20th Television Animation

20th Television Animation (formerly known as Fox Television Animation) is an American animation studio and production company that creates, develops, produces, publishes, and distributes primarily adult animated television series and specials. Established on May 19, 1999, it is a unit of Disney Television Studios, a subsidiary of Disney Entertainment, which is a division of the Walt Disney Company.[1][2][3]

History

1999–2019: As a unit of 20th Century Fox Television / 20th Television

The studio was established on May 19, 1999.[4] Its first project was the continued production of Family Guy for its second season, which it took over from the series' previous home at Film Roman for season one, following "production differences".[5] The studio would become the home of future animated series co-created by Seth MacFarlane: American Dad! and The Cleveland Show.[6] In 2016, Fox Television Animation assumed production of Matt Groening's The Simpsons, once again taking over from Film Roman.

Most animated projects from 20th Television Animation are subcontracted to third party animation production companies such as Film Roman, Titmouse, Inc., Bento Box Entertainment, and Rough Draft Studios, but the company maintains 20th Television Animation as an in-house option. Because the company acts as a production house for hire, it is not treated as a labeled division of 20th Century Studios like Searchlight Pictures. The studio specializes in animation pre-production and post-production, while the actual animation production is handled by studios in South Korea. 20th Television Animation's frequent contractors include Digital eMation, Yearim, AKOM, and Rough Draft Korea.

The studio maintains a location in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.[7][8] Its workers are represented by The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839.[9]

2019–present: Under Disney Television Studios

In March 2019, 20th Century Fox Television, 20th Television, and Fox Television Animation were acquired by the Walt Disney Company and integrated into Walt Disney Television as part of Disney Television Studios.[10] In September 2020, the company was renamed as 20th Television Animation starting with newer episodes of shows in production at the company.

In December 2020, it was announced that 20th Television Animation would be relaunched as a standalone unit from 20th Television. In March 2021, Marci Proietto was tentatively named as president of the company. 20th Television Animation focuses on producing and developing animated projects targeted at teens and adults, as opposed to their children-targeted sister studio Disney Television Animation. Under the new incarnation, 20th Television Animation would assume executive supervision of the production of all animated projects that had, up to that point, been overseen by 20th Television. This allowed series that 20th Television Animation was already producing animation for under 20th Television's watch to be brought entirely under one company, while series whose animation was produced by a third-party company would retain that relationship, with 20th Television Animation only absorbing the above-the-line production and acting as the new client for the animation contractor.[11][12]

On March 16, 2022, it was announced that the studio would collaborate with children-targeted sister studio Disney Television Animation, for the creation of family-friendly and young adult animated series, miniseries and films for Disney+.[13]

In April 2025, Disney announced that it would not renew its lease with Fox Corporation and that it would vacate the Fox Studio Lot in Century City at the end of 2025. As a result, 20th Television Animation relocated to Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.[14]

Filmography

Television series

Specials

Short films

Theatrical

Direct-to-video

Streaming

Miscellaneous

Theatrical

Direct-to-video

Streaming

Miscellaneous

Theatrical films

See also

References

  1. Elaine Low. Longtime Animation Exec Marci Proietto to Head New 20th Television Animation Production Unit Variety, March 30, 2021, retrieved March 30, 2021^
  2. Lesley Goldberg. Marci Proietto to Lead New 20th TV Animation Division The Hollywood Reporter, March 30, 2021^
  3. Reid Nakamura. 20th Television Launches Animation Unit Led by Marci Proietto The Wrap, March 30, 2021^
  4. Fox Television Animation, Inc. Delaware corporate filing retrieved October 5, 2019^
  5. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/film-roman-fox-end-family-guy-pact^
  6. Al Jean Speaks The Animation Guild Blog, February 3, 2016^
  7. [https://www.linkedin.com/company/fox-television-animation/about/ LinkedIn. "Fox Television Animation" about page.]^
  8. Fox Television Animation Inc OpenGovUS page^
  9. The Animation Guild Studio List^
  10. Lachlan Murdoch takes control of Fox Corp. But how will he deal with President Trump? The Washington Post, retrieved March 28, 2019^
  11. Nellie Andreeva. Dana Walden Merges 20th TV & Touchstone TV Under Karey Burke, ABC & Hulu Original Content Under Craig Erwich In Sweeping Reorg; Bert Salke Gets Producing Deal December 1, 2020, retrieved August 22, 2021^
  12. Peter White. Disney Launches 20th Television Animation, Promotes Veteran Exec Marci Proietto To Run New Unit Responsible For 'The Simpsons' & 'Family Guy' Deadline, March 30, 2021, retrieved March 30, 2021^
  13. Animated People: Disney TVA's Lisa Fragner Gives Us the Scoop on the Mouse's Upcoming Slate March 16, 2022^
  14. Disney plans to vacate storied Fox lot in Century City by year's end Los Angeles Times, 2025-04-01, retrieved 2025-04-21^
  15. Samit Sarkar. Here are the Fox movies and TV shows that Disney now owns Polygon, December 14, 2017, retrieved April 15, 2020^
  16. Joe Otterson. 'King of the Hill' Revival Ordered at Hulu Variety, January 31, 2023, retrieved January 31, 2023^
  17. Nellie Andreeva. ‘American Dad!’ Poised To Return To Fox For Season 20 & Beyond Deadline, March 21, 2025, retrieved March 21, 2025^
  18. Peter White. 'Duncanville' Canceled At Fox After 3 Seasons Deadline, June 30, 2022^
  19. Joe Otterson. 'Hit-Monkey' Renewed for Season 2 at Hulu Variety, February 2, 2023, retrieved February 2, 2023^
  20. Alexandra Del Rosario. Hulu Orders 'Koala Man' Animated Series From Michael Cusack, Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit & Justin Roiland Deadline, March 23, 2021, retrieved March 23, 2021^
  21. Katie Campione. Hulu Orders Adult Animated Comedy ‘Deano’ From Dean Thomas & David Ferrier With ‘Bluey’ Creator Joe Brumm To EP Deadline, 2026-02-20, retrieved 2026-02-20^
  22. Nellie Andreeva. 'Family Guy' Spinoff 'Stewie' Gets 2-Season Fox Order (Exclusive) Deadline, 2026-03-12, retrieved 2026-03-12^
  23. Rosy Cordero. Nathan Fillion Says ‘Firefly’ Animated Series In Development With Co-Stars Set To Reprise Roles; Concept Art Revealed Deadline, March 16, 2026, retrieved March 18, 2026^
  24. Hulu Picks Up 'The Paloni Show! Halloween Special!' from Justin Roiland Animation Magazine, August 31, 2022^
  25. Shannon Miller. The Simpsons Short Maggie Simpson in 'Playdate with Destiny' Crawls onto Disney+ Tomorrow The A.V. Club, April 9, 2020, retrieved April 9, 2020^
  26. Steve Russell. Bob's Burgers Boss Says the Pandemic Canceled Planned Short, 'My Butt Has a Fever' Comic Book Resources, November 3, 2020, retrieved June 24, 2022^
  27. The Simpsons Movie (2007) Box Office Mojo, retrieved December 21, 2007^
  28. Loren Bouchard. Am I supposed to share these numbers? $38M for production. Maybe another $20M to market it? retrieved July 8, 2022^
  29. The Bob's Burgers Movie (2022) Box Office Mojo, retrieved July 17, 2022^
  30. Woohoo! The Simpsons are coming to theaters with an all-new movie on July 23, 2027!^
  31. Rianna de Bonno-Smith. The Simpsons Movie 2's Release Date Changes With Hilarious Homer Announcement ScreenRant, December 5, 2025, retrieved December 5, 2025^