Magic World

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Magic World
Logo currently used since 1996.
Formerly	Magic World Productions (1987-1996)
Industry	Animation Television Film
Predecessor	Warrdad Media Finance Services (1980-1983)
Founded	May 1980 (Warrdad) October 5, 1983 (Magic World)
Founder(s)	Michael Warren Joseph Haddad
Headquarters	Toronto, Ontario, Canada Montreal, Quebec New York City, New York Los Angeles, California
No. of locations	4
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Television cartoons Feature films
Subsidiaries	Magic World Home Entertainment (2022-present)

Magic World is an independent media holding and production company based in Canada, and founded in 1983 by Michael Warren and businessman Joseph Haddad. They have worked in the production and distribution of animated and live-action TV programs and films usually targeted at a youth audience since the mid-1980's, some going on to be worldwide successes.

Both founders met in 1980, with Warren being hired by Haddad for the latter's film and TV sales company which was later renamed Magic World. Since then, Magic World has become one of the most successful youth entertainment production companies worldwide.

History

Joseph Haddad, having migrated to Canada from his native Lebanon, decided to continue working in the business of TV and film sales. After setting up a self-named studio in Halifax to help sell local TV shows to stations, he realized he was in need of a producer. Michael Warren, who had moderate experience in TV production, spotted an ad for Haddad's business in the classified section of a newspaper and sought employment.

Eventually, Warren was hired and began assisting Haddad. After a few years in the business, Haddad decided to shift his focus to children's entertainment because his children enjoyed watching television. After a lengthy negotiation, they both agreed to rename it Magic World (not just because fantasy is popular with children but also because the first letters of both words form Warren's initials).

Acquisitions and subsidiaries

Current

• Benny Vis BV (formerly Mediafilm Benelux BV)
• Droimétra-DMT
• Mabeob TV
• Magic World East Asia
• Magic World Europe
• Magic World Home Entertainment
• Magic World Licensing
• Magic World Live Events (live events division)
• Magic World Motion Pictures
• Magic World Records
• MultiWorld Fun Zones (indoor family entertainment centers)
• Playfair (label for game re-releases)
• Poly
• Poly Cine
• Stampede Pictures
• Wicked Mage Studios

Former

• Bronzelight Studios (their stake sold to owner Gregory Bouchard in 2005)
• Comportu SA (owner of a partial stake through Playfair and later Bronzelight until the aforementioned sale in 2005)
• MiniChannel
• Minivision AB (consortium member)
• Playfair Interactive (defunct as publisher, now a label for re-releases)
• Producciones ZAP!! (consortium member)
• Talisman Pictures (defunct in 2013)
• Wondertown (consortium member through Playfair)

Filmography

Productions

Television series

• Hearts Intertwined (co-production with ITC, CHUM Limited, Stirling Communications and Baton Broadcasting) (1985)
• Grimm & Grimm (co-production with CBC, Gannett and TF1) (1985)
• Woodland Wheelers (co-production with DiC, Studio Axel, Saban, Droimétra-DMT and Tomy) (1986-88)
• F.U.R. (co-production with DiC, Studio Axel, La Cinq, Droimétra-DMT and Saban) (1987)
• F.U.R.: The Brushtail Affair (co-production with Marvel Productions, Studio Axel, Saban, Droimétra-DMT and New World Television) (1990-91)
• Woofington (co-production with Studio Axel) (1991)
• Plus Two in the Foxhole (co-production with Saban International Paris, Canal+, TF1 and Canal Famille) (1992)
• Sonnawood (co-production with Droimétra-DMT, Studio Axel, Ellipse Programme, FR3 and Canal+) (1992-94)
• Plus Two and Tropical Stew (co-production with Saban International Paris, Canal+, TF1 and Canal Famille) (1994)
• Joe's Real Weird School Life (co-production with D'Ocon Films, Cromwell House and Cuckoo's Nest) (1994-2000)
• New York Cats: The Series (co-production with Cinemator Artworks Company, Nelvana and Paramount Television) (1995-98)
• The Flying Cats (co-production with Creativity & Character Associates, D'Ocon Films, Canal+, France 2 and TV3) (1996-2002)
• A.S.A.P: As Silly As Possible (co-production with Universal Cartoon Studios, Warner Bros. International Television Production, YTV, Studio Axel, Wang Film Productions, AKOM and Hahn Shin Corporation) (1997-2001)
• Hazel & Dusty (1997-2001) (co-production with CBC, Disney Channel and Buena Vista Television)
• Storm Chase (1997-98) (co-production with YTV, M6, Les Films TD, Ellipse Programme, Droimétra-DMT and Creativity & Character Associates Inc.)
• Byron Bones, Private Eye (co-production with Teletoon and RKO Network) (1998-2000)
• Freddi Fish: Undersea Sleuth (co-production with Lancit Media Entertainment, Varga Studio, Humongous Entertainment and RKO Network) (1998-2001)
• The Adventures of Pajama Sam (co-production with Lancit Media Entertainment, P&S Colline Family Entertainment, Pacifica Animation, Humongous Entertainment and RTV Family Entertainment, RKO Network) (1998-2002)
• Big Thinkers! (co-production with Humongous Entertainment, RTV Family Entertainment, Wang Film Productions, RKO Network and Treehouse TV) (1999-2001)
• Putt-Putt's Roads to Success (co-production with Lancit Media Entertainment, P&S Colline Family Entertainment, Pacifica Animation, Humongous Entertainment and RKO Network) (1999-2001)
• Spy Fox (co-production with Ellipse Programme, Humongous Entertainment, Neurones, France 3, RKO Network and YTV) (2000-02)
• The 12:00 Squad (co-production with Alliance Atlantis, A. Film A/S, Egmont Imagination, TV-Loonland AG, Droimétra-DMT, KI.KA, Les Films TD, MiniChannel, YTV, Télé J and TF1) (2001-05)
• Sammy Scribble (co-production with WGBH Boston) (2001-2002)
• Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot (co-production with Neptuno Films and Scholastic Inc.) (2002-05)
• Sincerely, Cody (co-production with RKO Network and Cuckoo's Nest) (2002-11)
• P.T. Power! (co-production with RKO Network, Teletoon and Animation Services/Agogo Media) (2005-11)
• etc. (TBA)

Feature films

• F.U.R.: The Movie (co-production with DiC, Studio Axel and Saban) (1988)
• Sonnawood: The Movie (co-production with Droimétra-DMT, Studio Axel and Ellipse Programme) (1995)
• Banipal Witt: The World of Cats (edited English dub of Catnapped!) (co-production with Murray Woods Entertainment, Entervest Finances and P&S Colline Family Entertainment) (1999)
• Joe's Real Weird Movie (co-production with Cromwell House and Monumental Film Services AG) (2000)
• The Flying Cats Movie (2001)
• etc. (TBA)

Direct-to-video films and featurettes

• Joe's Real Weird High School (2004)
• Joe's Real Weird High School: Happy Valentine's Monster Day (2006)
• etc. (TBA)

Television specials

• Woodland Wheelers in the Selfish Swamplands (co-production with DiC, Studio Axel, Tomy and SFM Entertainment) (November 28, 1985)
• Woodland Wheelers Save The Orchard of Joy (co-production with DiC, Studio Axel, Tomy and SFM Entertainment) (April 18, 1986)
• Sonnawood: Lucy's A-maze-ing Flower Adventure (1994) (also previously released theatrically in Japan)
• The Sci-Fi Junior High Guys (co-production with Studio B Productions, RKO Network and Teletoon) (2000)
• etc. (TBA)

Acquired

Television series

• Princess Mimi (originally from Mediafilm Benelux BV)
• Prince Epan (originally from Mediafilm Benelux BV)
• etc. (TBA)