DNA Productions
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation, film production |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | John A. Davis, Keith Alcorn |
| Headquarters | Irving, Texas , United States |
Key people | John A. Davis, Keith Alcorn, Steve Oedekerk |
| Products | Television series, animated films, commercials |
Number of employees | 250 |
DNA Productions, Inc. was a U.S.-based animation studio and production company located in Irving, Texas. Established in 1987 by John A. Davis and Keith Alcorn, the firm initially specialized in commercials and corporate video production before branching out into television and cinematic animation.
The studio's growth accelerated through collaboration with filmmaker Steve Oedekerk. Their first significant work was Santa vs. the Snowman (1997), followed by the holiday special Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999). DNA Productions is most recognized for developing the Jimmy Neutron franchise, beginning with the 2001 movie Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and the subsequent TV series The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius (2002–2006) on Nickelodeon. The company’s last film was The Ant Bully (2006).
Early years
After departing from K & H Productions in Dallas, John A. Davis and Keith Alcorn founded DNA Productions in 1987 with a $5,000 loan, situating the company headquarters in Irving, Texas. The name "DNA" derives from "Davis N Alcorn." Initially, their work consisted of commercials and corporate videos for clients such as Dairy Queen and Kroger, alongside logo creation and end credit animations.
Up until 1997, DNA operated with a small team of six employees and gained attention through raw animated shorts submitted to festivals, including Nanna & Lil' Puss Puss, which featured mature themes centered on an elderly woman and her feline companion. Additional projects encompassed Weird Beard and The Adventures of Nippleless Nippleby.
By 1994, DNA had ventured into 3D animation following a commission from corporate client Mary Kay. The studio also produced A.J.'s Time Travelers, which briefly aired on Fox in 1994 before entering syndication in 1995.
Breakthrough and final years
The studio's most prominent creative success was the 3D animated character Jimmy Neutron, initially named Johnny Quasar. In 1995, filmmaker Steve Oedekerk encountered a proof-of-concept video featuring the character at an animation awards event and subsequently formed a partnership with DNA to produce two television specials: The O Show and Santa vs. the Snowman (1997). The latter marked DNA's largest undertaking at that time, co-produced alongside Oedekerk's O Entertainment, and was later reissued as an IMAX presentation in 2002. DNA also provided animation for The Weird Al Show (1997) and developed a direct-to-video series called Jingaroo.
By 1999, the company grew its workforce from 17 to 30 employees to accommodate new projects such as the holiday special Olive, the Other Reindeer, co-produced with The Curiosity Company and Fox Television Studios. Additionally, DNA produced Oedekerk’s 1999 pilot The Barnyard, which he later transformed into a feature film released in 2006 without DNA’s involvement.
In 1997, supported by Oedekerk, DNA initiated talks with Nickelodeon to develop a TV series based on Johnny Quasar. By 1999, Nickelodeon approved both a television show and a feature film, renaming the character Jimmy Neutron. The feature-length film Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, released in December 2001 as DNA's inaugural feature project, received favorable critical response. Its follow-up series, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, aired on Nickelodeon from 2002 through 2006, co-produced with O Entertainment.
Following the conclusion of the series, DNA partnered with Playtone, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Legendary Pictures to produce The Ant Bully (2006), adapted from the 1999 children’s book. Despite mixed critiques, the film underperformed financially, earning $55.2 million against its $50 million budget. This project represented DNA’s second feature film and final endeavor. At that point, the company employed approximately 250 people but lacked upcoming revenue-generating projects. Reflecting in 2023, co-founder John Davis noted that they never intended to scale such a large organization and felt it was fitting to cease operations following The Ant Bully.
Mascots
DNA's first mascot was Helix the Cat, characterized by two tails twisted together to resemble a double helix, serving in this role until 2002. When working on The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, founder Steve Oedekerk introduced a new figure: Paul, a three-eyed mutant chimpanzee. This character was named after Paul Claerhout, a DNA team member and voice actor who joined the company in 1990. Paul featured prominently in the studio’s animated production logo, concluding each episode with the greeting, "Hi! I'm Paul!"