Wow, end of an era.

It’s a sad day for Canadian animation fans as Corus Entertainment announced that it has stopped new productions at Nelvana Studios, due to the org’s ongoing financial troubles.

Corus’s head of corporate communications Melissa Eckersley told The Globe and Mail that Nelvana will continue focusing on distribution, merchandising, and managing existing properties, but declined to say how many jobs were impacted by this production shutdown.

Founded in 1971 by Clive Smith, Michael Hirsh and Patrick Loubert, Nelvana has been a powerful creative figure both in Canada and around the world thanks to its long string of popular animated shows.

Franklin, Babar, The Magic School Bus, The Care Bears, The Adventures of Tintin, The Magic School Bus, The Backyardigans, Beetlejuice, Redwall, Jane and the Dragon, The Berenstain Bears, Ruby and Max, Little Bear, Rupert, Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends, Star Wars: Ewoks and Droids and Rolie Polie Olie, Beyblade, The Racoons and Bakugan Battle Brawlers.

They're also the studio that did Rock and Rule, Ruby Gloom, and the animated portions of the star wars holiday special

Corus bought Nelvana in 2000, and spent $540 million as part of its global expansion plans. However, in June, Corus reported that it had over $1 billion in long-term debt in its third-quarter fiscal results.

It isn't dissolved, but I still felt my heart drop when I saw this

Even if it already hadn't been the same since Smith and Hirsh left

They've been quick to claim they're not shutting it down, but... I don't want to think about it.

Same

animations already in a precarious state. I've wanted things to improve so much for so long but it feels like corporations here have the entertainment industry in a stranglehold

that's so much of my childhood. god damn.

Yeah, it feels like ever since Corus bought Nelvana it's been gradually one sad bout of news after another

"BUT MONOPOLIES ARE A GOOD THING" they'll tell us

pain...

oh, this is really devastating

And wouldn't you know it, corporations up here want to construct a AI startup

of course