, and television advertising.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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History
FilmFair was founded in Los Angeles in 1959 by Gus Jekel, an American animator with previous experience at Walt Disney Productions and other Hollywood studios. Jekel established the company to work with greater independence and to preserve the option of producing live-action material as well as animation. From its Los Angeles base in the Cahuenga Boulevard commercial-production district, FilmFair made television advertising for a range of clients. The company's commercial work included both animated and live-action spots, and its success attracted prominent advertisers, including Disney. The company began developing an international structure in the late 1960s. Jekel recruited Graham Clutterbuck, an English advertising producer, to establish a European branch. Clutterbuck initially based the office in Paris. There he encountered Serge Danot and the developing European stop-motion community, although he did not initially accept Danot's proposal for what became The Magic Roundabout. Clutterbuck later met Ivor Wood, and the two agreed that Wood would make animated films for FilmFair. The success of The Magic Roundabout helped demonstrate the commercial potential of stop-motion children's television and contributed to the development of further FilmFair projects, including The Herbs, which premiered on BBC1 in 1968. FilmFair's European office moved from Paris to London as the company sought access to English creative and production talent. Barry Leith became director of animation, and the London branch developed work for both the BBC and ITV. Wood and Leith collaborated on The Wombles, while Wood also developed an approach to adapting Michael Bond's Paddington Bear stories for television. Bond supported Wood's visual concept and wrote scripts for the first series. Paddington premiered on BBC1 in 1976 and became FilmFair's most commercially important property, generating a long-running international presence and a wider licensing and merchandising business. The London studio expanded its range beyond stop motion. Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings, based on Edward McLachlan's children's books, became FilmFair's first classically animated television series and premiered on ITV in 1974. The Perishers, directed by Dick Horn, was another traditionally animated production and was the first FilmFair series not directed by Ivor Wood. Alongside original production, FilmFair's programmes were distributed internationally through television syndication and home video. Corporate control changed during the 1980s and 1990s. Central Independent Television acquired a controlling share in the European operation in the early 1980s. Following Graham Clutterbuck's death from cancer on 30 April 1988, FilmFair dedicated Bangers and Mash to his memory. Central sold FilmFair London to Storm Group, also known as the Caspian Group, in 1991. The American branch was acquired by Altschul Group Corporation in 1992, and Discovery Education acquired the associated film catalogue in 2003. CINAR Films announced its purchase of FilmFair London's catalogue and production facilities from the Caspian Group in November 1996. The transaction included television and video rights, music publishing, licensing, merchandising, and the opportunity to make new episodes of selected properties. CINAR announced the creation of CINAR Europe and the reopening of FilmFair in London in March 1997. The revived operation worked on new versions of The Wombles and The Adventures of Paddington Bear, co-produced The Upstairs Downstairs Bears in 2000, and announced a revival of Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings in 2001. The revival ended amid CINAR's broader financial problems. After the company's founders became implicated in a financial scandal in 2000, CINAR attempted to sell CINAR Europe. When no buyer was found, the London operation closed in February 2002 and sales and distribution were transferred to Montreal. CINAR later became Cookie Jar Group under new management; DHX Media acquired Cookie Jar in 2012, bringing the European FilmFair properties into the portfolio later associated with WildBrain. The American catalogue had a separate ownership path through Altschul Group Corporation and Discovery Education. The supplied references do not establish a current standalone FilmFair operating company.
- 2012
DHX Media acquires Cookie Jar Group
[1]DHX Media acquires Cookie Jar Group, bringing the European FilmFair properties into the later WildBrain corporate lineage.
- 2003
Discovery Education acquires the American catalogue
[1]Discovery Education acquires the film catalogue previously associated with Altschul Group Corporation.
- 2002
CINAR Europe closes
[1]CINAR closes the London operation after failing to find a buyer and transfers sales and distribution activity to Montreal.
- 1997
FilmFair reopens under CINAR Europe
[1]CINAR announces a London-based European studio and revives FilmFair as a production, restoration, and international distribution label.
- 1996
CINAR purchases FilmFair London
[1]CINAR agrees to acquire FilmFair London's catalogue and production facilities from the Caspian Group; the transaction is completed later that year.
- 1992
Altschul Group Corporation acquires the American branch
[1]Altschul Group Corporation purchases FilmFair's American branch as part of a broader film-company acquisition programme.
- 1991
FilmFair London is sold to Storm Group
[1]Central sells the London operation to Storm Group, also known as the Caspian Group.
- 1980
Central Independent Television takes control of the European branch
[1]Central Independent Television acquires a controlling share in FilmFair's European operation during the early 1980s.
- 1976
Paddington premieres on BBC1
[1]FilmFair's television adaptation of Michael Bond's Paddington Bear stories begins broadcasting and develops into the company's best-known international property.
- 1974
Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings premieres
[1]FilmFair's first classically animated television series premieres on ITV, adapted from Edward McLachlan's children's books.
Products and positioning
A production-led animation company focused on distinctive children's storytelling, commercial animation, and adaptable screen properties. FilmFair was particularly differentiated by its use of stop-motion puppets, clay, and cutout techniques, combined with international television distribution and licensing.
Stop-motion children's television series · 1968
The Herbs
A BBC1 children's series and an early result of FilmFair's relationship with animator Ivor Wood. Its production helped establish the company's reputation for character-led stop-motion television aimed at young audiences.
Classically animated children's television series · 1974
Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings
An ITV series adapted from books written and illustrated by Edward McLachlan. It represented FilmFair's move beyond its best-known stop-motion work into conventional animation and was later selected for a proposed revival.
Stop-motion children's television series
The Wombles
A prominent FilmFair production associated with the company's London studio and the collaboration between Ivor Wood and Barry Leith. The property was later targeted for revival after CINAR reopened FilmFair.
Stop-motion children's television series and licensed franchise · 1976
Paddington
FilmFair's television adaptation of Michael Bond's Paddington Bear stories, scripted initially by Bond and broadcast on BBC1 from 1976. The series became the company's most significant international property, supporting later home-video, licensing, publishing, and merchandising activity.
Classically animated television series
The Perishers
A traditionally animated FilmFair series directed by Dick Horn. It was notable within the company's history because it was the first FilmFair series not directed by Ivor Wood.
Animated television revival
The Adventures of Paddington Bear
A revival project developed after CINAR acquired FilmFair London and reopened the label. It extended FilmFair's association with the Paddington property into a later production period.
Children's animated television series · 2000
The Upstairs Downstairs Bears
A series co-produced by the revived FilmFair operation in 2000 during its period under CINAR Europe.
Animated children's television series
Bangers and Mash
A FilmFair production dedicated to Graham Clutterbuck after his death in 1988.
Controversies
2000
CINAR financial scandal affects the revived FilmFair operation
CINAR's founders became implicated in a financial scandal in 2000. The resulting economic problems affected CINAR Corporation and the future of CINAR Europe, the London operation through which FilmFair had been reopened. The supplied material does not identify FilmFair itself as the subject of the alleged misconduct.
Brand decisions
2002
Closure of CINAR EuropeStrategyBackground
CINAR's financial difficulties followed the scandal involving its founders, and the company attempted to sell CINAR Europe in 2001 without finding a buyer.
Action taken
CINAR shut the London operation and moved its sales and distribution activity to the Montreal headquarters.
Aftermath
The FilmFair name ceased to function as the active London studio described in the source material, while rights and catalogue assets continued through successor companies.
2001
Announcement of a Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings revivalProduct launchBackground
CINAR was developing additional programming based on FilmFair's earlier catalogue as part of its European expansion.
Action taken
CINAR announced a revival of Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings, with the Canadian side of the project to be handled by CINAR.
Aftermath
CINAR Europe closed in February 2002 after an unsuccessful sale process, limiting the continuation of the London-based revival strategy.
1997
Reopening and international catalogue expansionStrategyBackground
Following its acquisition of FilmFair London, CINAR wanted a European production and distribution presence and sought to exploit and refresh FilmFair's established children's properties.
Action taken
CINAR announced CINAR Europe and restored FilmFair as a fully operational animation studio, with plans for new productions, remastering, restoration, and international expansion.
Aftermath
The studio worked on revivals of The Wombles and The Adventures of Paddington Bear and later co-produced The Upstairs Downstairs Bears.
1996
Sale of FilmFair London to CINARM&ABackground
The Caspian Group owned FilmFair London after Central Independent Television's sale of the operation in 1991.
Action taken
CINAR agreed to acquire the London catalogue, facilities, and associated rights, including television, video, music publishing, licensing, and merchandising interests.
Aftermath
CINAR created CINAR Europe and reopened FilmFair as a London production and catalogue-development studio.
Reported acquisition price. $10.5 million (1996)
1969
Establishment of a European officeStrategyBackground
FilmFair sought to expand its production and advertising relationships beyond the United States and asked Graham Clutterbuck to create a European operation.
Action taken
Clutterbuck established an office in Paris, which later moved to London to improve access to English creative and production talent.
Aftermath
The European operation became the main base for FilmFair's major children's television productions and its international catalogue.
Sources1 sources
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