Ragdoll Productions facts for kids
Logo used since 2000
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Formerly
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Ragdoll Productions (U.K.) Limited (1984; 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 |
Bloxham, 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 called just Ragdoll, is a British company that makes TV shows. It was started in 1984 by Anne Wood. The company is in Bloxham, Oxfordshire, England. Ragdoll is famous for creating many popular children's shows. Some of their most well-known shows include Teletubbies, Rosie and Jim, Brum, Boohbah, Tots TV, and In the Night Garden.... Most of these shows are now owned by another company called WildBrain.
Contents
History of Ragdoll Productions
Ragdoll Productions was founded on July 26, 1984. Anne Wood started the company. She had made shows for the ITV channel before. The company was first called Ragdoll Productions (U.K.) Limited in April 1985. It was originally based in Birmingham.
Early Shows and Characters
Ragdoll's first show was Pob's Programme. It first aired on Channel 4 in 1985. The company then made Playbox. 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, Ragdoll mostly made shows using puppets. Their mascot was a female rag doll. This doll was based on one that belonged to Anne Wood's daughter. The rag doll wore a checkered shirt, matching trousers, and black shoes.
Moving and Expanding
In 1992, the company moved its main office to Stratford-upon-Avon. They also opened a special store called The Ragdoll Shop. In the mid-1990s, Ragdoll started to work in the United States. They made a deal to sell their shows there.
In 2000, Ragdoll changed its logo. They also changed their name to Ragdoll Limited. Around this time, the company began to make fewer puppet shows. They started making more animated cartoons. They still made live-action shows, but used costumes and animatronics instead of puppets. This change began with Teletubbies in 1997.
New Shows and Partnerships
In October 2001, Ragdoll started selling its shows on its own. They formed a new company called Ragdoll USA. In January 2002, a new Teletubbies show was announced. It was called Teletubbies: Everywhere. This show aired on CBeebies.
On June 14, 2002, Ragdoll announced a new series called Boohbah. This show was sold to CITV and GMTV. It started airing in 2003 and became popular around the world. In 2005, Ragdoll announced Blips. It premiered on CITV in September 2005.
Later in 2005, Ragdoll announced two more new shows for the BBC. These were In the Night Garden... and Tronji. They were planned to air in 2007. Also in October 2005, Ragdoll's charity, The Ragdoll Foundation, made a series of short films. These films were called What Makes Me Happy?. They aired on Five's Milkshake! block.
Ragdoll Worldwide and WildBrain
In September 2006, Ragdoll teamed up with BBC Worldwide. They created a joint company called Ragdoll Worldwide. This company sold and licensed Ragdoll's shows outside the UK and North America. In the Night Garden... and Tronji were the first shows made under this partnership.
In January 2013, Ragdoll decided to end its agreement with BBC Worldwide. They put Ragdoll Worldwide up for sale. On September 16, 2013, a Canadian company called DHX Media bought Ragdoll Worldwide. DHX Media is now known as WildBrain. This deal included the rights to most of Ragdoll's shows made between 1990 and 2012. After this, the company changed its name back to Ragdoll Productions (UK) Limited.
In 2015, Ragdoll worked with DHX Media to create Twirlywoos. This was their first and only co-production together. In 2018, Ragdoll made a short film with Disney UK. It was called What Shall We Do With The Angry Monster?.
In 2021, Ragdoll made a deal with Cake Entertainment. This company now distributes Ragdoll's new series, B.O.T. and the Beasties. This show airs on CBeebies. On March 29, 2021, Ragdoll moved its offices to Shenington. Anne Wood retired from the company on December 14, 2021. Her son, Christopher, became the director of the studio.
On June 13, 2024, Ragdoll moved its operations again. This time, they moved to Bloxham, another town in Oxfordshire.
Shows Before Ragdoll
Here are some shows that Anne Wood made before she started Ragdoll Productions:
- Puzzle Party - This show first aired in 1977. It was one of Anne Wood's earliest TV shows for the BBC.
- The Book Tower - This show first aired in 1979.
- Ragdolly Anna - This show first aired in 1982. It was based on children's books.
- Roland Rat - This show first aired in 1983.
Most of Ragdoll's shows made between 1990 and 2017 are now owned by WildBrain. This means Ragdoll no longer owns the rights to many of its older shows.
Ragdoll Productions Shows
| Title | Year(s) | Network | Notes/Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pob's Programme | 1985–1990 | Channel 4 | Owned by Channel Four Television Corporation |
| Playbox | 1987–1992 | ITV (Central) | 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 Owned by Channel Four Television Corporation |
| 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 co-owned with ITV Studios |
| Open a Door | 1994–2003 | BBC Two (Children's BBC/CBBC) CBeebies |
A series of international short films |
| Storytime | 1995–1997 | BBC Two | Only Series 5-6 |
| Teletubbies | 1997–2001 | BBC Two (Children's BBC/CBBC) | Original series |
| Badjelly the Witch | 2000 | BBC One | A TV special or movie |
| 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 | Co-produced with DHX Media |
| What Shall We Do With The Angry Monster? | 2018 | YouTube | Short film for Disney UK |
| B.O.T. and the Beasties | 2021 | CBeebies | A series of short episodes Distributed by Cake Entertainment |
Ragdoll Worldwide Shows
| Title | Year(s) | Network | Notes/Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the Night Garden... | 2007–2009 | CBeebies/BBC Two | |
| 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. It closed in 2005 because it needed more space and could not 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.
