Ragdoll Productions facts for kids
Logo used since 2000
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Formerly
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Ragdoll Productions (U.K.) Limited (1985-2000) Ragdoll Video Limited (1991–2000) Ragdoll Limited (2000-2013) |
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| Private | |
| Industry | Television production |
| Founded | 26 July 1984 |
| Founder | Anne Wood |
| Headquarters |
Shenington, Oxfordshire
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England
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Key people
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Christopher Wood |
| Owner | Ragdoll Ltd. |
| Subsidiaries | The Ragdoll Foundation |
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| 1968 | FilmFair is founded |
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| 1971 | DIC Audiovisuel is founded |
| 1974 | CPLG is founded |
| 1976 | CINAR and Colossal Pictures are founded |
| 1978 | Iconix Brand Group is founded. |
| 1982 | DIC Enterprises is founded |
| 1984 | Ragdoll Productions is founded |
| 1987 | DIC Audiovisuel closes |
| 1988 | Studio B Productions is founded |
| 1992 | Epitome Pictures is founded |
| 1993 | DIC Enterprises becomes DIC Entertainment |
| 1994 | Wild Brain is founded |
| 1995 | Platinum Disc Corporation is founded |
| 1996 | CINAR buys FilmFair's library |
| 1997 | Decode Entertainment is founded |
| 1999 | Wild Brain absorbs Colossal Pictures' employees |
| 2002 | Nerd Corps Entertainment is founded |
| 2004 | Halifax Film Company is founded and CINAR rebrands as Cookie Jar Group, and the House of Cool are founded |
| 2005 | Platinum Disc Corporation becomes Echo Bridge Home Entertainment |
| 2006 | Decode and Halifax Film merge as DHX Media, DIC acquires CPLG, and Ragdoll Worldwide is formed with BBC Worldwide |
| 2007 | DHX Media buys Studio B Productions and Wild Brain becomes Wildbrain Entertainment |
| 2008 | DIC Entertainment is acquired and absorbed into Cookie Jar Group |
| 2010 | DHX Media buys Wildbrain Entertainment |
| 2011 | Decode Entertainment closes |
| 2012 | DHX Media buys Cookie Jar Group |
| 2013 | DHX Media buys Ragdoll Worldwide |
| 2014 | DHX Media buys Epitome Pictures, Nerd Corps, and Echo Bridge Home Entertainment and Cookie Jar is absorbed |
| 2016 | The WildBrain multi-channel network launches and Studio B and Nerd Corps merge as DHX Studios |
| 2017 | Wildbrain Entertainment closes and DHX Media buys Iconix Brands Entertainment |
| 2018 | Halifax Film becomes spins off as Island of Misfits |
| 2019 | DHX Media rebrands as WildBrain, Epitome Pictures closes, and the WildBrain MCN becomes WildBrain Spark |
| 2020 | CPLG becomes WildBrain CPLG |
| 2023 | WildBrain acquires House of Cool |
Ragdoll Productions Limited, often just called Ragdoll, is a British company that makes TV shows. It was started in 1984 by Anne Wood. She had worked on other TV shows before.
Ragdoll is based in Shenington, Oxfordshire, England. They are famous for creating many popular children's shows. Some of their most well-known shows include Pob's Programme, Teletubbies, Rosie and Jim, Brum, Boohbah, Tots TV, and In the Night Garden.... Most of these shows are now owned by a company called WildBrain.
Contents
How Ragdoll Productions Started
Ragdoll Productions was started on July 26, 1984, by Anne Wood. She used to make shows for the ITV television network. In April 1985, the company officially became "Ragdoll Productions (U.K.) Limited." It was first located in Birmingham.
Ragdoll's very first show was Pob's Programme. It started on Channel 4 later that same year. The company then made Playbox for another TV channel. This show helped Ragdoll create its own unique characters.
In 1989, Ragdoll started making animated shows with The Magic Mirror. They also made live-action shows with BOOM!. At first, the company mostly used puppets in their shows. Their first mascot was a rag doll, like one Anne Wood's daughter owned.
In 1992, Ragdoll moved its main office to Stratford-upon-Avon. They also opened a special store there called The Ragdoll Shop.
Growing and Changing
In the mid-1990s, Ragdoll began to share its shows in the United States. They worked with a company called The Itsy Bitsy Entertainment Company to sell their programmes there.
Around the year 2000, Ragdoll changed its look. They got a new, simpler logo. The company also changed its name to "Ragdoll Limited." At this time, Ragdoll started making more animated shows. This began with Teletubbies in 1997. They still made live-action shows, but they started using costumes and animatronics instead of puppets.
In 2001, Ragdoll decided to sell its shows on its own in the US. They created their own company called Ragdoll USA.
In 2002, a new short show called Teletubbies: Everywhere was announced. It would be shown on CBeebies. Later that year, they announced a new show called Boohbah. It first aired in 2003 and became popular around the world.
New Shows and Partnerships
In 2005, Ragdoll announced a new show called Blurrfect, which later became Blips. It started airing in September 2005. Ragdoll also announced two more new shows for the BBC: In the Night Garden... and Tronji. These shows were planned for 2007.
In 2006, Ragdoll teamed up with BBC Worldwide. They created a new company called Ragdoll Worldwide. This company helped sell and license Ragdoll's shows outside of the UK and North America. In the Night Garden... and Tronji were the first shows made under this partnership. BBC Worldwide helped manage many of Ragdoll's older shows too.
In 2013, Ragdoll decided to end its agreement with BBC Worldwide. They put Ragdoll Worldwide up for sale. A Canadian company called DHX Media (now known as "WildBrain") bought Ragdoll Worldwide. This deal included the rights to most of Ragdoll's shows. However, Pob's Programme and Playbox were not part of the deal. After this, the company changed its name back to Ragdoll Productions Limited.
In 2015, Ragdoll worked with DHX Media to create a new show called Twirlywoos. This was their first and only co-production together. In 2018, Ragdoll also made a short film with Disney UK.
In 2021, Ragdoll partnered with a company called Cake Entertainment. Cake Entertainment now helps distribute Ragdoll's new show, B.O.T. and the Beasties, which airs on CBeebies. Also in 2021, Ragdoll moved its office to Shenington. Anne Wood, the founder, retired from the company. Her son, Christopher Wood, became the new director.
Shows Made by Ragdoll Productions
Many of Ragdoll's shows made between 1990 and 2017 are now owned by WildBrain.
Ragdoll Productions Shows
| Title | Year(s) | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pob's Programme | 1985–1990 | Channel 4 | Still owned by Ragdoll |
| Playbox | 1987–1992 | ITV (Central) | Now owned by ITV Studios |
| The Magic Mirror | 1989 | ITV | Ragdoll's first animated show |
| BOOM! | 1990–1991 | Channel 4 | Ragdoll's first live-action show without puppets |
| Rosie and Jim | 1990-2000 | ITV (Central) | Oldest Ragdoll show owned by WildBrain |
| Brum | 1991, 1994 2001–2002 |
BBC One (Children's BBC/CBBC) CBeebies |
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| Tots TV | 1993–1998 | ITV (Central) | Rights are shared with ITV Studios |
| Open a Door | 1994–2003 | BBC Two (Children's BBC/CBBC) CBeebies |
A series of short films made with other companies |
| Storytime | 1995–1997 | BBC Two | Ragdoll produced only seasons 5 and 6 |
| Teletubbies | 1997–2001 | BBC Two (Children's BBC/CBBC) | This is the original series. Newer versions are made by DHX Media. |
| Badjelly the Witch | 2000 | BBC One | A TV movie or special |
| Teletubbies Everywhere | 2002 | CBeebies | A series of short episodes |
| Boohbah | 2003–2006 | ITV (CITV and GMTV) | |
| Blips | 2005–2006 | ITV (CITV) | |
| What Makes Me Happy | 2005 | Five (Milkshake!) | A series of six short films |
| Twirlywoos | 2015–2017 | CBeebies | Made with DHX Media |
| What Shall We Do With The Angry Monster? | 2018 | YouTube | A short film made for Disney UK |
| B.O.T. and the Beasties | 2021-present | CBeebies | A series of short episodes. Owned by Ragdoll. |
Ragdoll Worldwide Shows
These shows were part of the partnership with BBC Worldwide.
| Title | Year(s) | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the Night Garden... | 2007–2009 | CBeebies | |
| Tronji | 2009–2010 | CBBC | |
| Dipdap | 2011 | CBeebies | A series of short episodes |
| The Adventures of Abney & Teal | 2011–2012 | CBeebies |
The Ragdoll Shop
The Ragdoll Shop was a special store in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. It had play areas based on Ragdoll's shows. It also sold toys and other items related to the shows. The shop opened in 1992 and closed in 2005. It closed because it needed more space and couldn't find a bigger location.
The building where the shop used to be is now an eye doctor's office. You can still see a picture of Rosie and Jim waving in a black window at the top of the building.
