20th Television Animation
20th Television Animation (formerly Fox Television Animation) is an American animation studio that creates, develops and produces adult animated television series and specials. It is a unit of Disney Television Studios, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Television, which is part of the Disney General Entertainment Content division of The Walt Disney Company.[1]
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Formerly | Fox Television Animation (1999–2020) |
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Type | Subsidiary |
Industry | Television production |
Founded | May 19, 1999 |
Key people | Marci Proietto (president) |
Products | Television animation |
Owner | Disney General Entertainment Content (The Walt Disney Company) |
Parent | Disney Television Studios (Walt Disney Television) |
History

1999–2020: 20th Century Fox Television and 20th Television animation unit
The studio was established on May 19, 1999.[2] Its first project was the continued production of Family Guy for its third season, which it took over from the series' previous home at Film Roman for seasons one and two. The studio would become the home of future animated series co-created by Seth MacFarlane: American Dad! and The Cleveland Show.[3] In 2016, Fox Television Animation assumed production of The Simpsons, taking over from Film Roman.
Most animated projects from 20th Television Animation are subcontracted to third party animation production companies such as Film Roman, Titmouse, Inc., Bento Box Entertainment and Rough Draft Studios, but the company maintains 20th Television Animation as an in-house option. Because the company acts as a production house for hire, it is not treated as a labeled division of 20th Century Studios like Touchstone Television or Searchlight Pictures. The studio specializes in animation pre-production and post-production, while the actual animation production is handled by studios in South Korea. 20th Television Animation's frequent contractors include Digital eMation, Yearim Productions, AKOM Production, and Rough Draft Korea.
The studio maintains a location in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles[4][5] Its workers are represented by The Animation Guild, I.A.T.S.E. Local 839.[6]
2019–present: under Disney Television Studios
In March 2019, 20th Century Fox Television, 20th Television and Fox Television Animation were acquired by the Walt Disney Company and integrated into Walt Disney Television as part of Disney Television Studios.[7] In September 2020, the animation company was renamed as 20th Television Animation starting with newer episodes of shows in production at the company.
In December 2020, it was announced that 20th Television Animation would be relaunched as a standalone unit from 20th Television. In March 2021, Marci Proietto was tentatively named as president of the company. It eventually went into effect in September with the on-screen logo for the company first appearing after the credits for the season 33 premiere of The Simpsons, the season 2 premiere of The Great North, the season 12 premiere of Bob's Burgers and the season 20 premiere of Family Guy. 20th Television Animation focuses on producing and developing animated projects targeted at adults, as opposed to their children-targeted sister studio Disney Television Animation. Under the new incarnation, 20th Television Animation would assume executive supervision of the production of all animated projects that had, up to that point, been overseen by 20th Television. This allowed series that 20th Television Animation was already producing animation for under 20th Television's watch to be brought entirely under one company, while series whose animation was produced by a third party company would retain that relationship, with 20th Television Animation only absorbing the above-the-line production and acting as the new client for the animation contractor.[8][9]
On March 16, 2022, it was announced that the studio would collaborate with children-targeted sister studio Disney Television Animation, for the creation of young adult animated series, mini-series and movies for Disney+.[10][11][12]
Television productions
Title[9] | Creator(s) | Year(s) | Network | Co-production with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1980s | |||||
The Simpsons | Matt Groening | 1989–present | Fox | Gracie Films | Animation service from season 28–32; production company since season 33 |
1990s | |||||
King of the Hill | Mike Judge and Greg Daniels | 1997–2009[lower-alpha 1] | Fox | 3 Arts Entertainment Deedle-Dee Productions Judgemental Films Bandera Entertainment |
Production company for upcoming revival[13] |
Family Guy | Seth MacFarlane | 1999–present | Fuzzy Door Productions | Animation service from season 3–19; production company since season 20 | |
Futurama | Matt Groening | 1999–2003 | Fox (seasons 1–4) | The ULULU Company[lower-alpha 2] Rough Draft Studios |
Production company for upcoming revival[14] To be credited as "30th Television Animation" |
2008–2013 | Comedy Central (seasons 5–7) | ||||
2023 | Hulu (season 8–) | ||||
2000s | |||||
American Dad! | Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman | 2005–present | Fox (seasons 1–11) TBS (seasons 12–) |
Fuzzy Door Productions Underdog Productions |
Animation service from season 1–18; production company since season 19 |
The Cleveland Show | Seth MacFarlane, Richard Appel and Mike Henry | 2009–2013 | Fox | Fuzzy Door Productions Persons Unknown Productions Happy Jack Productions |
Animation service; the only series to be credited as a Fox Television Animation production throughout its run |
2010s | |||||
Bob's Burgers | Loren Bouchard | 2011–present | Fox | Bento Box Entertainment Wilo Productions |
Production company since season 12 |
2020s | |||||
Duncanville | Mike Scully, Julie Thacker Scully and Amy Poehler | 2020–present | Fox | Fox Entertainment Universal Television 3 Arts Entertainment Bento Box Entertainment Paper Kite Productions Scullys Productions |
Production company since season 3 |
Solar Opposites | Justin Roiland and Mike McMahan | Hulu | Justin Roiland's Solo Vanity Card Productions! Bardel Entertainment Important Science |
Production company since holiday special[lower-alpha 3] | |
Central Park | Josh Gad, Loren Bouchard and Nora Smith | Apple TV+ | Bento Box Entertainment Wilo Productions Angry Child Productions Brillstein Entertainment Partners |
Production company since season 3 | |
The Great North | Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin, Wendy Molyneux and Minty Lewis | 2021–present | Fox | Fox Entertainment Bento Box Entertainment Double Molyneux Sister Sheux Wilo Productions |
Production company since season 2 |
Upcoming | |||||
Buffalo Wings[15] | Hugh Davidson, Rachel Ramras and Larry Dorf | TBA | Fox | Fox Entertainment | |
Gerald’s World[16] | Dillon Francis and Spencer Porter | Wonderland Sound and Vision | |||
Ghetto Brilliance[17] | GaTa | Hulu | 3 Arts Entertainment Onyx Collective |
||
The Hobblepots[18] | Ben Schwartz | ABC | Mortal Media Rooster Teeth Studios |
||
How to Be Black[18] | Baratunde Thurston and Courtney Lilly | ABC Signature Cinema Gypsy Productions |
|||
Koala Man[19] | Michael Cusack | Hulu | Princess Bento Studios Justin Roiland's Solo Vanity Card Productions! |
||
Little Demon[20] | Darcy Fowler, Seth Kirschner and Kieran Valla | FXX | Harmonious Claptrap ShadowMachine Jersey Films 2nd Avenue FXP |
||
Lil Kev[21] | Kevin Hart, Michael Price and Matt Claybrooks | Fox | Fox Entertainment Lionsgate Television |
||
Praise Petey[22] | Anna Drezen | Freeform | ShadowMachine Bandera Entertainment |
||
Rhona Who Lives by the River[23] | Emily Kapnek | Disney+ | Disney Television Animation Stoopid Buddy Stoodios Piece of Pie Productions |
First collaboration with sister studio Disney Television Animation and first stop motion animated series from the studio.[24][25][26] | |
Standing By[18] | Dan Levy and Ally Pankiu | Hulu | ABC Signature | ||
SupaShawty Girls, Funkamatic BangBang[22] | Adamma and Adanne Ebo | Freeform | |||
Wallflower[22] | Julia Edelman, Danielle Uhlarik and Olivia de Recat | ||||
The X-Files: Albuquerque[27] | Jeremy Sosenko and Rocky Russo | Fox | Ten Thirteen Productions Fox Entertainment Bento Box Entertainment |
Based on The X-Files |
- Four episodes produced for season 13 were syndicated from May 3 to May 6, 2010.
- Credited as The Curiosity Company during first two runs.
- Still credited as "20th Television" internationally on Disney+.
See also
References
- Low, Elaine (March 30, 2021). "Longtime Animation Exec Marci Proietto to Head New 20th Television Animation Production Unit". Variety. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- Fox Television Animation, Inc. Delaware corporate filing
- "Al Jean Speaks". The Animation Guild Blog. February 3, 2016.
- LinkedIn. "Fox Television Animation" about page.
- Fox Television Animation Inc OpenGovUS page
- The Animation Guild Studio List
- "Lachlan Murdoch takes control of Fox Corp. But how will he deal with President Trump?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
- Andreeva, Nellie (December 1, 2020). "Dana Walden Merges 20th TV & Touchstone TV Under Karey Burke, ABC & Hulu Original Content Under Craig Erwich In Sweeping Reorg; Bert Salke Gets Producing Deal". Retrieved August 22, 2021.
- White, Peter (March 30, 2021). "Disney Launches 20th Television Animation, Promotes Veteran Exec Marci Proietto To Run New Unit Responsible For 'The Simpsons' & 'Family Guy'". Deadline. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- https://disneytvanimation.com/post/678939246565982208/exclusive-disney-television-animation-to-collab
- https://twitter.com/DisneyTVANews/status/1504237052468113411
- https://www.animationmagazine.net/animated-people/animated-people-disney-tv-animations-lisa-fragner-gives-us-the-scoop-on-the-mouses-future-slate/
- Goldberg, Lesley (January 18, 2022). "Kings of the Hill, Again: Greg Daniels, Mike Judge Discuss Their New Animation Company (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
- Goldberg, Lesley (February 9, 2022). "'Futurama' Revived at Hulu". The Hollywood Reporter.
- Petski, Denise (2018-11-16). "Fox Developing Animated Comedy 'Buffalo Wings' From 'Nobodies' Creators". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
- Petski, Denise (2019-04-17). "'Gerald's World' Animated Comedy From Dillon Francis, Spencer Porter & McG In Works At 20th Century Fox TV". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
- https://deadline.com/2022/04/dave-star-gata-animated-series-ghetto-brilliance-onyx-collective-1234999066/
- Petski, Denise (October 25, 2021). "20th Television Animation Ups Chris Cikowski To VP Animation". Deadline.
- Del Rosario, Alexandra (March 23, 2021). "Hulu Orders 'Koala Man' Animated Series From Michael Cusack, Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit & Justin Roiland". Deadline. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- @DisneyTVANews (May 11, 2021). ".@FXXNetwork Has Greenlighted #LittleDemon Created by Darcy Fowler, Seth Kirschner and Kieran Valla, EP by #RickAndMorty's Dan Harmon After being impregnated by the Devil ,a reluctant mother and her Antichrist daughter attempt to live an ordinary life in Delaware #20thTVA" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- Andreeva, Nellie (2018-02-07). "Fox Orders Kevin Hart Presentation 'Lil Kev' As Part Of Big Animated Series Push". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
- White, Peter (2021-12-09). "Annie Murphy, John Cho & Christine Baranski Star In Animated Series 'Praise Petey' From Anna Drezen For Freeform As Network Takes Another Crack At Genre". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
- Milligan, Mercedes (2021-11-16). "Emily Kapnek's Musical Toon 'Rhona Who Lives by the River' on Course for Disney+". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- https://disneytvanimation.com/post/678936593338335232/disney-s-rhona-who-lives-by-the-river-becomes
- https://www.animationmagazine.net/animated-people/animated-people-disney-tv-animations-lisa-fragner-gives-us-the-scoop-on-the-mouses-future-slate/
- https://twitter.com/DisneyTVANews/status/1504258485948661761
- Otterson, Joe (August 28, 2020). "'X-Files' Animated Comedy Series in Development at Fox". Variety. Retrieved August 28, 2020.