Bento Box Entertainment

Bento Box Entertainment
Company typeDivision
IndustryAnimation
Founded2009; 15 years ago (2009)
Founder
  • Scott Greenberg
  • Joel Kuwahara
  • Mark McJimsey
Headquarters
North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Key people
  • Brett Coker (president)
  • Joel Kuwahara (President of production)
  • Dana Cameron (VP of production)
  • Ben Jones (creative director)
Products
  • Television series
  • Feature films
ParentFox Entertainment (2019–present)[1]
SubsidiariesBento Box Animation Studio Atlanta
Bento Box Canada
Bento Box Interactive
Bento Rights
Princess Bento Studio[a]
Websitewww.bentoboxent.com
www.bentoboxatl.com
www.princessbento.com

Bento Box Entertainment, formerly known as Bento Box Animation, is an American animation studio located in the North Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.[2] It was founded in 2009 by executive producers Scott Greenberg, Joel Kuwahara, and Mark McJimsey. It is a subsidiary of Fox Corporation and operates under the Fox Entertainment division. The studio is best known for producing Bob's Burgers for Fox prior to its acquisition in August 2019.

Bento Box Entertainment has four animation studios — in North Hollywood, Burbank, Bento Box Animation Studio Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia, and Bento Box Canada in Toronto, Ontario.[3][4][5] The company also operates Princess Bento Studio, a joint venture with Princess Pictures, in Melbourne, Victoria.

History

On October 11, 2016, Bento Box launched a children's division called Sutikki.[6] Sutikki opened an office in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2017.[7]

On August 6, 2019, it was announced that Fox Corporation would acquire Bento Box, while still allowing it to operate as an independent production house; Sutikki was not part of the acquisition.[8]

On April 8, 2020, it formed a pact with Australian film company Princess Pictures called Princess Bento Studio.[9][10] Their first series Smiling Friends started airing on Adult Swim on January 10, 2022.[11]

On October 5, 2022, Bento Box's production workers became members of The Animation Guild.[12]

On December 2, 2022, Bento Box signed a multi-year animation service deal with Princess Pictures' newly acquired studio Boulder Media.[13]

Productions

Television series

Bento Box Entertainment

Title Genre First air date Last air date No. of
seasons 		Network Co-production company(s) Note(s)
As animation service
Neighbors from Hell Horror-comedy June 7, 2010 (2010-06-07) July 26, 2010 (2010-07-26) 1 TBS 20th Century Fox Television, Wounded Poodle and MoonBoy Animation
Bob's Burgers Family comedy January 9, 2011 (2011-01-09) Present 15 Fox 20th Television Animation, Wilo Productions (Season 2-present) and Buck & Millie Productions (Seasons 2–10)
Allen Gregory October 30, 2011 (2011-10-30) December 18, 2011 (2011-12-18) 1 20th Century Fox Television, Jonah Hill Films, a J. Paul/A. Mogel/D. Goodman Piece of Business and Chernin Entertainment
Brickleberry Workplace comedy September 25, 2012 (2012-09-25) April 14, 2015 (2015-04-14) 3 Comedy Central Fox 21 Television Studios, Damn! Show Productions and Black Heart Productions
Out There Friendship comedy February 22, 2013 (2013-02-22) April 19, 2013 (2013-04-19) 1 IFC 20th Century Fox Television and Quincy Productions
Perfect Hair Forever Adventure-comedy April 1, 2014 (2014-04-01) Adult Swim Williams Street episodes 8 and 9 only
Future-Worm! Science fiction-comedy May 27, 2015 (2015-05-27) June 11, 2015 (2015-06-11) Disney XD Disney Television Animation and Quincy Productions shorts only
Bordertown Family comedy January 3, 2016 (2016-01-03) May 22, 2016 (2016-05-22) Fox 20th Century Fox Television, Fuzzy Door Productions and Hentemann Films
The Who Was? Show Sketch comedy May 11, 2018 (2018-05-11) Netflix Penguin Random House, FremantleMedia and Matador Content
The Masked Singer Singing competition January 2, 2019 (2019-01-02) Present (Present) 11 Fox animated sequences for season 4
Duncanville Family comedy February 16, 2020 (2020-02-16) June 26, 2022 (2022-06-26) 3 Paper Kite Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment, 20th Television Animation, Fox Entertainment and Universal Television last episodes were released on Hulu on October 18, 2022
Central Park Musical comedy May 29, 2020 (2020-05-29) November 18, 2022 (2022-11-18) Apple TV+ 20th Television Animation, Angry Child Productions, Wilo Productions and Brillstein Entertainment Partners
Solar Opposites Science fiction-comedy May 8, 2020 (2020-05-08) Present 5 Important Science, Justin Roiland's Solo Vanity Card Productions!, and 20th Animation Television
Hoops Workplace comedy August 21, 2020 (2020-08-21) 1 Netflix 20th Century Fox Television and Lord Miller Productions
The Great North Family comedy January 3, 2021 (2021-01-03) Present 4 Fox 20th Television Animation, Double Molyneux Sister Sheux, Wilo Productions and Fox Entertainment
The Prince Family comedy July 29, 2021 (2021-07-29) 1 HBO Max 20th Television and Nickleby, Inc.
As production company
The Awesomes Superhero comedy August 1, 2013 (2013-08-01) November 3, 2015 (2015-11-03) 3 Hulu Broadway Video and Sethmaker Shoemeyers Productions
Legends of Chamberlain Heights Friendship comedy September 14, 2016 (2016-09-14) August 20, 2017 (2017-08-20) 2 Comedy Central Running with Scissors and TrueStarr Society of Ninjas Incorporated
Paradise PD Workplace comedy August 31, 2018 (2018-08-31) December 16, 2022 (2022-12-16) 4 Netflix Damn! Show Productions and Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment
Alien News Desk Science fiction-comedy February 27, 2019 (2019-02-27) May 4, 2019 (2019-05-04) 1 Syfy Broadway Video
Lazor Wulf April 8, 2019 (2019-04-08) January 11, 2021 (2021-01-11) 2 Adult Swim Williams Street season 1 only; season 2 animated by Six Point Harness
HouseBroken Friendship comedy May 31, 2021 (2021-05-31) August 6, 2023 (2023-08-06) Fox Kapital Entertainment, Merman and AllenDen
Wolfboy and the Everything Factory Fantasy September 24, 2021 (2021-09-24) September 30, 2022 Apple TV+ HitRecord and Toff's Tiny Universe First children's animated series produced by the company
Saturday Morning All Star Hits! Sketch comedy December 10, 2021 (2021-12-10) 1 Netflix Broadway Video and Universal Television live action/animated series
Farzar Science fiction-comedy July 15, 2022 (2022-07-15) Netflix Animation, Damn! Show Productions and Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment
Koala Man Superhero comedy January 9, 2023 (2023-01-09) Hulu
Disney+ (Australia)		 Cusack Creatures, Hermit House, Justin Roiland's Solo Vanity Card Productions!, Princess Pictures and 20th Television Animation
Mulligan Science fiction-comedy May 12, 2023 (2023-05-12) Present Netflix Little Stranger, Inc., Bevel Gears, Means End Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment and Universal Television
Krapopolis Fantasy-comedy September 24, 2023 (2023-09-24) 2 Fox Fox Entertainment Studios and Harmonious Claptrap
Grimsburg Action-comedy January 7, 2024 (2024-01-07) 1 Gizmotech Industries, The Jackal Group and Fox Entertainment Studios
Hazbin Hotel Musical comedy January 19, 2024 (2024-01-19) YouTube (Pilot)
Amazon Prime Video (Series)		 SpindleHorse Toons, A24 and Amazon MGM Studios Pilot debuted on October 28, 2019
Universal Basic Guys Situation comedy September 8, 2024 (2024-09-08) Fox Mutsack, One Man Canoe, Sony Pictures Television and Fox Entertainment
Elfquest[14] Fantasy drama Fox Modern Magic based on the comic book of the same name
His Majesty's Dragon[15] Fox Entertainment based on the book of the same name
Taskmasters[16] Workplace comedy
Zoo P.D.[17] Kapital Entertainment

Sutikki

Title First air date Last air date No. of
seasons 		Network Note(s)
Moon and Me[18] February 3, 2019 (2019-02-03) January 27, 2020 (2020-01-27) 2 CBeebies Only Sutikki series

Short form series

Title Years Site Notes
Glove and Boots 2010–2018 YouTube Show originally a local production in New York from 2004 until 2006.
Kuroba 2018–2019 co-production with WildBrain[19]
Dogs Playing Poker 2021 Fox co-production with Fox Entertainment[20]
Best Fiends Shorts 2021–2022 YouTube co-production with Seriously[21]
Aquadonk Side Pieces 2022 co-production with Williams Street[22]

Direct-to-video animated films

Release Date Title Notes
March 18, 2014 Achmed Saves America co-production with Levity Entertainment Group
January 20, 2015 Madea's Tough Love co-production with Tyler Perry Studios
November 8, 2022 Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm co-production with Williams Street

Specials

Release Date Title Notes
October 28, 2017 The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special co-production with Universal Television, SNL Studios and Broadway Video
February 1, 2023 Yenor (pilot) co-production with Williams Street, and Adult Swim

Theatrical films

Release Date Title Notes
May 27, 2022 The Bob's Burgers Movie First theatrical film
co-production with 20th Century Animation

Streaming films

Release Date Title Notes
May 21, 2023 Pastacolypse First streaming film
co-production with Fox Entertainment Studios[23]
August 13, 2023 Millennial Hunter [23]
November 12, 2023 Big Bruh [23]

Bento Box Interactive

Bento Box Interactive is an entertainment-based technology company launched in 2012 by Bento Box Entertainment. In October 2012, Bento Box Interactive partnered with Alicia Keys to create an education mobile application entitled "The Journals of Mama Mae and LeeLee" for iOS devices.[24] The application tells the story of the relationship between a young New York City girl and her wise grandmother and features two original songs by Keys, "Follow the Moon" and "Unlock Yourself".[25] In 2012 Bento Box Interactive acquired the rights to the Sweet Pickles books and rereleased them as ebooks with sound effects, narration and character voices by voice actors.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Princess Bento Studio is co-owned by Bento Box Entertainment and Australian film and television production company Princess Pictures.

References

  1. ^ California Secretary of State business registration
  2. ^ "Bento Box Entertainment". bentoboxent.
  3. ^ "New Animation Studio Opens in Atlanta". ajc.com. September 28, 2012.
  4. ^ "Bento Box Canada launches in cahoots with Corus Entertainment". Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  5. ^ "About Bento Box Entertainment". bentoboxent.
  6. ^ "Ex-Nelvana execs helm Bento Box's new kids division". Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  7. ^ "Bento Box's Sutikki opens UK office". Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  8. ^ Flint, Joe (August 6, 2019). "Fox to Buy Bento Box, the Animation House Behind 'Bob's Burgers'". Wall Street Journal.
  9. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (April 8, 2020). "Bento Box & Princess Pictures Form First-Look Animation Pact". Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  10. ^ Drummond, Catriona. "Catriona Drummond - Head of Design - Yolo Crystal Fantasy - Princess Bento Studio". LinkedIn. Retrieved October 15, 2021.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Trailer: 'Smiling Friends' Deliver Happiness to Adult Swim". December 14, 2021.
  12. ^ "Bento Box Production Workers Unionize with TAG". October 5, 2022.
  13. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (December 1, 2022). "FOX's Bento Box and Boulder Media Forge Multi-Year Animation Pact". Animation Magazine. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  14. ^ Petski, Denise (January 11, 2024). "'Elfquest' Animated Series Based On Comics In Works At Fox From Modern Magic; Susan Hurwitz Arneson To Pen Adaptation, Showrun & EP". Deadline.
  15. ^ White, Peter (September 7, 2022). "Fox Plots Animated Drama Push With 'His Majesty's Dragon' As Renewal Talks Continue Over 'The Simpsons', 'Family Guy' & 'Bob's Burgers'". Deadline Hollywood.
  16. ^ Petski, Denise (December 4, 2023). "'Taskmasters' Animated Workplace Comedy From Brian Keith Etheridge, Brendon Walsh, Johnny Ryan In Works At Fox". Deadline.
  17. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 5, 2023). "'Zoo P.D.' Animated Comedy In Works At Fox From 'Family Guy's Alex Carter, Kapital & Bento Box". Deadline.
  18. ^ "Andrew Davenport, Sutikki score CBeebies order". Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  19. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (October 21, 2018). "WildBrain to Unbox Sutikki's 'Kuroba!' for Global YT Audience".
  20. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (January 8, 2021). "Watch: Fox Debuts Denis Leary's 'Dogs Playing Poker'". Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  21. ^ "Slug Swap - A Best Fiends Animation". YouTube. May 29, 2021.
  22. ^ Schwarz, John (November 16, 2021). "Adult Swim Shows Off First-Look At 'AQUADONK SIDE PIECES'". Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  23. ^ a b c Rosario, Alexandra Del (May 16, 2022). "Bento Box Original Animated Movies 'Pastacolypse,' Millenial Hunter' & 'Big Bruh' Set At Tubi – Upfronts". Deadline. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  24. ^ "Alicia Keys Launches New Animated App". Rap-Up.com. October 24, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  25. ^ "Alicia Keys Launches Interactive App for Kids | Music News". Rolling Stone. October 25, 2012. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2012.