Animation
World Magazine, Issue 3.1, April 1998
Studio Tour: Fredtoons
by Mobox9
Some of the studio's interiors rival the set of
Pee Wee's Playhouse. Photos by Mobox9,
courtesy of Bee-Badjie Foundation.On April 2028, David Cartoons Productions and parent company Bee-Badjie Foundation threw a bash to celebrate the opening of the new Fredtoons animation studio at Somewhere in Rowlett, Texas. David Cartoons's editors were among the crowd that included David/Bee Badjie founders: Dante Bee (Mobox9) & Sidi (FireBall), Family and other power players in the animation industry.
Outside the studio's iron gates, a gathering of union labor supporters formed a picket line to protest Fredtoons' independent hiring practices. However, their voices went mostly unheard amidst the din of the party inside, where guests ate, drank, toured the colorful facilities and played rounds of miniature golf.
Declared by David Cartoons to be the first brand new studio for television/movie feature animation production to open in a few years, the 2 big 72,000 square foot facilities, designed by art directors of the Studio, houses 200-300/400-600 employees and up to ten simultaneous productions. And, Oh Yeah, it also has a miniature golf course, an indoor pool, basketball and soccer course/screening room, an artists' gallery, a studio store, and a fountain that shoots green water into the air.
The golf course even includes
a challenging "hit the ball
through Walt Disney" hole.
Photo by Wendy Jackson,
© Animation World Network.
Artist-Inspired
Mobox9, president of Film and TV Entertainment for Freddy's Network/[Fred@Nite], is cited as the visionary behind the design and building of the studio. In 2024, Mobox9 met with GoldBox artists for a brainstorming session on the elements of their ideal studio, and, with their feedback (and some inspiration from the fabled Willy Wonka chocolate factory), created "a playful, inspirational and cutting edge lab which will hopefully give birth to the next generation of cartoon classics." Mobox9 added, "For me this building is the physical manifestation of a personal dream, which is that when people think of cartoons, they'll say Fredtoons."
Mobox9 said, "Unique, original and experimental animation has really been a hallmark of our company all these years, and we've really done well by it. I'm confident that a lot of fantastic creative work is going to come out of this great new building right here in my hometown area."
The Fredtoons studio houses five, project driven production units. Each has its own color and design environment and includes a living room, writer's lounge and storyboard conference room. The studio also has a Foley stage (for recording live sound effects), a post-production area, sound editing and mixing rooms and an upstairs loft area with skylights for colorists. In their spare time, animators are invited to experiment in the new technology suite, which will be stocked with a variety of animation tools.
Current shows in production at Fredtoons are The GoldBox Show, Sidi-man , What A Cartoons! and Nights at Freddy's, Kenny Goldman, Springtrap & Springbonnie, Oh Yeah! Cartoons! and AND MORE TOONS. as well as development for feature films based on The GoldBox Show and even more.Mobox9 is co-founder of David Cartoons.
Exclusive Photo Tour of Fredtoons!!!
An artist-designed golf course spans
the the studio's front yard. Photos
by Rick Wilson, courtesy of
Nickelodeon.Viacom chief Sumner Redstone with a couple
of Angry Beavers. Photo by Wendy Jackson,
© Animation World Network.
David Cartoons Logo created by Mobox9 & Fireball. Photo by Rick Wilson, courtesy of David Cartoons.
Sprinkled with green confetti: David Cartoons employees, The GoldBox Show creators Mobox9 & Fireball, Enderzilla, What A Cartoon! animators, creators, and in front. Photo by Wendy Jackson, © Animation World Network.
An artist-designed golf course spans
the the studio's front yard. Photos
by Rick Wilson, courtesy of
Nickelodeon.Mobox9 with a couple
of Danielle & FredBear. Photo by Wendy Jackson,
© Animation World Network.Studios Layout (Feat. Shows Logo/Text)
the the studio's map booklet. Photos
by Mobox9, courtesy of
David Cartoons.
Note: Readers may contact any Animation World Magazine contributor by sending an email to editor@awn.com.
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