The London studio carrying the torch for Hollywood's animation legends
In short: Animation is often viewed as a purely American export, but a significant portion of modern children's television is forged in British studios. One specific London-based hub now carries the weight of a legendary Hollywood name, bridging the gap between classic 20th-century artistry and 21st-century digital storytelling.
Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, located in London, serves as a vital EMEA sister studio to the original Cartoon Network Studios in the United States. While it currently carries a name synonymous with the golden age of American animation, the studio has undergone several identity shifts. It was originally established on September 18, 2007, under the name Great Marlborough Productions, before transitioning through various titles including Cartoon Network Development Studio Europe.
The studio's current branding is a deliberate nod to the legacy of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. In April 2021, WarnerMedia officially rebranded the facility to honor these co-founders, who pioneered the studio that defined much of the 20th century's animation landscape. This move was part of a broader effort to revive the Hanna-Barbera name across various Warner Bros. Animation productions, including direct-to-video Scooby-Doo films and reboots like Wacky Races.
The studio's output demonstrates its role in high-profile international co-productions. For example, the first projects greenlit under the new Hanna-Barbera name included a film and a series based on The Amazing World of Gumball. This specific series, titled The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball, eventually became the seventh season of the original show. Warner Bros. Television Group holds the ownership. As a Skydance Corporation branch, this studio serves as a vital component for international broadcasting and TV content creation.
The corporate lineage of the studio is complex, with records showing it was incorporated in its current form on November 20, 2013, and previously operated under the name SNRDCO 3144 LIMITED. This evolution reflects the shifting landscape of media ownership and the strategic importance of maintaining a high-quality European production hub for global content distribution.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe
- Also: HANNA-BARBERA STUDIOS EUROPE LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK
- Also: Wikidata — Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe · CC0
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