(TRUNEWS) Comcast, owner of NBCUniversal and purchaser of DreamWorks Studios, is the new owner of Christian-themed animated characters VeggieTales. Favorites such as Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato are now a part of the media, cable and broadcasting giant.
DreamWorks Animation purchased Classic Media, the parent company of Big Idea Entertainment and the VeggieTales brand in 2012. Big Idea and VeggieTales was started by Phil Vischer in 1993.
VeggieTales is an series of children’s computer animated films featuring anthropomorphic fruits and vegetables in stories conveying moral themes based on Christianity. The episodes frequently retell and recreate Bible stories anachronistically reframed and include humorous references to pop culture. The series was developed by Big Idea Entertainment and is owned by DreamWorks Animation through its subsidiary, DreamWorks Classics.
VeggieTales of Big Idea Entertainment, is now a product of Comcast, thanks to its purchase of DreamWorks
The characters in VeggieTales were originally created by Phil Vischer. He and Mike Nawrocki began producing the films (Nawrocki later took over the entire project when the rights were bought by Classic Media), and they also did many of the voices. Originally released in direct-to-video format, the series debuted on December 21, 1993. An updated series developed by DreamWorks entitled VeggieTales in the House, was added to NetFlix in 2014, and is a popular children’s selection on the streaming platform.
Regarding the $155 million sale back in 2012, Big Idea said:
“DreamWorks Animation respects and supports Big Idea’s successful history in producing faith-based, family friendly entertainment and is committed to supporting our growth,” Big Idea manager Leslie Ferrell said to Christian Retailing. “We expect many wonderful things to come of this partnership.”
Dreamworks Animation was excited about the purchase:
“[VeggieTales] is arguably one of the largest, most valuable collection of characters and branded assets left in the world today,” DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, said to Bloomberg News. “We see this really providing DreamWorks with whole new sets of opportunities.”
A Comcast sign is shown in San Francisco, California February 13, 2014. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith
Comcast Purchases DreamWorks, Which Owns VeggieTales
Comcast Corp, the owner of NBCUniversal, said on Thursday (April 28) it would buy DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion.
DreamWorks Chief Executive Jeffrey Katzenberg will become chairman of DreamWorks New Media, which will include the company’s ownership interests in Awesomeness TV and NOVA.
Katzenberg will also serve as a consultant to NBCUniversal.
Comcast’s acquisition of DreamWorks Animation will add to Universal’s film library with major children’s’ franchises such as “Shrek” and “Kung Fu Panda,” which it could tap for its theme parks and consumer products’ businesses.
Read One World Media Order: Comcast Buys DreamWorks
Parents Concerned About VeggieTales
Many parents raised concerns about the acquisition of the VeggieTales brand in 2012 when DreamWorks made the purchase of Classic Media. Those concerns are now refreshed as One World Media through ComcastNBCUniversal has control of the one of the most popular Christian videos for children of all time.
The post VeggieTales Now a Part of ComcastNBCUniversal appeared first on TRUNEWS with Rick Wiles.
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