Gryphon Software
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Duane Maxwell, Gabriel Wilensky |
| Fate | Acquired by CUC International in 1997 |
| Successor | Knowledge Adventure, Sierra Home |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Morph, Gryphon Dynamic Effects, Colorforms Computer Fun Set, Gryphon Bricks, Disney Activity Centers (Aladdin, Lion King, Batman & Robin, Power Rangers, Superman) |
Founded in 1991 by Duane Maxwell and Gabriel Wilensky, Gryphon Software Corporation emerged as a prominent publisher specializing in cutting-edge, graphics-driven software. The company developed two primary product categories: one aimed at video professionals, graphic artists, and enthusiasts; the other dedicated to children's software enriched with vivid graphical content. Gryphon earned a reputation as one of the most inventive graphics software firms within the personal computing sector, with its applications reaching millions of users.
The company's swift expansion was largely propelled by its flagship application, Morph, among the earliest cost-effective programs delivering Hollywood-quality special effects on personal computers. Morph allowed users to seamlessly morph images and videos, gaining considerable acclaim from video production experts who utilized it in commercials, music videos, and films such as Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. Additionally, Time magazine incorporated Morph for creating article visuals and cover artwork.
Offered for both Macintosh and Windows platforms, Morph's utility extended beyond entertainment industries: architects applied it to simulate restorations of historic structures, anthropologists used it for primate research, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children employed it in age progression modeling.
Another significant offering was Gryphon Dynamic Effects, a collection of special effects plug-ins designed for Adobe Premiere, serving both amateur and professional video editors.
Gryphon received numerous accolades recognizing its technological advancements across personal computing and consumer software markets.
In 1994, Gryphon ventured into the children's software market by introducing multimedia activity centers along with the Colorforms Computer Fun Set series. Titles such as the Aladdin Activity Center and Lion King Activity Center initiated Disney's popular line of activity centers, featuring interactive puzzles, coloring pages, and spelling challenges inspired by well-known films. Gryphon continued this trend with releases including The Adventures of Batman & Robin Activity Center, Power Rangers Activity Center, and Superman Activity Center.
Furthermore, Gryphon created Gryphon Bricks, a digital building toy offering over 300 brick types in 12 colors. This product featured user interfaces customized for both children and adults, enabling users to construct increasingly intricate designs as their proficiency developed.
In mid-1997, Gryphon Software was acquired by CUC International (which later became Cendant Software), with its product lines subsequently marketed under the Knowledge Adventure and Sierra Home labels.
Awards included
- Discover 1993 Technological Innovation Finalist
- Software Publishers Association - 1993 Excellence In Software Codie Awards
- Best Business Application
- Best Graphics Application
- Byte 1993 Award of Distinction
- New Media Magazine New Media Envision 1993 Multimedia Award
- MacUser 1993 Eddy Award Finalist
- Compute! finalist, 1994