Klasky Csupo, Inc. (pronounced "Class-key Chew-po") is a multimedia entertainment production company located in Los Angeles, California, founded by artist/producer, Arlene Klasky and animator, Gábor Csupó.
History
Klasky-Csupo was started in 1982[1] in the spare bedroom of a Los Angeles apartment where Klasky and Csupo were living while married. Klasky-Csupo's first major work came in 1989, when they became the 'animation house' for the first three seasons of The Simpsons (after which Film Roman took over in 1992), Klasky-Csupo had already produced the animated pilots for The Simpsons, as sketches on The Tracey Ullman Show.
In 1991, Klasky-Csupo began producing Rugrats, an animated show for Nickelodeon[2].
Their next major series was Duckman for the USA Network. The show revolved around the home life and adventures of a dim-witted and lascivious private detective duck named Eric Duckman. The series ran from 1994 to 1997.
During the same time Nickelodeon released Klasky-Csupo's second Nicktoon series, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. During this time Klasky Csupo ended production on Rugrats. However K-C produced three new Rugrats specials between 1995 and 1996. The specials were so successful that the series was revived in 1997.
After Aaahh!!! Real Monsters and Duckman were both cancelled in 1997, Klasky-Csupo began producing The Wild Thornberrys for Nickelodeon[3]. The cartoon, premiering in 1998, revolved around a girl who could talk to animals[4].
On December 23, 1998, CEO Terry Thoren concluded an eleven-month negotiation with Mercedes-Benz and moved the company into the state of the art studio in the heart of Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street[5].
Between the late-1990s and 2000s, Klasky-Csupo began producing new shows Rocket Power, As Told by Ginger, Santo Bugito and Stressed Eric.
In 2001, in honor of the Rugrats 10th Anniversary, Klasky-Csupo released a two-part special entitled "All Growed Up". The special featured the famous babies as pre-teenagers. It was so popular, that a series based on that special premiered in 2003. The series was put on hiatus in 2006 and officially cancelled in 2008. Several previously unaired in the US episodes aired on Nickelodeon in November 2007 and August 2008.
The company was also active in producing recorded music with the labels "Tone Casualties" and "Casual Tonalities." Gabor Csupo was a good friend of Frank Zappa and occasionally collaborates with Mark Mothersbaugh, who did most of the music for Rugrats.
Klasky-Csupo also produced a number of projects in commercial advertising, including a series of direct-to-video features (The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald) for the McDonald's fast food chain.
By 2004, Klasky-Csupo shut down production on most of its shows, including Rugrats and in 2006, shut down production on all their shows except the new pilots they created.
In fall 2006, Klasky Csupo announced development of 14 new animated pilots, which will be up for sale at a later date: [1]
- Ace Bogart, Space Ape
- Big Babies
- Commander Bunsworth
- Ronnie Biddles
- Chicken Town
- Grampa and Julie, Shark Hunters (based on the Nick Magazine strip and slated to feature Dustin Hoffman as Grampa)
- Sugarless
- Zeek and Leo
- Wiener Squad
- Rollin' Rock Starz
- Twinkle
- Ricky Z
- Junkyard Teddies
- Little Freaks
The animation design in these pilots are in various styles, instead of the typical style that Klasky Csupo was famous for in the 1990s.
Klasky Csupo productions
Television Shows
Motion Pictures
References
External links
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