Breakthrough and final years
DNA's best-known creative work is the 3D animated character Jimmy Neutron, originally known as Johnny Quasar.[10][11] In 1995, filmmaker Steve Oedekerk heard about a proof of concept video of the character, shown by DNA at an awards festival for animated projects.[3][12] After seeing the footage himself, Oedekerk partnered with DNA on two television specials, The O Show and the animated Santa vs. the Snowman, both released in 1997.[3][13] The latter was DNA's biggest project to date, requiring long hours to be finished in time for its Christmas airing. DNA had full creative control on the project, which was co-produced with Oedekerk's company O Entertainment. It was re-released as an IMAX film in 2002, under the title Santa vs. the Snowman 3D.[14][15] As for The O Show, many of its effects were created by DNA. The company also provided animation work for the 1997 television series The Weird Al Show,[16] and produced a direct-to-video series titled Jingaroo.
DNA lost some aspects of creative control as it partnered with other companies on these projects. According to Davis in 1999, "We were such a small company for so many years that we're used to doing everything ourselves. So it's been kind of hard to try to not do everything. But we've spent the last two or three years sort of weaning ourselves away." That year, the studio increased its staff from 17 to 30 workers to deal with the new projects,[17] which included another animated holiday special titled Olive, the Other Reindeer. It was co-produced with The Curiosity Company and Fox Television Studios.[17][18] DNA also produced Oedekerk's 1999 television pilot titled The Barnyard,[17] which he later produced as the 2006 film Barnyard, without DNA's involvement.
During 1997, also with Oedekerk's help, DNA had begun negotiations with Nickelodeon to produce a Johnny Quasar television series.[3][17] Plans for the TV project and an animated feature film were greenlit by Nickelodeon in 1999, with the character name changed to Jimmy Neutron. The film, after nearly two years of production, was released in December 2001, under the title Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.[9][19][20] It was DNA's first feature film and its biggest project,[21] and received generally positive reviews.[22] The studio then started work on the television series, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius,[23]
After work on the series ended, DNA partnered with Playtone, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures to produce The Ant Bully, a 2006 animated film loosely based on the 1999 children's book of the same name.[26][27] The film received mixed reviews,[28] and was a box office failure, grossing 55.2 million dollars against a 50 million dollar budget.[29] It was DNA's second feature film,[30] and its final project.[31] At the time of the film's release, DNA had 250 workers and no future projects aligned to generate further revenue. Davis noted in 2023 that he and Alcorn did not set out to build such a large company and felt the time was right to shut down and move on after The Ant Bully.[32]
