United Productions of America facts for kids
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| Fate | Folded into Classic Media |
|---|---|
| Successor | Classic Media |
| Founded | June 19, 1943 |
| Defunct | January 1, 2000 |
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Key people
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Stephen Bosustow Robert "Bobe" Cannon John Hubley Henry G. Saperstein Zack Schwartz David Hilberman |
| Owner | Universal Pictures (NBCUniversal; a Comcast Company) |
| Parent | DreamWorks Classics (DreamWorks Animation) |
United Productions of America, often called UPA, was an American animation studio. It was active from the 1940s to the 1970s. UPA first made films for businesses and training movies for World War II. Later, they created short cartoons for cinemas, like the popular Mr. Magoo series, which were shown before main movies.
In 1956, UPA made a TV show for CBS called The Boing-Boing Show. It was hosted by their famous character, Gerald McBoing-Boing. In the 1960s, UPA produced more TV shows, including Mr. Magoo and Dick Tracy series. They also made special holiday shows like Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol. UPA created two animated movies, 1001 Arabian Nights and Gay Purr-ee. They also helped distribute Japanese films from Toho Studios in the 1970s and 1980s.
More recently, a TV series called Gerald McBoing-Boing (2005–2007) was made based on UPA's character. It was co-produced by Cookie Jar Entertainment and Classic Media for Cartoon Network. A new Mr. Magoo TV series has also been announced. It is a collaboration between Xilam and DreamWorks Animation. This new show is planned to air on France 3 in France and Universal Kids.
The collection of UPA films and characters was later bought by Universal Pictures. This happened after Universal bought DreamWorks Animation.
Mr. Magoo on DVD
Classic Media and Sony Wonder started releasing the Mr. Magoo TV cartoon series on DVD in 2001. The first release was Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. A special Blu-ray and DVD set for this movie came out in 2010.
In 2011, Shout! Factory and Classic Media released a big set called Mr. Magoo: The Television Collection. This set included almost all of Mr. Magoo's TV shows. Later, in 2013, Shout! and Sony released Mr. Magoo Theatrical Collection. This set had all the short cartoons shown in cinemas and the full movie 1001 Arabian Nights. The theatrical shorts were restored to look their best for this release.
UPA's Impact on Animation
UPA Pictures had a big impact on how animation was made, even if other studios like Warner Bros., MGM, and Disney became more famous. UPA changed animation styles, what stories were told, and how films were made. Other major animation studios and filmmakers around the world learned from UPA's new ideas.
UPA was a leader in using a style called limited animation. This style uses fewer drawings and movements to save money. However, UPA first used it as a new artistic choice. They wanted to create a different look from the very realistic animation that was popular, especially at Disney. UPA also greatly influenced the start of the Zagreb School of Animated Films in the 1950s. Animators in Yugoslavia were very impressed by UPA's work on The Four Poster (1952). This was a movie that mixed live actors with animation.
Two of UPA's animated works, Gerald McBoing Boing and The Tell-Tale Heart, were chosen for the National Film Registry. This means they are considered important to American film history.
UPA Films and Cartoons
See also
In Spanish: United Productions of America para niños
