Starz Sells Off Film Roman

BURBANK: Starz Media has sold Film Roman to a group of investors, led by the former president of the animation studio, Scott Greenberg.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the transaction is contingent on certain closing conditions. The investor group takes full ownership interest in Film Roman, along with certain IP and development rights. The studio has produced animation for The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Super Hero Squad, The Avengers, Ultimate Spider-Man and Beavis and Butt-Head, among other shows, and has propriety projects such as the new Dan Vs. for The Hub, the original Dead Space animated features and the preschool series Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!.

Greenberg, upon leaving Film Roman in 2008, aligned with animation producers Mark McJimsey and Joel Kuwahara to co-found the animation company Bento Box Entertainment. The new Film Roman investor group also intends to purchase Bento Box and combine the two production companies, under the management of Greenberg, McJimsey and Kuwahara.

“We have the utmost respect for the people of Film Roman and the work they produce,” said Chris Albrecht, the president and CEO of Starz Media. “We wish Scott and his team nothing but success with this new venture.”

“Film Roman is unmatched in the quality and breadth of the traditional animation it creates, and with its recent successful move into CG animation, the studio is poised for even bigger growth,” Greenberg added. “I’m looking forward to returning to the company where I had so much success and working with our talented artists and executives to make Film Roman the preeminent TV animation company, creating brands that work in a multiplatform environment worldwide.”