Difference between revisions of "DePatie–Freleng Enterprises"

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{{Infobox company
|name= DePatie–Freleng Enterprises
|image= [[File:DePatie–Freleng Enterprises.svg|300px]]
|caption= Company logo.
|type= Partnership
|industry= Animation
|predecessor= [[Warner Bros. Cartoons]]
|founded= May [[1963]]
|founder= [[David H. DePatie]]<br />[[Friz Freleng]]
|defunct= [[1981]]
|fate= Partnership dissolved<br />Acquired and renamed by [[wikipedia:Marvel Comics|Marvel]] to [[wikipedia:Marvel Productions|Marvel Productions]]
|headquarters= Burbank, [[California]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|keypeople=
|product= Television shows<br />Theatrical shorts<br />Television specials
|parent=
|division=
}}
'''DePatie–Freleng Enterprises''', also known as '''Mirsch-Geoffrey-DePatie-Freleng Productions''' and '''DFE Films''', was an American animation studio founded in May [[1963]] by former [[Warner Bros. Cartoons]] staff; namely producer [[David H. DePatie]] and animator [[Friz Freleng]]. Based in Burbank, California, DFE produced numerous film and television works, among which included entries of the ''[[Looney Tunes (theatrical shorts)|Looney Tunes]]'' and ''[[Merrie Melodies (theatrical shorts)|Merrie Melodies]]'' cartoon series from [[1964]] to [[1967]].
'''DePatie–Freleng Enterprises''', also known as '''Mirsch-Geoffrey-DePatie-Freleng Productions''' and '''DFE Films''', was an American animation studio founded in May [[1963]] by former [[Warner Bros. Cartoons]] staff; namely producer [[David H. DePatie]] and animator [[Friz Freleng]]. Based in Burbank, California, DFE produced numerous film and television works, among which included entries of the ''[[Looney Tunes (theatrical shorts)|Looney Tunes]]'' and ''[[Merrie Melodies (theatrical shorts)|Merrie Melodies]]'' cartoon series from [[1964]] to [[1967]].


More notably, they were also involved in producing the opening titles for ''[[wikipedia:The Pink Panther (1963 film)|The Pink Panther]]'', its sequels and a series of theatrical shorts featuring the [[wikipedia:Pink Panther (character)|title character]], television specials based on [[Dr. Seuss]]' work from [[1971]] to [[1982]], the lightsaber effects of the original ''[[wikipedia:Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' film, and the ''[[wikipedia:Bod Squad|Bod Squad]]'' and ''[[wikipedia:Time for Timer|Time for Timer]]'' series of public service announcements for ABC in the mid [[1970s]].
More notably, they were also involved in producing the opening titles for ''[[wikipedia:The Pink Panther (1963 film)|The Pink Panther]]'', its sequels and a series of theatrical shorts featuring the [[wikipedia:Pink Panther (character)|title character]], television specials based on [[Dr. Seuss]]' work from [[1971]] to [[1982]], the lightsaber effects of the original ''[[wikipedia:Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' film, and the ''[[wikipedia:Bod Squad|Bod Squad]]'' and ''[[wikipedia:Time for Timer|Time for Timer]]'' series of public service announcements for ABC in the mid [[1970s]].


In [[1981]], DFE Films was sold to [[wikipedia:Marvel Comics|Marvel Comics]] and subsequently renamed to [[wikipedia:Marvel Productions|Marvel Productions]], which mainly produced superhero cartoons and animated series based on licensed toy lines. DePatie and Freleng's partnership in the company dissolved following the latter's return to the [[Warner Bros. Animation]] studio, but DFE was later revived in-name only in [[1984]] for ''Pink Panther and Sons'', an otherwise entirely different production by Hanna-Barbera Productions.
In [[1981]], DFE Films was sold to [[wikipedia:Marvel Comics|Marvel Comics]] and subsequently renamed to [[wikipedia:Marvel Productions|Marvel Productions]], which mainly produced superhero cartoons and animated series based on licensed toy lines. DePatie and Freleng's partnership in the company dissolved following the latter's return to the [[Warner Bros. Animation]] studio, but DFE was later revived in-name only in [[1984]] for ''Pink Panther and Sons'', an otherwise entirely different production by Hanna-Barbera Productions. Currently, [[wikipedia:The Walt Disney Company|The Walt Disney Company]] (who purchased Marvel Entertainment in [[2009]]) owns the studio's library of all-original and Marvel Comics-based cartoons; with the exceptions of the ''Looney Tunes''/''Merrie Melodies'' cartoons (which are still owned by [[Warner Bros.]]), the Dr. Seuss specials (which are currently distributed by [[Warner Bros. Home Entertainment]] through the Dr. Seuss estate), ''The Pink Panther'' theatrical shorts and character trademarks ([[wikipediaUnited Artists|United Artists]], under its parent company [[wikipedia:Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer|MGM]]), and a few others.


==History==
==History==
From 1964 to 1967, DFE produced 39 cartoons for the [[Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies]] series after Warner Bros. had closed down its animation studio. Due to strict budgets and constrictions, the studio was only allowed to use certain characters such as [[Daffy Duck]], [[Speedy Gonzales]], [[Road Runner]], and [[Wile E. Coyote]]. Sometimes they would include characters like [[Sylvester]], [[Granny]], [[The Goofy Gophers]], [[Porky Pig]], [[Witch Hazel]] and [[Yosemite Sam]] in some of the shorts.  
From [[1964]] to [[1967]], DePatie–Freleng Enterprises produced 39 cartoons for the ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series, after Warner Bros. had closed down its animation studio. Due to limited budgets and constrictions, the studio was only allowed to use certain characters such as [[Daffy Duck (character)|Daffy Duck]], [[Speedy Gonzales (character)|Speedy Gonzales]], [[Road Runner]], and [[Wile E. Coyote]]. Sometimes, characters like [[Sylvester]], [[Granny]], [[The Goofy Gophers]], [[Porky Pig]], [[Witch Hazel]] and [[Yosemite Sam]] appeared in some of the shorts. Several of DFE's shorts (notably ones directed by [[Rudy Lariva]]) were panned by critics and fans alike,<ref name="Intanibase">[https://www.intanibase.com/gac/looneytunes/1960sarticle.aspx"Misce-Looney-Ous: That Wasn't All, Folks!: Warner Bros. Cartoons 1964-1969"], intanibase.com.</ref> especially when compared to the previous one made by Warner Bros. Cartoons.


This era of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies is most known for the stylized opening and endings reused from Chuck Jones' "Now Hear This", without the sound effects, and with a reinterpretation of the infamous, clunky rendition of "[[The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down]]" provided by William Lava. DePatie-Freleng would also outsource eleven Road Runner cartoons to Format Films, as well as animating the bridging sequences for [[The Road Runner Show]]. Additionally, two shorts were cut downs from the original special, [[Adventures of the Road-Runner]].
The cartoons created in this era are most known for the stylized opening and ending sequences (although the "Abstract WB" opening and closing sequences were first used in three cartoons made by Warner Bros. Cartoons), and a new composition of "[[The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down]]" provided by [[William Lava]].<ref name="Intanibase" /> The change of title cards were reflective of the switch in the animation style to the shorts themselves. DePatie–Freleng would also outsource eleven Road Runner cartoons to [[Format Films]], as well as producing the bridging sequences for ''[[The Road Runner Show]]''. Additionally, two DFE shorts were cut downs from the [[Chuck Jones]] featurette, ''[[Adventures of the Road-Runner]]''.


After production of new Looney Tunes shorts shifted from outsourced production at DePatie-Freleng to in-house production at Warner Bros.-Seven Arts in 1967, twelve years later production of new Looney Tunes TV specials were outsourced to DePatie-Freleng once again for the last time; this time, the studio produced three original Looney Tunes TV specials; two focusing on Bugs Bunny and one focusing on Daffy Duck. Unlike the theatrical shorts which DePatie-Freleng produced between 1964-1967, the studio was allowed to use a larger selection of Looney Tunes characters, including characters that didn't appear in the DFE era such as Bugs Bunny, [[Tweety]] and Yosemite Sam.
After the production of new ''Looney Tunes'' shorts shifted to in-house production at [[Warner Bros.-Seven Arts]] in 1967, DFE did not continue doing work for Warner Bros. until the late [[1970s]] and early [[1980s]], in which they produced new ''Looney Tunes'' television specials. Unlike the theatrical shorts DFE produced between 1964-1967, the studio was allowed to use a larger selection of characters for the specials, including ones that didn't originally appear such as [[Bugs Bunny (character)|Bugs Bunny]], [[Tweety]] and [[Yosemite Sam]].
 
DePatie-Freleng closed and was sold to Marvel in 1981. Marvel was bought out by Disney in 2009. Today, Disney owns some of the studio's works, with the exceptions of the Looney Tunes shorts from 1964-67, the [[Dr. Seuss]] specials, the The Pink Panther Show episodes and character trademarks, the Hasbro works, as well as a few others.


==Staff==
==Staff==


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
=== Theatrical Shorts ===
===Theatrical shorts===  
Of the cartoons made by DePatie-Freleng Productions, only 39 were made:
* ''[[Pancho's Hideaway]]'' (1964)  
 
* ''[[Road to Andalay]]'' (1964)  
* "[[Pancho's Hideaway]]" (1964)  
* ''[[Zip Zip Hooray!]]'' (1965)
* "[[Road to Andalay]]" (1964)  
* ''[[It's Nice to Have A Mouse Around the House]]'' (1965)
* "[[Zip Zip Hooray!]]" (1965, First "[[Adventures of the Road-Runner]]" cut-down)
* ''[[Cats and Bruises]]'' (1965)
* "[[It's Nice to Have A Mouse Around the House]]" (1965)
* ''[[Roadrunner A Go-Go]]'' (1965)
* "[[Cats and Bruises]]" (1965)
* ''[[The Wild Chase]]'' (1965)
* "[[Roadrunner A Go-Go]]" (1965, Second "[[Adventures of the Road-Runner]]" cut-down)
* ''[[Moby Duck]]'' (1965)
* "[[The Wild Chase]]" (1965)
* ''[[Assault and Peppered]]'' (1965)
* "[[Moby Duck]]" (1965)
* ''[[Well Worn Daffy]]'' (1965)
* "[[Assault and Peppered]]" (1965)
* ''[[Suppressed Duck]]'' (1965)
* "[[Well Worn Daffy]]" (1965)
* ''[[Corn on the Cop]]'' (1965)
* "[[Suppressed Duck]]" (1965)
* ''[[Rushing Roulette]]'' (1965)
* "[[Corn on the Cop]]" (1965)
* ''[[Run, Run, Sweet Road Runner]]'' (1965)
* "[[Rushing Roulette]]" (1965)
* ''[[Tease for Two]]'' (1965)
* "[[Run, Run, Sweet Road Runner]]" (1965, with Format Films)
* ''[[Tired and Feathered]]'' (1965)
* "[[Tease for Two]]" (1965)
* ''[[Boulder WHAM!]]'' (1965)
* "[[Tired and Feathered]]" (1965, with Format Films)
* ''[[Chili Corn Corny]]'' (1965)
* "[[Boulder WHAM!]]" (1965, with Format Films)
* ''[[Just Plane Beep]]'' (1965)
* "[[Chili Corn Corny]]" (1965)
* ''[[Hairied and Hurried]]'' (1965)
* "[[Just Plane Beep]]" (1965, with Format Films)
* ''[[Go Go Amigo]]'' (1965)
* "[[Hairied and Hurried]]" (1965, with Format Films)
* ''[[Highway Runnery]]'' (1965)
* "[[Go Go Amigo]]" (1965)
* ''[[Chaser on the Rocks]]'' (1965)
* "[[Highway Runnery]]" (1965, with Format Films)
* ''[[The Astroduck]]'' (1966)
* "[[Chaser on the Rocks]]" (1965, with Format Films)
* ''[[Shot and Bothered]]'' (1966)
* "[[The Astroduck]]" (1966)
* ''[[Out and Out Rout]]'' (1966)
* "[[Shot and Bothered]]" (1966, with Format Films)
* ''[[Mucho Locos]]'' (1966)
* "[[Out and Out Rout]]" (1966, with Format Films)
* ''[[The Solid Tin Coyote]]'' (1966)
* "[[Mucho Locos]]" (1966)
* ''[[Mexican Mousepiece]]'' (1966)
* "[[The Solid Tin Coyote]]" (1966, with Format Films)
* ''[[Clippety Clobbered]]'' (1966)
* "[[Mexican Mousepiece]]" (1966)
* ''[[Daffy Rents]]'' (1966)
* "[[Clippety Clobbered]]" (1966, with Format Films)
* ''[[A-Haunting We Will Go]]'' (1966)
* "[[Daffy Rents]]" (1966)
* ''[[Snow Excuse]]'' (1966)
* "[[A-Haunting We Will Go]]" (1966)
* ''[[A Squeak in the Deep]]'' (1966)
* "[[Snow Excuse]]" (1966)
* ''[[Feather Finger]]'' (1966)
* "[[A Squeak in the Deep]]" (1966)
* ''[[Swing Ding Amigo]]'' (1966)
* "[[Feather Finger]]" (1966)
* ''[[Sugar and Spies]]'' (1966)
* "[[Swing Ding Amigo]]" (1966)
* ''[[A Taste of Catnip]]'' (1966)
* "[[Sugar and Spies]]" (1966)
* ''[[Daffy's Diner]]'' (1967)
* "[[A Taste of Catnip]]" (1966)
* "[[Daffy's Diner]]" (1967, last short produced by DFE.)
 
=== TV Specials ===
* [[Bugs Bunny's Easter Funnies]] (1977)
* [[Bugs Bunny's Howl-oween Special]] (1977)
* [[How Bugs Bunny Won the West]] (1978)
* [[Bugs Bunny's Cupid Capers]] (1979)
* [[Bugs Bunny's Baby Boomers]] (1979)
* [[Bugs Bunny's Thanksgiving Diet]] (1979)
* [[The Bugs Bunny Mystery Special]] (1980)
* [[Bugs Bunny: All American Hero]] (1981)
* [[Bugs Bunny's Mad World of Television]] (1982, last special produced by DFE.)


=== TV Specials with Original Animated Shorts ===
===TV specials===
* [[Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales]] (1979, original animation)
* ''[[Bugs Bunny's Easter Funnies]]'' (1977)
* [[Daffy Duck's Easter Egg-citement]] (1980, original animation)
* ''[[Bugs Bunny's Howl-oween Special]]'' (1977)
* ''[[How Bugs Bunny Won the West]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Bugs Bunny's Cupid Capers]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Bugs Bunny's Baby Boomers]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Bugs Bunny's Thanksgiving Diet]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Daffy Duck's Easter Egg-citement]]'' (1980)
* ''[[The Bugs Bunny Mystery Special]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Bugs Bunny: All American Hero]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Bugs Bunny's Mad World of Television]]'' (1982)


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
[[Category:Animation studios]]
[[Category:Animation studios]]

Revision as of 08:44, 10 May 2024

DePatie–Freleng Enterprises
DePatie–Freleng Enterprises.svg
Company logo.
Type Partnership
Industry Animation
Predecessor(s) Warner Bros. Cartoons
Founded May 1963
Founder(s) David H. DePatie
Friz Freleng
Defunct 1981
Fate Partnership dissolved
Acquired and renamed by Marvel to Marvel Productions
Headquarters Burbank, California, U.S.
Products Television shows
Theatrical shorts
Television specials

DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, also known as Mirsch-Geoffrey-DePatie-Freleng Productions and DFE Films, was an American animation studio founded in May 1963 by former Warner Bros. Cartoons staff; namely producer David H. DePatie and animator Friz Freleng. Based in Burbank, California, DFE produced numerous film and television works, among which included entries of the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoon series from 1964 to 1967.

More notably, they were also involved in producing the opening titles for The Pink Panther, its sequels and a series of theatrical shorts featuring the title character, television specials based on Dr. Seuss' work from 1971 to 1982, the lightsaber effects of the original Star Wars film, and the Bod Squad and Time for Timer series of public service announcements for ABC in the mid 1970s.

In 1981, DFE Films was sold to Marvel Comics and subsequently renamed to Marvel Productions, which mainly produced superhero cartoons and animated series based on licensed toy lines. DePatie and Freleng's partnership in the company dissolved following the latter's return to the Warner Bros. Animation studio, but DFE was later revived in-name only in 1984 for Pink Panther and Sons, an otherwise entirely different production by Hanna-Barbera Productions. Currently, The Walt Disney Company (who purchased Marvel Entertainment in 2009) owns the studio's library of all-original and Marvel Comics-based cartoons; with the exceptions of the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons (which are still owned by Warner Bros.), the Dr. Seuss specials (which are currently distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment through the Dr. Seuss estate), The Pink Panther theatrical shorts and character trademarks (United Artists, under its parent company MGM), and a few others.

History

From 1964 to 1967, DePatie–Freleng Enterprises produced 39 cartoons for the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series, after Warner Bros. had closed down its animation studio. Due to limited budgets and constrictions, the studio was only allowed to use certain characters such as Daffy Duck, Speedy Gonzales, Road Runner, and Wile E. Coyote. Sometimes, characters like Sylvester, Granny, The Goofy Gophers, Porky Pig, Witch Hazel and Yosemite Sam appeared in some of the shorts. Several of DFE's shorts (notably ones directed by Rudy Lariva) were panned by critics and fans alike,[1] especially when compared to the previous one made by Warner Bros. Cartoons.

The cartoons created in this era are most known for the stylized opening and ending sequences (although the "Abstract WB" opening and closing sequences were first used in three cartoons made by Warner Bros. Cartoons), and a new composition of "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down" provided by William Lava.[1] The change of title cards were reflective of the switch in the animation style to the shorts themselves. DePatie–Freleng would also outsource eleven Road Runner cartoons to Format Films, as well as producing the bridging sequences for The Road Runner Show. Additionally, two DFE shorts were cut downs from the Chuck Jones featurette, Adventures of the Road-Runner.

After the production of new Looney Tunes shorts shifted to in-house production at Warner Bros.-Seven Arts in 1967, DFE did not continue doing work for Warner Bros. until the late 1970s and early 1980s, in which they produced new Looney Tunes television specials. Unlike the theatrical shorts DFE produced between 1964-1967, the studio was allowed to use a larger selection of characters for the specials, including ones that didn't originally appear such as Bugs Bunny, Tweety and Yosemite Sam.

Staff

Filmography

Theatrical shorts

TV specials

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Misce-Looney-Ous: That Wasn't All, Folks!: Warner Bros. Cartoons 1964-1969", intanibase.com.
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