World Events Productions facts for kids
Current logo, featuring a silhouette of Voltron
|
|
|
Trade name
|
World Events Productions |
|---|---|
| Private | |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Headquarters | St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
|
Key people
|
Ted Koplar Peter Keefe |
| Products | Anime, cartoons |
| Subsidiaries | Calico Entertainment |
WEP LLC, also known as World Events Productions, is an American company. It is based in St. Louis, Missouri. This company creates and shares animated shows. They are famous for bringing popular anime series like Voltron, Defender of the Universe and Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs to the U.S. They also made their own cartoon, Denver, the Last Dinosaur.
Contents
Company History
Early Days and Kickboxing
World Events Productions, Ltd. was started in 1980 by Ted Koplar. His father, Harold Koplar, founded the TV station KPLR-TV in St. Louis. The company first began as a TV show called World Events. This show focused on "current events."
In 1982, Ted Koplar worked with Jack Galmiche and Frank Babcock. They created three national TV shows about kickboxing. These shows were made and shared across the country. They filmed in St. Louis, Las Vegas, and New York City.
Bringing Anime to America
In 1983, Ted Koplar went to a science fiction convention. There, he found an anime series called Beast King GoLion. He thought it would be popular in the U.S. WEP got the rights to the series from Toei Animation. In 1984, they released it as Voltron. They edited the show and added English voices.
Voltron became very popular across the country. After showing all episodes of GoLion, WEP adapted another anime. This was Armored Fleet Dairugger XV, which became the second season of Voltron. However, this second season was not as popular. Viewers preferred the original GoLion team. So, WEP asked Toei Animation to make 20 more GoLion-based Voltron episodes.
In 1987, WEP got the rights to Star Musketeer Bismark from Studio Pierrot. They released it as Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs. WEP changed the story and rearranged some episodes. They even added six new episodes for the U.S. version. While not as famous as Voltron, Saber Rider gained many fans over the years. It is especially popular in Germany.
Creating Original Cartoons
After years of sharing anime, WEP started making its own animated shows. In 1988, they released Denver, the Last Dinosaur. Parents' groups liked this show, and the National Education Association recommended it.
In 1989, WEP released Vytor: The Starfire Champion. This show won awards at film festivals. But it was only on TV for a short time.
Later Voltron Projects
In 1998, WEP returned to the Voltron series. They created a new TV show called Voltron: The Third Dimension. This was a 3D animated sequel to the first series. Some of the original voice actors returned. Famous actors Clancy Brown and Tim Curry also joined. The series won a Daytime Emmy Award for sound editing. However, some critics and fans had mixed feelings about it.
In 2008, World Events made the original GoLion and Dairugger XV available in the U.S.
In 2010, Classic Media (now DreamWorks Classics) gained the rights to share the Voltron series.
WEP, Kickstart Productions, and Classic Media released a new Voltron animated series. It was called Voltron Force and came out in June 2011. This series continued the story after the original show. It aired on Nicktoons.
Animated Shows and Films
- Voltron (1984–1985)
- This show was adapted from Beast King GoLion and Armored Fleet Dairugger XV by Toei Animation.
- Voltron: Fleet of Doom (1986)
- This was a special movie that combined both Voltron seasons. Toei Animation helped make it.
- Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs (1987–1988)
- This show was adapted from Star Musketeer Bismarck by Studio Pierrot.
- Denver, the Last Dinosaur (1988)
- This was the first cartoon WEP created all by itself.
- Vytor: The Starfire Champion (1989)
- Widget the World Watcher (1990–1991) (co-production)
- Mr. Bogus (1991–1993)
- The Moo Family Holiday Hoedown (1992)
- A Christmas special.
- Bubsy pilot (1993)
- Twinkle the Dream Being (1993–1995)
- The New Adventures of Voltron (1994–1995)
- These were new Voltron episodes made for North America. The original Japanese creators were not involved. Future Voltron shows also did not involve them.
- This Land Is Your Land: The Animated Kids' Songs of Woody Guthrie (1997)
- A short video.
- Bad Baby pilot (1997)
- Voltron: The Third Dimension (1998–2000)
- This was a 3D animated sequel to Voltron. Mike Young Productions helped make it.
- Voltron Force (2011–2012)
- Kickstart Productions and DreamWorks Classics helped make this show.
- Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016–2018)
- DreamWorks Animation Television helped make this show.
- Denver the Last Dinosaur (2018)
- A new computer-animated (CGI) version. Zagtoon helped make it.
Live-Action Films
- Voltron live-action film
- A live-action movie based on the series was produced through DreamWorks Animation. It was released through Amazon MGM Studios.
