DreamWorks Animation is leading the bidding for Classic Media, the closely held owner of characters like Casper the Friendly Ghost and the Lone Ranger, according to a person briefed on the matter. DreamWorks Animation has offered more than $150 million.
Like all studios, DreamWorks Animation needs a constant supply of source material for its movies. Existing franchises like Casper the Friendly Ghost, however faded, are coveted because studio marketers don?t have to build marketplace recognition from scratch.
From Wikipedia, Classic Media’s holdings include some notable cartoon characters including: Where’s Waldo, Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Ghostbusters, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, The Lone Ranger, Lassie, Sgt. Preston of the Yukon, Casper the Friendly Ghost3, Richie Rich3, Baby Huey, Rocky and Bullwinkle, George of the Jungle, The Dudley Do-Right Show, Felix the Cat, The Mighty Hercules, Mr. Magoo, Gerald McBoing-Boing, Theodore Tugboat, Lamb Chop’s Play Along, and Charlie Horse Music Pizza ,The Poky Little Puppy, Pat the Bunny, Magnus, Robot Fighter, Doctor Solar and Turok, Son of Stone, and Little Lulu.
Also co-licensing rights to Tribune Media Services’ comic strip properties: Dick Tracy, Brenda Starr, Gasoline Alley, Broom Hilda.
Classic Media also owns Mr. Peabody & Sherman show which Dreamworks is producing into a full-length animated feature with Robert Downey Jr set to voice Mr. Peabody. Movie slated to open in 2014.
mother of bob, please not another casper movie
I thought Disney would be perfect to buy Classic Media instead of Dreamworks.
Speaking of Classic Media’s ownership of Filmation: they own the rights to the 1968-1978 Filmation Archie cartoons.
Evidently, Robert Downey Jr. has left the project, and Ty Burell (Modern Family) will now be voicing Mr. Peabody.