Incorporation
Marvel Animation was incorporated in January 2008 to direct Marvel's efforts in animation and home entertainment markets including then animation efforts with Lionsgate and Nickelodeon. Marvel Entertainment named Eric Rollman as president of the company in April 2008, and reporting to Simon Philips, president of Marvel Entertainment International.[5][6]
In early 2009, a home distribution deal for The Super Hero Squad Show was inked with Shout! Factory. In April 2009, the Marvel Knights Animation series was announced to be under development with Shout! Factory developing hybrid comic animation DVD series by converting existing material.[17] On December 31, 2009, The Walt Disney Company purchased Marvel Animation with parent company Marvel Studios as part of the Marvel Entertainment group for $4 billion.[18] Both Marvel and Disney have stated that the merger would not affect any preexisting deals with Lionsgate or other production companies for the time being, although Disney said they would consider distributing future Marvel Animation projects with their own studios once the current deals expire.[19][20]
With the creation of the Marvel Television division in June 2010 within Marvel Studios, Marvel Animation would operate under Marvel TV's direction.[21] In July 2010, Marvel entered into Superhero Anime Partners with Madhouse and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan to develop and produce the Marvel Anime project that took famous Marvel characters and reintroduced them for a Japanese audience in four 12-part television series which aired on Animax in Japan and G4 in the United States.[22][23][24]
In 2012, Marvel established its based in Glendale, California under Senior Vice President Eric Radomski.[25][26] On April 1, Disney XD launched a block called "Marvel Universe", with the premiere of Ultimate Spider-Man, followed by the returning The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The block is a result of Disney's 2009 Marvel acquisition.[27] In June, Walt Disney Animation Studios announced they were in development with Marvel to make a film of Big Hero 6.[28]
At San Diego Comic-Con in July, Marvel Television announced a second "season" of Marvel Knights Animation with Shout Factory and the involved titles.[29] Following up on early anime productions in the Superhero Anime Partners, Marvel has re-partnered with Madhouse and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan as SH DTV Partners for a direct to video anime feature film, Iron Man: Rise of Technovore.[30][31] Also in October, Marvel Animation Studios announced its first DTV production, a direct to video film, Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United, to be released in 2013.[32]
Marvel announced in May 2013, that the new shows, Avengers Assemble and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., would be shown on Disney XD as part of the "Marvel Universe" block and would be a part of the same fictional universe.[33] In October, Marvel announced that Disney Japan was producing a new anime television show with Toei Animation called Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers to be aired on April 2, 2014, on TV Tokyo and other TXN stations.[34][35]
A Guardians of the Galaxy animated series was officially announced in October 2014, with production set to begin for a 2015 release on Disney XD.[36] In August 2015, Marvel Studios was integrated into the Walt Disney Studios, while Marvel Television and Animation were left under Marvel Entertainment and Perlmutter's control.[37] Marvel announced a new anime television series titled, Marvel Future Avengers, which was broadcast in mid-2017 on the Disney satellite channel, Dlife.[38]
Marvel Entertainment announced a new pre-school franchise, Marvel Super Hero Adventures, in September 2017 consisting of a 10 short-form episodes animated series along with publishing and merchandise during "Marvel Mania" October.[39][40] In the publishing field, Marvel Press issuing early reader chapter books in September,[39] and of course, from Marvel Comics, a five-issue miniseries in April 2018.[41] Super Hero Adventures has Spider-Man teaming with another Marvel hero.[39] The animated episodes lasting 3-and-a-half minutes aired on Disney Channel's Disney Jr. block followed by Disney Jr. channel then Marvel HQ YouTube channel and DisneyNOW app.[42]
On December 7, 2017, Marvel announced its Marvel Rising franchise focusing on new characters as youngsters starting with animation in 2018 with Ghost-Spider, a renamed Spider-Gwen, shorts and an animated film, Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors.[43]
Marvel Animation's first full-length series for Disney Jr., Spidey and His Amazing Friends was announced at D23 Expo. This series primary stars Spider-Man, Ghost-Spider and Spin and premiered in summer 2021; Marvel Studios Animation replaced the studio as main production company starting from season 2.[44][45]
