DreamWorks toons stay put
Hollywood Newsroom is now Buzz Newsroom! Visit and bookmark our new site. Buzz is bigger and better, including sports, world news, gadgets and the entertainment news that you're used to. Same staff, just more stuff! Why Fark, Drudge and Huffington when you can Buzz!?While one DreamWorks departs Paramount, another is staying put, at last for a few more years. DreamWorks Studios may be re-launching with a new infusion of cash, but DreamWorks Animation remains in a distribution deal with Par that runs through 2012.
Originally spun into a public company to help investor Paul Allen liquidate his early investments, DreamWorks Animation is now in the unexpected position of having absolutely no business relationship with DreamWorks Studios.
Technically, the live-action studio hasn’t been connected to its toon sibling in over two years, but it’s no coincidence that the latter signed a seven-year distribution deal with Paramount at the same time the former was acquired by it.
Back then, nobody figured DreamWorks’ relationship with Par would end so quickly. But DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberghas been thriving.
The “K” in DreamWorks SKG, who has led the animation studio since it spun out four years ago, has had only positive public words for Paramount and insiders say there have been few conflicts, save for a dispute when former Par marketing honcho Gerry Rich ankled.
- from Variety