Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Animation
Founded	1993
Founder	Paul Sabella, Jonathan Dern
Defunct	2000
Fate	Ceased active operations
Headquarters	Hollywood, California, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Paul Sabella, Jonathan Dern
Products	Animated feature films, television series
Parent	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation (commonly known as MGM Animation) served as the animation branch of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, concentrating on producing animated feature films and television series. Established in 1993 and based in Hollywood, California, the studio primarily created children's content by utilizing MGM's extensive intellectual properties, such as The Pink Panther, The Lionhearts, The Secret of NIMH, and All Dogs Go to Heaven.

The studio was founded by Paul Sabella and Jonathan Dern, both experienced animation producers and entrepreneurs, who left in 1999 to launch SD Entertainment. Following the release of its final project, Tom Sawyer, in 2000, MGM Animation ceased active operations.

Theatrical

Release date	Title	Notes
March 29, 1996	All Dogs Go to Heaven 2	co-produced alongside MGM/UA Family Entertainment

Direct-to-video

Release Date	Title	Notes
March 4, 1997	MGM Sing-Alongs: Searching for Your Dreams
	MGM Sing-Alongs: Friends
	MGM Sing-Alongs: Having Fun
	MGM Sing-Alongs: Being Happy
October 14, 1997	Babes in Toyland	co-produced with MGM/UA Family Entertainment
November 17, 1998	An All Dogs Christmas Carol	co-produced with MGM Family Entertainment
December 22, 1998	The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue	co-produced with MGM Family Entertainment
April 4, 2000	Tom Sawyer

TV series

Title	Year(s)	Network	Notes
The Pink Panther	1993–1995	Syndication	Produced in collaboration with Mirisch-Geoffrey DePatie-Freleng and United Artists
All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series	1996–1998	Syndication (1996–1998) Fox Family Channel (1998)
RoboCop: Alpha Commando	1998–1999	Syndication	Co-produced with Fireworks Entertainment and Orion Pictures; distributed by The Summit Media Group
The Lionhearts	1998	Syndication

Miscellaneous productions

Title	Year	Notes
The Adventures of Hyperman	1995	Associated video game adaptation

Unproduced projects

Release date	Title	Type	Notes
The Betty Boop Movie	1993	Feature film	Intended as MGM Animation's inaugural theatrical musical but ultimately scrapped. A storyboard sequence is accessible online. The completed reel includes a jazz tune titled "Where are you?" featuring vocals by Jimmy Rowles and Sue Raney. Eventually, MGM Animation's only theatrical release became All Dogs Go to Heaven 2.
Stargate: The Young Explorers	1997	Feature film	Proposed direct-to-video project inspired by MGM's Stargate franchise; development was discontinued. Some elements may have influenced the animated show Stargate: Infinity.
Noah	1998	Feature film	Planned adaptation of Bill Cosby's stand-up routine with Cosby involved as producer, co-writer, and voice of God. Notable figures such as Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, and Jonathan Winters were considered for parts. The project was canceled due to Cosby's waning commercial success and emerging legal challenges.

References