Jump to content

Gullane Entertainment

From Alfawiki
Gullane Entertainment Limited
Company typeIndependent production company (formerly)
IndustryChildren's television production
PredecessorBritt Allcroft Company Limited
Founded1984
FounderBritt Allcroft, Angus Wright
Defunct2002
FateAcquired and integrated into HIT Entertainment
SuccessorHIT Entertainment
Headquarters
United Kingdom
,
United Kingdom
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Britt Allcroft (Co-founder, Director, Deputy Chairman until 2000), Angus Wright (Co-founder), Charles J. Falzon (President, Director until 2002)
ProductsThomas & Friends, Shining Time Station, Magic Adventures of Mumfie, Captain Pugwash, Art Attack, Sooty, Fireman Sam, Guinness World Records (brand)
OwnerMattel (via HIT Entertainment acquisition)
ParentNone (independent until acquisition in 2002)

Gullane Entertainment Limited was a UK-based independent production company focused on children's content, known for titles such as Thomas & Friends (1984–2021), Shining Time Station (1989–1995), Magic Adventures of Mumfie (1994–1998), Captain Pugwash (1950–2008), Art Attack (1990–2007), Sooty (1955-present), and Fireman Sam (1987-present). After its acquisition by HIT Entertainment in 2002, Gullane was integrated into HIT the same year. Presently, most of Gullane's catalog is under the ownership of toy manufacturer Mattel, following their purchase of HIT Entertainment.

The Britt Allcroft Company

Initially operating as the Britt Allcroft Company Limited, the firm produced the first five seasons of Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends after Britt Allcroft secured the rights to The Railway Series in 1979.

During the late 1980s, the company established a US branch called Quality Family Entertainment to develop an adapted version of the series titled Shining Time Station. In 1994, it entered into an international partnership with Canadian firm Catalyst Entertainment, who co-produced Shining Time Station.

In June 1997, Britt Allcroft Company obtained the rights to Captain Pugwash, intending to create a new television adaptation. That year also saw the formation of joint ventures for animated series based on James the Cat, Topsy and Tim, and Little Hippo. Additionally, in November, it launched Gullane Pictures, a division dedicated to producing feature-length films.

By 1998, Gullane had acquired full ownership of The Railway Series from Reed Elsevier for £13.5 million, thereby gaining complete control over the Thomas & Friends brand.

In December 1999, the company secured a 50% interest in Sooty from Sooty International Limited and established Bridgefilms (also known as Sooty Limited) to oversee licensing for both Sooty and Magic Adventures of Mumfie.

March 2000 marked a significant moment when HIT Entertainment made a $363 million bid to acquire Gullane amidst competing offers. In the same month, Gullane expanded its portfolio by purchasing The Media Merchants for £14 million, adding the popular series Art Attack to its assets.

Gullane Entertainment

Following the commercial disappointment of Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Britt Allcroft stepped down as CEO in September 2000. The company then rebranded as Gullane Entertainment under new management with ambitions to broaden its global reach.<ref>Allcroft stayed on as creative consultant for the Thomas the Tank Engine franchise (renamed Thomas & Friends) until Season 7 in 2003.<ref>

The rebranding announcement introduced several initiatives: a refreshed series of Thomas & Friends, an online portal called Planet Gullane, a new international run of Art Attack comprising 238 episodes developed in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company, a second season of Sooty Heights, direct-to-video productions featuring Sooty, as well as additional seasons of Captain Pugwash, ZZZAP!, and It's a Mystery. Furthermore, Gullane planned a complete series of Eckhart alongside Catalyst Entertainment.<ref>

In October 2000, Gullane allocated $50 million towards production over the following year, encompassing new Thomas projects and various television films—some ultimately unproduced—including a co-production with French studio Tele Images Productions for Animal Planet.<ref>

January 2001 saw Gullane acquire David & Charles Children's Books for £1.1 million, thereby adding franchises such as Zippy Dinosaurs and Vroom Vroom to its holdings.<ref>

By March 2001, Gullane reported an 80% increase in profits over six months and announced plans for 26 new episodes of Thomas & Friends slated for Summer 2002. Co-funding arrangements were being explored that could extend production up to 78 episodes across three years. The film Thomas and the Magic Railroad had been distributed in more than thirty countries. Catalyst Entertainment delivered initial seasons of both Eckhart and Longhouse Tales. Additionally, Gullane developed a hybrid 2D/3D animated project with Catalyst based on David & Charles’s book titled Sammy and the Dinosaurs, targeting global markets.<ref>

In July 2001, Gullane acquired the rights to Guinness World Records from Diageo for £45.5 million while continuing to license the Guinness brand from Diageo.<ref> By December that year, Gullane aimed to launch GWR-themed content geared towards young male audiences and merged its publishing operations with David & Charles Children's Books under Gullane Publishing.<ref>

On 14 September 2001, Gullane entered into a distribution agreement with Tell-Tale Productions, commissioning two series: Ella and Sprogs.<ref>

In November 2001, discussions took place regarding Gullane's potential acquisition of Canadian company CINAR's entertainment assets following CINAR’s financial scandal; however, these negotiations did not materialize due to financial constraints or disagreements within CINAR's board.<ref>

December 2001 saw Gullane acquire majority ownership of the series Fireman Sam from S4C International for £16 million, committing to produce a new season consisting of 26 episodes while remastering prior seasons.<ref>

On February 13, 2002, Catalyst Entertainment merged with Cambium Entertainment forming CCI Entertainment Ltd., which expanded Gullane’s programming library beyond 300 hours. Gullane retained a significant minority stake and continued managing CCI as its Canadian affiliate and distributor.<ref><ref>

On March 8, 2002, Gullane entered into a co-production, distribution, and worldwide licensing agreement with Collingwood O'Hare Entertainment for the animated series Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto!, which had been pre-sold to CITV.<ref> Later that month on March 20, Gullane announced production plans for an additional 208 episodes of Art Attack targeting European and Latin American audiences alongside 78 new episodes of Thomas & Friends. The company also commenced remastering work on the original 1974 series of Captain Pugwash.

Acquisition by HIT Entertainment

Following almost two years of discussions, HIT Entertainment completed the purchase of Gullane Entertainment in July 2002 for £139 million. The impact of this acquisition on CCI Entertainment remained uncertain.

Before HIT's takeover, on 18 September 2002, Gullane’s distribution agreement with Tell-Tale for the series Ella and Sprogs concluded, resulting in the rights returning to Tell-Tale.

Post-acquisition developments

In January 2003, Britt Allcroft stepped down from HIT's board to dedicate her efforts to Britt Allcroft Productions; Peter Urie was named Group Head of Production.

By March 2003, CCI Entertainment terminated its collaboration with HIT by purchasing their shares and regaining control over most of Gullane's library, which was subsequently managed through CCI Releasing.

In October 2007, HIT placed the rights to Mumfie and Sooty on the market. Britt Allcroft reacquired the Magic Adventures of Mumfie property in March 2008, while Richard Cadell obtained ownership of the Sooty franchise in June 2008.

HIT divested the Guinness World Records brand and related franchise to Ripley Entertainment in February 2008.

Programming

Distribution only

  • What Katy Did (1999 TV movie; produced by Catalyst Entertainment with Tetra Films)
  • Cinderella & Me (1999 TV movie; produced by Catalyst Entertainment)
  • Shadow Lake (1999 TV movie; produced by Catalyst Entertainment)
  • Virtual Mom (2000 TV movie; produced by Catalyst Entertainment alongside Miracle Pictures)
  • Longhouse Tales (2000; produced by Catalyst Entertainment)
  • Eckhart (2000–2001; produced by Catalyst Entertainment)
  • I Was A Rat (2001 TV movie; produced by Catalyst Entertainment)
  • Monster by Mistake (2003, Series 3; produced by CCI Entertainment)
  • Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto! (2003; produced by Collingwood O'Hare Entertainment)

Additional holdings

Motion pictures

Principal individuals

References


External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Gullane_Entertainment&oldid=90140"