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TMO Film GmbH was founded by Peter Volkle in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.twst.com/bio/peter-volkle/|title=Volkle, Peter|website=Twst.com|access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> The company first began working on animated content within this time, and by 1993 began to produce popular animated content. The company then released its first film - [[The Real Shlemiel|Die Schelme von Schelm]], in 1995. In the same year, the company opened up an animation studio in Hungary called Loonland Animation in Hungary which TMO later purchased a stake in. The company then rebranded as TMO-Loonland Film GmbH in 1997. The company later purchased a stake in RG Prince Films in Korea, and increased the number of programmes being produced.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.tvloonland.de/noflash/english/loon.html |title=TV-Loonland AG |website= |access-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010309190200fw_/http://www.tvloonland.de/noflash/english/loon.html |archive-date=9 March 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
TMO Film GmbH was founded by Peter Volkle in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.twst.com/bio/peter-volkle/|title=Volkle, Peter|website=Twst.com|access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> The company first began working on animated content within this time, and by 1993 began to produce popular animated content. The company then released its first film - [[The Real Shlemiel|Die Schelme von Schelm]], in 1995. In the same year, the company opened up an animation studio in Hungary called Loonland Animation in Hungary which TMO later purchased a stake in. The company then rebranded as TMO-Loonland Film GmbH in 1997. The company later purchased a stake in RG Prince Films in Korea, and increased the number of programmes being produced.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.tvloonland.de/noflash/english/loon.html |title=TV-Loonland AG |website= |access-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010309190200fw_/http://www.tvloonland.de/noflash/english/loon.html |archive-date=9 March 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


At the start of 2000, the company was rebranded to TV-Loonland AG.<ref name="auto1"/> In March 2000, the company began to search for a UK sales agent for a planned expansion to the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/germanys-loonland-on-the-prowl-for-uk-sales-agent/401615.article|title=Germany's Loonland on the prowl for UK sales agent|first=Martin|last=Blaney|date=March 6, 2000|website=Screen}}</ref> In September 2000, the company purchased British animation studio Telemagination.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/tv-loonland-buys-uk-telemagination/1201058.article|title=TV-Loonland buys UK Telemagination|website=Broadcast}}</ref>
At the start of 2000, the company was rebranded to TV-Loonland AG.<ref name="auto1"/> In March 2000, the company announced their plans to go public at the end of the month, and signed a first-look distribution deal with [[Sony Wonder]] for German-speaking and certain CEE regions.<ref>https://kidscreen.com/2000/03/01/28202-20000301/</ref> The company also began to search for a UK sales agent for a planned expansion to the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/germanys-loonland-on-the-prowl-for-uk-sales-agent/401615.article|title=Germany's Loonland on the prowl for UK sales agent|first=Martin|last=Blaney|date=March 6, 2000|website=Screen}}</ref> In September 2000, the company purchased British animation studio Telemagination.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/tv-loonland-buys-uk-telemagination/1201058.article|title=TV-Loonland buys UK Telemagination|website=Broadcast}}</ref>


On October 3, 2000, the company purchased the television business assets of [[Sony Wonder]], which included full ownership in animation studio [[Sunbow Entertainment]], alongside a programming library that included shows based on [[Hasbro]] properties.<ref>{{cite web|last=Meaux |first=Francoise |url=https://www.screendaily.com/mipcom-tv-loonland-acquires-sony-wonder/403799.article |title=MIPCOM: TV-Loonland acquires Sony Wonder &#124; News &#124; Screen |publisher=Screendaily.com |date=2000-10-03 |access-date=2016-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=<!--Not stated--> |url=https://variety.com/2000/digital/news/tv-loonland-buys-up-sony-wonder-units-1117787193/ |title=TV Loonland buys up Sony Wonder units |publisher=Variety |date=2000-10-03 |access-date=2016-01-18}}</ref> In exchange for the purchase, Sony Wonder retained US distribution rights to the Sunbow catalogue and the European music rights.
On October 3, 2000, following their initial distribution deal months prior, TV-Loonland announced they had purchased Sony Wonder's television business assets. The deal included full ownership in animation studio [[Sunbow Entertainment]], alongside a programming library that included shows based on [[Hasbro]] properties.<ref>{{cite web|last=Meaux |first=Francoise |url=https://www.screendaily.com/mipcom-tv-loonland-acquires-sony-wonder/403799.article |title=MIPCOM: TV-Loonland acquires Sony Wonder &#124; News &#124; Screen |publisher=Screendaily.com |date=2000-10-03 |access-date=2016-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=<!--Not stated--> |url=https://variety.com/2000/digital/news/tv-loonland-buys-up-sony-wonder-units-1117787193/ |title=TV Loonland buys up Sony Wonder units |publisher=Variety |date=2000-10-03 |access-date=2016-01-18}}</ref> In exchange for the purchase, Sony Wonder retained North American home video rights to their catalogue and worldwide music rights.


On May 15, 2001, the company shuttered Family Harbour.<ref name="auto"/>
On May 15, 2001, the company shuttered Family Harbour.<ref name="auto"/>

Revision as of 20:33, 22 June 2023

TV-Loonland AG
FormerlyTMO Film GmbH (1989-1997)
TMO-Loonland Film GmbH (1997-2000)
Company typePrivate corporation
IndustryAnimation
Film
Television
GenreChildren's animation
Founded1989; 35 years ago (1989)
FounderPeter Volkle
DefunctApril 5, 2011; 13 years ago (2011-04-05)
FateBankruptcy
Successorm4e AG
Headquarters
Unterföhring
,
Germany
DivisionsLoonland Merchandising
Loonland UK
Loonland Home Entertainment
Loonland Films
Loonland Online GmbH[1]
SubsidiariesLoonland Animation Ltd.
RG Prince Films
Salsa Entertainment
SRE Corporation
Sunbow Entertainment
Telemagination
Metrodome Distribution

TV-Loonland AG was a German branding and management company that specialized in the production of children's programmes. The company's offices were located in Europe (Paris, Munich and London). The company's mascot is a sheep on the blue dome.

History

TMO Film GmbH was founded by Peter Volkle in 1989.[2] The company first began working on animated content within this time, and by 1993 began to produce popular animated content. The company then released its first film - Die Schelme von Schelm, in 1995. In the same year, the company opened up an animation studio in Hungary called Loonland Animation in Hungary which TMO later purchased a stake in. The company then rebranded as TMO-Loonland Film GmbH in 1997. The company later purchased a stake in RG Prince Films in Korea, and increased the number of programmes being produced.[3]

At the start of 2000, the company was rebranded to TV-Loonland AG.[3] In March 2000, the company announced their plans to go public at the end of the month, and signed a first-look distribution deal with Sony Wonder for German-speaking and certain CEE regions.[4] The company also began to search for a UK sales agent for a planned expansion to the United Kingdom.[5] In September 2000, the company purchased British animation studio Telemagination.[6]

On October 3, 2000, following their initial distribution deal months prior, TV-Loonland announced they had purchased Sony Wonder's television business assets. The deal included full ownership in animation studio Sunbow Entertainment, alongside a programming library that included shows based on Hasbro properties.[7][8] In exchange for the purchase, Sony Wonder retained North American home video rights to their catalogue and worldwide music rights.

On May 15, 2001, the company shuttered Family Harbour.[1]

In November 2001, Loonland purchased a 29.9% stake in UK distributor Metrodome Distribution.[9] This stake was later increased to a 54.4% operational control within the company by August 2002,[10] and then a 75% stake by January 2003.[11] However, by 2007, this stake was reduced to 61.2%.

In August 2005, Loonland was sued by shareholder group Aktieninvestor.com, after the company deliberately excused them from its AGM in August 2005, following violation of Section 21 of the Securities Trading Act when the latter tried to apply a hostile takeover within Loonland. The lawsuit ended in favour of TV-Loonland.[12] On September 27, 2005, the company launched a feature-film division called Loonland Pictures, and signed deals with the local branch of 20th Century Fox and NFP Marketing as marketing and distribution partners for the companies' movies, the first of which being Heidi, which would be released theatrically in the country at the end of the year.[13]

In October 2007, TV-Loonland announced they would sell off their 61.2% stake in Metrodome Distribution.[14] In May 2008, Romanian company MediaPro purchased 50.1% of Loonland's shares in Metrodome for £3.2 Million, leaving them with 11.6% which MediaPro could purchase out in the future.[15]

On May 14, 2008, Hasbro acquired the Sunbow programs based on its properties, which are now part of the Hasbro Studios library.[16][17][18][19]

In December 2009, TV-Loonland announced they would file for bankruptcy protection.[20] On April 5, 2011, Loonland's catalogue and remaining assets were sold to a fellow German entertainment company called m4e AG.[21]

In February 2017, Studio 100 acquired a majority stake in m4e AG.[22] Currently, Studio 100 owns the rights to most of the Loonland catalogue.

Programmes

Original

Acquired from Sony Wonder/Sunbow Entertainment

Distribution only

Specials

Original

Acquired from Sony Wonder/Sunbow Entertainment

Movies/Direct-to-Video

Original

Acquired from Sony Wonder/Sunbow Entertainment

References

  1. ^ a b "TV-Loonland shuts Family Harbour". C21media.
  2. ^ "Volkle, Peter". Twst.com. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b "TV-Loonland AG". Archived from the original on 9 March 2001. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  4. ^ https://kidscreen.com/2000/03/01/28202-20000301/
  5. ^ Blaney, Martin (March 6, 2000). "Germany's Loonland on the prowl for UK sales agent". Screen.
  6. ^ "TV-Loonland buys UK Telemagination". Broadcast.
  7. ^ Meaux, Francoise (2000-10-03). "MIPCOM: TV-Loonland acquires Sony Wonder | News | Screen". Screendaily.com. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
  8. ^ "TV Loonland buys up Sony Wonder units". Variety. 2000-10-03. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
  9. ^ Blaney, Martin (November 6, 2001). "TV-Loonland takes 29.9% stake in Metrodome". Screen.
  10. ^ "TV-Loonland takes control of UK's Metrodome". C21media.
  11. ^ "TV-Loonland builds UK video presence". C21media.
  12. ^ "Legal victory for Loonland". C21media.
  13. ^ "TV-Loonland Starts Up Loonland Pictures". Animation World Network.
  14. ^ "Significant Interest for TV-Loonland Stake in Metrodome". Animation World Network.
  15. ^ "TV-Loonland to sell Metrodome stake". The Hollywood Reporter. May 16, 2008.
  16. ^ "Hasbro Reacquires Sunbow Cartoons". ICv2. 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
  17. ^ Arnold, Thomas K. (2007-03-14). "Kids label Sony Wonder going under: sources". Reuters. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
  18. ^ Arnold, Thomas K. (2007-03-14). "Sony ceases Wonder label". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
  19. ^ Ball, Ryan (2007-03-15). "Sony Wonder Closing Shop?". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  20. ^ Roxborough, Scott (2009-12-09). "TV Loonland files for bankruptcy protection". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2015-07-19.
  21. ^ Getzler, Wendy Goldman (2011-04-05). "m4e acquires TV Loonland content library". Kidscreen.com.
  22. ^ "Studio 100 Takes Stake in m4e". Licenseglobal.com. 25 January 2017.
  23. ^ "The Fantastic Flying Journey world tour kicks off in the U.K." Kidscreen.com. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  24. ^ "Pongwiffy moves into production". C21media.
  25. ^ "Double toon deal for TV-Loonland and ZDF". C21media.
  26. ^ "TV-Loonland's Metalheads Prepare For Battle". Animation World Network.
  27. ^ "TV-Loonland Partners to Produce CGI-Animated Dragon's Rock".
  28. ^ "TV-Loonland & ZDF tivi Team on Rudi and Trudi". Animation World Network.
  29. ^ "TV-Loonland makes Pat & Stan sales, more eps". Kidscreen.com. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  30. ^ "Loonland's Owl Flies to BBC". Animation World Network.
  31. ^ "TV-Loonland and CarpeDiem greenlight new animated tween series". Kidscreen.com. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  32. ^ "TV-Loonland Reboots MIP-TV 2002".
  33. ^ Blaney, Martin (2001-03-06). "TV-Loonland signs first big deal with BBC". Screen.
  34. ^ "Alliance Atlantis, TV Loonland Acquire Neptuno's Connie The Cow". Animation World Network.
  35. ^ Grant, Jules (February 27, 2007). "Spanish networks reach for Skyland". C21Media.
  36. ^ "TV Loonland". 15 April 2006. Archived from the original on 15 April 2006. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  37. ^ "TV-Loonland To Distribute Nippon's Penelope". Animation World Network.
  38. ^ "TV-Loonland calls at La Station". C21media.
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