Pangea Corporation
Encyclopedia
Pangea Corporation is an entertainment development and creative services
company that specializes in the animation and toy industries. The company was part of the original creative team that launched the wildly popular "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
" for Playmates Toys
and Murakami-Wolf-Swenson, the animation concern behind the property.
In the early 1990s, Pangea kept pace with trends and launched a business-to-business
platform called Toy Network, which was purchased by an internet IPO company, Internos. Toy Network had gained prominence as a child centred service on Apple's
eWorld
and America Online
. As content providers and programmers for the kids channel, the company continued to grow with new technologies and helped develop a series of virtual pets
, Nano for Playmates Toys and Tamagotchi
for Bandai America. They also provided scripting and programming solutions for the innovative and interactive line of "Amazing" dolls from Playmates, and products from a variety of other manufacturers, including Brian the Brain
, Yano, and Wittley. Additionally, because the company was on the leading edge of technology and internet solutions, they set up some of the first ever websites for the toy industry, including megalithic domains for Bandai America, Speed Racer
and Whac-A-Mole
. During this period, Pangea also produced a radio program on the national kids radio network, Radio Aahs
.
After a two-year development deal with Dic Enterprises
, where then CEO Andy Heyward
, declared Pangea the "core development team" for DIC, Pangea's reputation in the animation industry grew further, having been lauded by their work on the seminal and creatively humorous "Ninja Turtles." Their list of credits ranged from the sublime "The Brotherhood" to the exploitive "New Kids on the Block."
Prior to their formation, the three partners of Pangea Corporation, John Schulte, John Besmehn and Cheryl Ann Wong, were each accomplished in their own right. Schulte had completed a teleplay that was produced by Garry Marshall
and was working as a writer of commercials and presentations for Tomy Toys. Besmehn was a performance artists and part of the group that helped relaunch the Pasadena Playhouse
under the stewardship of entrepreneur developer David Houck. Wong was managing her marketing accounts with the City of Los Angeles
, City of Pasadena and the LA County Metropolitan Transit Authority.
Pangea has developed a plethora of entertainment and toy properties, including Speed Racer
, Zorro, Biker Mice from Mars
, Gormiti, The Mask
, Mirmo, The Coneheads
, Toonsylvania
, The Mummy
, Zorro: Generation Z
, Freedom Ops Net, Dragon Ball Z and a host of others.
Pangea Corporation operates in the South Orange County city of Dana Point, California
. In addition to developing animated and toy content, they are also teaming up with veteran television writer
, Fred Fox Jr., on new intellectual properties, including the new musical, "Bubblegum" and the reality-based show, "Becoming Zorro."
Pangea recently was tapped to represent and develop the books of Edgar award-winning author, Barbara Brooks Wallace
, including the very popular series, "Miss Switch."
Creative services
Creative services are a subsector of the creative industries, a part of the economy that creates wealth by offering creativity for hire to other businesses. Creative Services also means a department within a company that does creative work such as writing, designing, and production. It is often a...
company that specializes in the animation and toy industries. The company was part of the original creative team that launched the wildly popular "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles, who were trained by their anthropomorphic rat sensei in the art of ninjutsu and named after four Renaissance artists...
" for Playmates Toys
Playmates Toys
Playmates Toys is a Costa Mesa, California toy manufacturer and a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Playmates Holdings Ltd , which was founded in 1966.-Proprietary brands:*Amazing Dolls*Amazing Pets*Kinder-Garden Babies*R.E.V.s*Waterbabies*WOW Pals...
and Murakami-Wolf-Swenson, the animation concern behind the property.
In the early 1990s, Pangea kept pace with trends and launched a business-to-business
Business-to-business
Business-to-business describes commerce transactions between businesses, such as between a manufacturer and a wholesaler, or between a wholesaler and a retailer...
platform called Toy Network, which was purchased by an internet IPO company, Internos. Toy Network had gained prominence as a child centred service on Apple's
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
eWorld
EWorld
eWorld was an online service operated by Apple Inc. between June 1994 and March 1996. The services included email , news, and a bulletin board system...
and America Online
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
. As content providers and programmers for the kids channel, the company continued to grow with new technologies and helped develop a series of virtual pets
Digital pet
A digital pet is a type of artificial human companion. They are usually kept for companionship or enjoyment. People may keep a digital pet in lieu of a real pet....
, Nano for Playmates Toys and Tamagotchi
Tamagotchi
The is a handheld digital pet, created in Japan by Akihiro Yokoi of WiZ and Aki Maita of Bandai. It was first sold by Bandai in 1996 in Japan. As of 2010, over 76 million Tamagotchis have been sold world-wide...
for Bandai America. They also provided scripting and programming solutions for the innovative and interactive line of "Amazing" dolls from Playmates, and products from a variety of other manufacturers, including Brian the Brain
Brian the Brain
"Brian the Brain" is the ninth episode of the second series of Space: 1999 . The screenplay was written by Jack Ronder; the director was Kevin Connor. The final shooting script is dated 5 May 1976, with amendments dated 11 May 1976...
, Yano, and Wittley. Additionally, because the company was on the leading edge of technology and internet solutions, they set up some of the first ever websites for the toy industry, including megalithic domains for Bandai America, Speed Racer
Speed Racer
Speed Racer is an English adaptation name of the Japanese manga and anime, which centered on automobile racing. Mach GoGoGo was originally serialized in print form in Shueisha's 1958 Shōnen Book, and was released in tankōbon book form by Sun Wide Comics, re-released in Japan by Fusosha...
and Whac-A-Mole
Whac-A-Mole
Whac-A-Mole is an arcade redemption game. A typical Whac-A-Mole machine consists of a large, waist-level cabinet with five holes in its top and a large, soft, black mallet. Each hole contains a single plastic mole and the machinery necessary to move it up and down. Once the game starts, the moles...
. During this period, Pangea also produced a radio program on the national kids radio network, Radio Aahs
Radio AAHS
Radio AAHS was a radio network managed by the Children's Broadcasting Corporation. Its flagship station was WWTC-AM 1280 in Minneapolis, which broadcast from the former First Federal Bank building at Highway 100 and Excelsior Boulevard in St. Louis Park. At its height in 1996, Radio AAHS had 29...
.
After a two-year development deal with Dic Enterprises
DiC Entertainment
DIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...
, where then CEO Andy Heyward
Andy Heyward
Andrew A. "Andy" Heyward is the former Chairman and CEO of DIC Entertainment, an animation production company.Heyward was born in New York City, New York, the son of Sylvia and Louis M. "Deke" Heyward, who was vice president in charge of development at Barry & Enright Productions...
, declared Pangea the "core development team" for DIC, Pangea's reputation in the animation industry grew further, having been lauded by their work on the seminal and creatively humorous "Ninja Turtles." Their list of credits ranged from the sublime "The Brotherhood" to the exploitive "New Kids on the Block."
Prior to their formation, the three partners of Pangea Corporation, John Schulte, John Besmehn and Cheryl Ann Wong, were each accomplished in their own right. Schulte had completed a teleplay that was produced by Garry Marshall
Garry Marshall
Garry Kent Marshall is an American actor, director, writer and producer. His notable credits include creating Happy Days and The Odd Couple and directing Nothing In Common, Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, Valentine's Day, and The Princess Diaries.-Early life:Marshall was born in the New York City...
and was working as a writer of commercials and presentations for Tomy Toys. Besmehn was a performance artists and part of the group that helped relaunch the Pasadena Playhouse
Pasadena Playhouse
The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engagements each year.-History:...
under the stewardship of entrepreneur developer David Houck. Wong was managing her marketing accounts with the City of Los Angeles
City of Los Angeles
The City of Los Angeles was a streamlined passenger train that ran between Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California, via Omaha, Nebraska, and Ogden, Utah. Between Omaha and Los Angeles it ran on the Union Pacific Railroad; east of Omaha it ran on the Chicago and North Western Railway until...
, City of Pasadena and the LA County Metropolitan Transit Authority.
Pangea has developed a plethora of entertainment and toy properties, including Speed Racer
Speed Racer
Speed Racer is an English adaptation name of the Japanese manga and anime, which centered on automobile racing. Mach GoGoGo was originally serialized in print form in Shueisha's 1958 Shōnen Book, and was released in tankōbon book form by Sun Wide Comics, re-released in Japan by Fusosha...
, Zorro, Biker Mice from Mars
Biker Mice from Mars
Biker Mice from Mars is a science fiction animated series created by Rick Ungar that began airing in 1993 in the United States and lasted for three seasons before it was cancelled...
, Gormiti, The Mask
The Mask
The Mask is a Dark Horse comic book series created by writer John Arcudi and artist Doug Mahnke, and based on a concept by publisher Mike Richardson. The series follows a magical mask which imbues the wearer with reality-bending powers and physical imperviousness, as well as bypassing the wearer's...
, Mirmo, The Coneheads
Coneheads
The Coneheads is a sketch on Saturday Night Live which originated on the January 15, 1977 episode, and starred Dan Aykroyd as father Beldar, Jane Curtin as mother Prymaat, and Laraine Newman as daughter Connie.-Summary:...
, Toonsylvania
Toonsylvania
Toonsylvania is an animated television series, which ran for 2 seasons in 1998 on FOX's Saturday morning cartoon block in its first season, then was moved to Tuesday afternoons from September 14, 1998 until December 21, 1998, when it was cancelled...
, The Mummy
The Mummy (franchise)
The Mummy is any one of three series of adventure films about an ancient Egyptian priest accidentally resurrected, who brings with him a powerful curse, and the efforts of heroic archeologists to stop him.-Universal Horror Films:...
, Zorro: Generation Z
Zorro: Generation Z
Zorro: Generation Z is an animated series that began in 2007. Former Marvel Studios development executive, Rick Ungar, developed the original series in association with BKN, G7 Animation and Pangea Corporation. Scripts produced by Danish comics producer Cool Comics for the mini-series "The Mantle...
, Freedom Ops Net, Dragon Ball Z and a host of others.
Pangea Corporation operates in the South Orange County city of Dana Point, California
Dana Point, California
-Climate:Dana Point enjoys a mild climate where temperatures tend to average around the 60's. The warmest month of the year is August with an average temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit. The coldest month is December with an average minimum temperature of 44 degrees Fahrenheit.-2010:The 2010...
. In addition to developing animated and toy content, they are also teaming up with veteran television writer
Screenwriting
Screenwriting is the art and craft of writing scripts for mass media such as feature films, television productions or video games. It is a freelance profession....
, Fred Fox Jr., on new intellectual properties, including the new musical, "Bubblegum" and the reality-based show, "Becoming Zorro."
Pangea recently was tapped to represent and develop the books of Edgar award-winning author, Barbara Brooks Wallace
Barbara Brooks Wallace
Barbara Brooks Wallace is an award-winning American children's writer, including NLAPW Children's Book Award and International Youth Library "Best of the Best" for Claudia and William Allen White Children's Book Award for Peppermints in the Parlor .Wallace was born and spent her childhood in...
, including the very popular series, "Miss Switch."