Mainframe Studios

Mainframe Studios (Originally known as Mainframe Entertainment Inc.) formerly known as Rainmaker Entertainment (later Rainmaker-Mainframe Studios) is a Canadian computer animation and design company founded in 1991. They are owned by WOW! Unlimited Media Inc. and based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company previously operated as Rainmaker Entertainment from 2007 to 2016, and Rainmaker Studios from 2016 to 2020, with the "Mainframe" branding eventually repurposed for company's television production division from 2013 to 2020.

This article is about the Canadian computer animation company. For the Nigerian film production company, see Mainframe Films and Television Productions.
Mainframe Studios
FormerlyMainframe Entertainment (1991–2007)
Rainmaker Entertainment (2007–2016)
Rainmaker / Mainframe Studios (2016–2020)
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryComputer animation
Founded1991 (1991)
FoundersIan Pearson
Phil Mitchell
Gavin Blair
John Grace
Headquarters
Vancouver, British Columbia
,
Canada
Key people
Michael Hefferon, President[1]
ProductsTelevision, Motion pictures, home video
Number of employees
>400 (2020)[2]
ParentIndependent (1991–2003, 2008–2016)
Starz Distribution (2003-2007)
Rainmaker Income Fund (2007–2008)
WOW! Unlimited Media Inc. (2016–present)

Mainframe is best known for producing the first CGI-animated TV series, ReBoot; the Transformers sequels, Beast Wars: Transformers and Beast Machines: Transformers; and for producing the majority of the entries in the Barbie film series for Mattel.

History

As Mainframe Entertainment

Founded in 1993 as Mainframe Entertainment, the studio was started by Christopher Brough, a noted LA-based animation producer and the British animator group known as 'The Hub' - Gavin Blair, Ian Pearson and Phil Mitchell. The group were looking to create ReBoot, the first fully computer-animated television series, after having used the technology to produce music videos like Money for Nothing and Let's Get Rocked. Due to the cost of shipping equipment back home, advantageous tax credits and proximity to Los Angeles, the company set up shop in Vancouver, Canada.[3]

In 1994, ReBoot launched on ABC in the United States and YTV in Canada. The series intermittently ran for four seasons with production ending in 2001. The company's second project was produced for American toy company Hasbro. Beast Wars (known in Canada as Beasties), a relaunch of the Transformers brand, debuted in 1996 and concluded in 1999. A followup, Beast Machines was produced between 1999 and 2000. Both ReBoot and Beast Wars were produced with Alliance Communications, who had taken a 50% ownership of Mainframe. In 1996, Mainframe paid $17 million to reduce Alliance's share to 15%.[4]

Mainframe became a publicly traded company with a listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange on June 17, 1997. In conjunction with the public offering, Alliance sold 700,000 shares in the company, lowering their ownership to 7.8%.[5] Christopher Brough served as the Chief Executive Officer, Pearson as President, Blair as Director of Operations and Mitchell as Vice President Operations.[6] In its first year on the stock exchange, Mainframe posted an $11 million loss - despite producing hit multi award winning computer animated series during this period.[7]

On April 17, 1998, the Mainframe USA office opened in Los Angeles. Headed by Dan DiDio, the division was created to oversee development, production and U.S. distribution.[8] DiDio previously worked with Mainframe through his stint as ABC's executive director of children's programming.

After having earlier produced two ReBoot themed rides for the company, the IMAX Corporation made a $16 million investment in Mainframe in 1999. This partnership, which gave IMAX roughly 30% ownership of Mainframe, included the creation of a new joint venture meant to facilitate the creation of animated films based on Gulliver's Travels and Pied Piper, with a third project titled Pandora’s Box.[9] The films were intended to be stereoscopic, 3D feature length releases, though none of the three saw completion.[10]

In fiscal 1999, the company reported a $17 million loss.[11] Thanks to episode deliveries for Beast Machines, Beast Wars, Shadow Raiders and Weird-Oh's the company posted its first profit of $1.4 million in fiscal 2000.[12] Buoyed by Heavy Gear, Action Man and their first direct-to-video film, Casper's Haunted Christmas, Mainframe posted another profit of $2.4 million for fiscal 2001.[13] Despite the success, the company faced a major management shakeup that year.[14][15][16] Pearson had stepped down as president in June and left the company shortly after, with fellow co-founders Blair and Mitchell also leaving in 2002 and 2005, respectively.

In 2001, American toy maker Mattel partnered with Mainframe to produce Barbie in the Nutcracker. The direct-to-video feature sold more than 3.4 million units in its first year.[17] The success of the release led to a longstanding relationship between Mattel and the animation studio. Mainframe (and its successors) would later produce the majority of the franchise's direct-to-video films, as well as a television series.

Following financial losses of $18.9 million and $7.5 million in fiscal 2002 and 2003, the American IDT Corporation announced it would purchase 56% of Mainframe for $14 million on September 16, 2003.[18][19] After the cancellation of Spider-Man: The New Animated Series that same year, the company moved away from producing television series. While a number of projects were announced they ultimately did not see fruition, including a pre-school oriented ReBoot spinoff called Binomes as well as Mainframe's first live-action production, an adaptation of Harriet the Spy.[20][21][22][23][24][25] In 2005, the company acquired the distribution rights to the live-action/CGI-animated television series Zixx. Mainframe also provided animation for the show's second and third seasons in conjunction with Thunderbird Films.[26] The bulk of the company's work now consisted of direct-to-video projects and television specials.

After producing the visuals for the 2003 MTV Movie Awards, Mainframe started a creative services division to produce video game animation, graphic design, motion graphics, titling, show opening sequences and branding in 2005.[27][28] This branch of the company worked on a number of projects, including cut-scenes for Prototype, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand and Ghostbusters: The Video Game, as well as the 2006 MTV Movie Awards.[29]

As Rainmaker
Rainmaker logo used from 2007 to 2017

Finding itself under new ownership, IDT sold its 62% stake in Mainframe to Vancouver-based post-production firm Rainmaker Income Fund on July 20, 2006 for $13.8 million.[30][31] The next month Rainmaker announced it would acquire the remaining 38% of Mainframe.[32] On January 30, 2007 Mainframe was renamed to Rainmaker Animation.[33] Later that year, Rainmaker sold its visual effects and post production divisions to Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, leaving only the animation business.[34]

In June 2012, Chinese animation studio Xing Xing Digital announced its intent to purchase Rainmaker, with the company willing to pay off Rainmaker's $7 million debt.[35] The purchase was called off after Rainmaker and Xing Xing were unable to finalize the sale by September 14, 2012.[36]

In 2013, Rainmaker completed its first theatrical feature film, Escape from Planet Earth. Directed by Cal Brunker, it received negative reviews from critics and grossed $75 million worldwide. In October, the Mainframe Entertainment brand was revived as the name of the company's television division, starting with a CG-animated incarnation of Bob the Builder.[37][38]

Rainmaker released its second theatrical feature, Ratchet & Clank, in 2016. Based on the video game series of the same name, the film was a financial failure, causing Rainmaker to take a $10 million impairment charge on their investment in the production.[39] The poor reception to the film was later cited as the reason the company abandoned plans to adapt the Sly Cooper video game franchise into a theatrical film.[40][41][42]

Later that year, Rainmaker acquired American-based Frederator Networks, Inc. and announced that they have consolidated its divisions (including Frederator Studios) under its new holding company WOW! Unlimited Media Inc.[43] (TSX:WOW.A). At that time, the company changed the names of its Vancouver divisions to Rainmaker Studios and Mainframe Studios. Since the reorganization, the company has greatly expanded its television output. In 2018, Mainframe produced ReBoot: The Guardian Code, a live-action/CGI-animated re-imagining of the ReBoot property, alongside Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures and Spy Kids: Mission Critical. In 2019, the studio released its first 2D animated production, a pilot based on Knowledge Network mascots made in Harmony.[44]

As Mainframe Studios

On March 16, 2020, the studio announced it would be rebranding as Mainframe Studios, consolidating Rainmaker Studios under the "Mainframe" branding and fully returning the studio to their original name.[45][46]

Productions

Television series
Title Years Network Co-production with Notes
as Mainframe Entertainment
ReBoot1994–2001YTV
ABC
Syndication
Cartoon Network (Toonami)		Alliance Communications (seasons 1–3)
Shaw Communications (season 3)
BLT Productions
ReBoot Productions
Claster Television
Zondag Productions
Beast Wars: Transformers1996–1999Syndication
YTV		Hasbro
Alliance Communications
Claster Television
BLT Productions		Based on the Hasbro toyline. Sequel to The Transformers.
Shadow Raiders1998–1999YTV
Syndication		YTV
Alliance Atlantis		Based on the War Planets toyline from Trendmasters
Weird-Oh's1999–2002Fox Family
YTV		Decode Entertainment
EM.TV		Based on a toyline.
Beast Machines: Transformers1999–2000Fox Kids
YTV		HasbroBased on the Hasbro toyline.
Action Man2000–02Hasbro
Saban Entertainment		Based on the Hasbro toyline.
Heavy Gear: The Animated Series2001–2002SyndicationParadox Entertainment
Dream Pod 9
Adelaide Productions
Columbia TriStar Television		Based on the video game published by Dream Pod 9 licensed by Paradox Entertainment.
Max SteelCartoon NetworkAdelaide Productions
Columbia TriStar Television		Season 3 only. Based on the Mattel toyline.
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series2003MTVMarvel Entertainment
Adelaide Productions
Sony Pictures Television		Based on the characters by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
Zixx2005–2009YTVThe Nightingale Company
Thunderbird Entertainment		Season 2 and 3 only. Originally produced as Mainframe Entertainment, then Rainmaker in the final season.
as Mainframe Studios
Bob the Builder2015–2017Channel 5N/ASeries 19 and 20 only. Produced as Mainframe Entertainment (later Mainframe Studios). DHX Media took over series 21 onward.
ReBoot: The Guardian Code2018Netflix
YTV		ReBoot 1 Productions Inc.Reimagined series based on ReBoot.
Spy Kids: Mission Critical2018NetflixDimension TelevisionBased on the Spy Kids franchise.[47]
Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures2018Mattel CreationsBased on the Mattel toyline. First Barbie TV series from Mainframe Studios.
The Octonauts2019–presentCBeebiesSilvergate MediaSeason 5–8.[48]
Madagascar: A Little Wild2020–presentHulu
Peacock		DreamWorks Animation Television[48][49]
JumpScareTBATBAScholastic Entertainment
Man of Action Entertainment		[50]
Made by MaddieUnairedNickelodeonSilvergate Media[48]

Films

Theatrical films:

Title Release Date Note
Escape from Planet EarthFebruary 15, 2013
Ratchet & ClankApril 29, 2016

Features Films:

Title Release Date Notes
as Mainframe
Casper's Haunted ChristmasJune 2, 2000
Barbie in the NutcrackerJune 15, 2001
Barbie as RapunzelJune 14, 2002
Hot Wheels: World Race2003
Barbie of Swan LakeJune 13, 2003
Max Steel: Endangered Species2004
Barbie as the Princess and the PauperJune 11, 2004
Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lotJune 18, 2004
Max Steel: Forces of Nature2005
Barbie: FairytopiaOctober 29, 2004
Inspector Gadget's Biggest Caper EverJune 17, 2005produced in collaboration with DIC Entertainment
Barbie and the Magic of PegasusJune 13, 2005
Max Steel: Countdown2006
Arthur's Missing Pal2006
Stuart Little 3: Call of the WildNovember 23, 2005
Barbie: MermaidiaDecember 2, 2005
Tony Hawk in Boom Boom SabotageJune 23, 2006
Barbie in the 12 Dancing PrincessesJune 30, 2006
Barbie Fairytopia: Magic of the RainbowDecember 26, 2006
as Rainmaker
Barbie as the Island PrincessMay 18, 2007
Max Steel: Dark RivalOctober 2007
Barbie: Mariposa & Her Butterfly Fairy FriendsNovember 9, 2007
Barbie & the Diamond CastleApril 18, 2008
Max Steel: Bio CrisisOctober 2008
Barbie in A Christmas CarolJune 6, 2008
The Nutty ProfessorJuly 4, 2008Co-production with The Weinstein Company[51]
Max Steel vs. The Mutant Menace2009
Barbie: ThumbelinaNovember 14, 2008
Barbie and the Three MusketeersMarch 13, 2009
Barbie in A Mermaid TaleOctober 30, 2009
Barbie: A Fashion FairytaleApril 23, 2010
Max Steel vs. The Toxic LegionJune 29, 2010
Barbie: A Fairy SecretNovember 10, 2010
Max Steel: Makino's Revenge 2011
Barbie: Princess Charm SchoolMay 13, 2011
Barbie in A Mermaid Tale 2November 9, 2011
Barbie: The Princess and the PopstarMay 25, 2012
Max Steel: Monstrous Alliance 2012
Barbie: Mariposa & The Fairy PrincessMay 31, 2013
Barbie: The Pearl PrincessNovember 20, 2013
Barbie and the Secret DoorApril 25, 2014
Barbie in Princess PowerNovember 13, 2014
Barbie in Rock 'N RoyalsMay 17, 2015
Barbie: Spy SquadOctober 26, 2015
Open Season: Scared SillyNovember 25, 2015produced for Columbia Pictures.[52]
Barbie and Her Sisters In A Puppy ChaseJuly 29, 2016Additional animation and post-production.
Barbie: Video Game HeroSeptember 16, 2016The last film under the name of Rainmaker Entertainment
Surf's Up 2: WaveManiaSeptember 16, 2016produced in collaboration with Sony Pictures Animation and WWE Studios.
Bob The Builder: Mega Machines The MovieDecember 6, 2016Produced in collaboration with Mattel Creations.
Barbie: Dolphin MagicJune 7, 2017Released on Netflix
The first film under the current name of Rainmaker Studios
Elliot the Littlest ReindeerNovember 30, 2018Produced in collaboration with Awesometown Entertainment

TV Movies:

Title Release Date Notes
Scary GodmotherOctober 26, 2003TV movie
Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for PappyNovember 9, 2004TV movie
Hot Wheels: AcceleRacers – IgnitionJanuary 8, 2005TV movie
Hot Wheels: AcceleRacers – The Speed of SilenceMarch 19, 2005TV movie
Hot Wheels: AcceleRacers – Breaking PointJune 25, 2005TV movie
Hot Wheels: AcceleRacers – The Ultimate RaceOctober 1, 2005TV movie
Scary Godmother: The Revenge of JimmyOctober 25, 2005TV movie

Other credits

References
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