After leaving his animation company Frederator, which was founded in 1997, veteran executive Fred Seibert has launched another animation company. Titled FredFilms, the new production company will develop long and short-form animated series for TV and OTT services.
Right after its debut, FredFilms has inked a first-look deal with VIS Kids, ViacomCBS Networks International’s new children’s content division. VIS Kids was established to create content for ViacomCBS brands and platforms, including streaming service Paramount+. The company will also be outsourcing its services to third parties. Further details of FredFilms’ upcoming slate is soon to be announced in a few weeks.
Commenting on this launch, Seibert stated, “Animation is having yet another golden age, driven, as always, by new technologies. The rise of streaming platforms has given animation studios a whole new landscape to have their innovative voices and stories told. And the success that many projects are finding in streaming, both adult and kid targeted series, has re-opened the eyes of executives at linear networks to invest in animation. With that said, I thought now was the perfect time to set up a new production company in which I can focus 100 per cent of my energies on what I truly love to do: nurture fresh talent and emerging voices, and help bring to life amazing, cutting-edge animation.”
Former Crunchyroll writer-producer and graphic novel editor Casey Gonzalez has been brought on board as development director at FredFilms. Sarah Kessler has joined the production company as development manager.
Seibert, a veteran animation producer and executive had an unusual career trajectory. He hails from a background in music producing and branding/marketing, and helped launch MTV and relaunch Nickelodeon. He was hired as president of Hanna-Barbera Cartoons in 1992. At Frederator Studios, he ran successful influential shorts incubator programmes that spawned many hit series, such as – Adventure Time, The Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, The Fairly Oddparents, and Fanboy & Chum Chum.
Seibert later developed a network of online channels on animation, whose key success has been in the aggregation of other people’s content. In 2016, Frederator was acquired by Canada’s Rainmaker Entertainment, and blended into a new company, Wow! Unlimited Media.
Seibert stepped down as Wow chief creative officer and Frederator CEO last August. However, he will remain executive producer of two Frederator series, Castlevania and Bee & Puppycat.
