Nelvana

Nelvana Enterprises, Inc. (nɛlˈvɑːnə; previously known as Nelvana Limited, sometimes known as Nelvana Animation and simply Nelvana, Nelvana Studios or Nelvana Communications) is a Canadian animation studio and entertainment company owned by Corus Entertainment. Founded in July 1971 by Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith, it was named after Nelvana of the Northern Lights, the first Canadian national superhero, who was created by Adrian Dingle. The company's production logo is a polar bear looking at Polaris, the North Star. The company is based in Toronto, Ontario, and it maintains international offices in France, Ireland and Japan, as well as smaller offices in the top three cities in the U.S. Many of its films, shows and specials are based on licensed properties and literature, but original programming is also part of its roster. Although the company specializes in children's media, Nelvana has also co-produced adult animations like the first season of Clone High, John Callahan's Quads, Bob & Margaret, and Committed. Nelvana International distributes three Nickelodeon shows: Taina, the first five seasons of The Fairly OddParents, and The Backyardigans (the latter of which was co-produced with Nick Jr.). , its library comprised more than 1,650 cumulative half-hours of original programming. Michael Hirsh and Patrick Loubert first met at York University in 1967. They made films with other students. This was Loubert's first experience with filming; he recalled: I had been hitchhiking in Europe during the previous summer, and I got a ride with an Italian film director visiting locations. I hadn't heard of him. When I got home I looked up his films-it was Gillo Pontecorvo, a brilliant political filmmaker who had directed The Battle of Algiers. That was the beginning for me. The Canadian television and film industry was small at the time. Loubert, Hirsh, and York University friends Jack Christie and Peter Dewdney founded a small company named Laff Arts that produced small experimental films.