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Beano Studios
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryTelevision, publishing
GenreChildren's fiction
Founded8 June 2016; 8 years ago (2016-06-08) in London, United Kingdom
FounderDC Thomson
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Michael Stirling (CEO, Dundee)
  • David Guppy (CEO, London)
BrandsBeano magazine
Websitebeanostudios.com
Footnotes / references
[1][2][3]

Beano Studios is a British content production company specialising in children’s entertainment and media based in Dundee, Scotland and London, England. Established as a subsidiary of DC Thomson & Co. Ltd., it was launched to expand The Beano through a variety of platforms, including television, digital media, merchandise, and the iconic Beano comic and annual. Beano Studios produces a wide range of content that appeals to audiences of all ages. The studio also operates an award-winning website featuring games, quizzes, and videos aimed at building creativity and engagement.

In 2021, Beano Studios launched Emanata Studios, a separate production company with the aim of bringing DC Thomson's comic characters to life on screen, with the ambition to become "the UK's answer to Marvel Studios." Emanata Studios centres its work on adult and young adult audiences, drawing from DC Thomson's extensive archive of British comic properties.

History

Establishment and first productions

In June 2016, DC Thomson launched Beano Studios,[4][5] a spin-off media studio (based in both London and Dundee) with the intention of creating media appropriate for children and expanding The Beano's franchise. Its introduction to the readers came in The Beano's issue 3854 with a revamp of the cover's layout and the logo, removing "The" to make it coincide with the studio, and unveiling the website beano.com.[6]

Former chief-editor Michael Stirling (who stepped down in 2012) became head of the Dundee studio and the franchise's spokesman.[4] Jodie Morris became Head of Digital Content,[3] James Neal stood as Director of Content,[7] Nigel Pickard joined as non-executive director[3] and Emma Scott stood as CEO[3][8] until 2020,[2] succeeded by David Guppy.[2]

As well as expanding Beano's franchise through games and merchandise, Beano.com also contains other activities and interests for children to enjoy, such as news about popular celebrities, and miscellaneous videos and articles.[9][10] Neal described it as "a fun but trusted babysitter who lets the kids stay up a bit late".[11][7] For parents who formerly read The Beano during childhood, Beano Studios invites them to also participate on their nostalgia, once sending a cease and desist letter to politician Jacob Rees-Mogg for copyright infringement against Walter the Softy.[12][13]

The website became a continuing success worldwide with over two million visitors per year,[2] and is credited for increasing comic sales by 10% in 2018.[14] A similar approach had been planned for years through the first website Beanotown.com, which DC Thomson hoped would attract an international audience to The Beano, especially the United States.[15] The Guardian noted The Beano's success in North America was plausible because of Chicken Run, Monty Python, and Benny Hill's American popularity.[15]

2017–2021: Dennis and Gnasher: Unleashed! and wider expansion

Soon after the launch announcement, Beano Studios revealed it had a new Dennis the Menace adaptation in production: a 52-episode 3D-animated cartoon for CBBC co-produced by Jellyfish Pictures[16] and distributed by Jetpack. The new programme, Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed!, aired on the CBBC Channel in November 2017 and became one of the most popular children's series on the channel.[17][18] Jetpack sold the cartoon to over 90 territories worldwide in 2018 through television deals and streaming services,[19][17] and it received an Emmy nomination for Best International Animated Program at the 2019 International Emmy Kids Awards.[20][21]

Chief Creative Officer Mark Talbot explained his plans to look to Hollywood for Beano branching, noting: "what's been interesting with the Americans, they don't have The Beano but what they see is the archive with over 2,000 characters and storylines sat in a warehouse in Dundee waiting to be reimagined by new writers and established writers[.]"[22]

In November 2020, Deadline reported Talbot was in the midst of pitching another adaptation of Dennis the Menace, rumoured to be about a reckless teenaged Dennis with a pilot script written by former Chilling Adventures of Sabrina writer Matthew Barry.[22] Beano Studios and Lime Pictures announced a live-action Minnie the Minx children's programme in 2018 called The Magnificent Misadventures of Minnie,[23] and Fox Entertainment announced a Bananaman cartoon,[24] the second cartoon adapting the comic strip after the BBC adaptation from 1983.

Emanata Studios
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryTelevision and film
GenreYoung adult
Founded17 November 2021; 3 years ago (2021-11-17)
FounderDC Thomson
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Mark Talbot (CCO)
BrandsBeano magazine
Websiteemanatastudios.com
Footnotes / references
[25]

2021–present: Launch of Emanata Studios

In 2021, Beano Studios launched Emanata Studios, a standalone production company aimed at bringing British comic characters to the screen, with a vision to create the UK's answer to Marvel Studios. Emanata Studios focuses on adult and young adult content, adapting the vast archive of DC Thomson’s British comic properties, which dates back to the 1930s and includes titles such as The Beano, The Dandy, Commando, and Bunty.

Led by Talbot, Emanata Studios rapidly expanded its influence through partnerships with major US production companies like Westbrook Studios, Jerry Bruckheimer TV, and Fox Entertainment, signalling strong demand for distinctly British comic narratives abroad.

Initial projects included a high-concept drama based on The Amazing Mr X, Britain’s first comic book superhero, as well as a live-action adaptation of Dennis the Menace, reimagined for a contemporary audience.

In 2023, Emanata Studios released their first production, Calamity James, a slapstick comedy short film adaption of the comic of the same name, starring Dylan Blore and Mark Bonnar. The short film was later nominated at the RTS Scotland Awards in 2024 in the Comedy category, and also nominated at the Broadcast Digital Awards in 2024 in the Best Short-Form Scripted category.[26][27]

Productions

Television

Year Title Studio Distributor Ref
2017–2021 Dennis and Gnasher: Unleashed! Beano Studios BBC [28]

Short films

Year Title Studio Distributor Ref
2023 Calamity James Emanata Studios BBC [29]

Upcoming

Emanata Studios are currently developing several comedy dramas such as Numskulls, King Cobra, Bunty, Captain Hornet, Valda, Dennis the Menace, Babyface, The Haunting of Laura Lee, Nick Jolly, Secret Agent Sally and Blitz Boy. Films which the studio are producing include Invisible, The Man Tracker, and Steelhead Sam.[30]

The studio are also working on animated production such as Rocket Academy, Bananaman and Fireball, which are currently in pre-production.[30]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Production Result Ref
2024 RTS Scotland Award Comedy Calamity James Nominated [26]
Broadcast Digital Awards Best Short-Form Scripted [27]

References

  1. ^ "Beano Studios". LinkedIn. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "Scott to exit Beano Studios". C21media. 2020-07-02. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Freeman, John (8 June 2016). "Beano Studios Launched, revamp on the way for comic, web site and new Dennis the Menace TV show in the works". Down the Tubes. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b 80 Years (2018), p. 68.
  5. ^ Franks, Nico (2016-10-05). "Beano takes CGI Dennis to CBBC". C21media. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021. Since launching in June, Beano Studios...
  6. ^ Freeman, John (25 September 2016). "The Beano launches major revamp, physical and digital, new TV show in the works?". Down the Tubes. Archived from the original on 20 February 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Dennis the Menace to get CGI makeover as Beano targets YouTube generation". The Guardian. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  8. ^ Franks, Nico. "Beano primed for digital age". C21media. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Dennis the Menace to get CGI makeover as Beano targets YouTube generation". The Guardian. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021. [Beano.com] will include everything from video stories to "light touch" news, listicles and games.
  10. ^ Clarke, Steve (7 April 2018). "Beano, Revived and Rebranded for Today's Kids". Variety. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021. [Beano.com] features online games ("Spot The Beano characters from their jumpers," Scott says), videos ("How to draw a pug in 20 seconds") and listicles ("Explanations for the Bermuda Triangle") — all fashioned to tempt today's choice-saturated 6- to 12-year-olds.
  11. ^ Alex, Stewart (2016-06-08). "Beano characters set for online rebirth". The Courier. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  12. ^ "People don't like being pigeon-holed: How Beano Studios targets kids and parents". Marketing Week. 17 April 2019. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021. There are occasions when Beano Studios specifically targets parents with cheeky stunts that tap into their latent love of the brand.
  13. ^ Heffer, Greg (2018-04-04). "Beano tells Rees-Mogg to stop copying comic character 'Walter the Softy'". Sky News. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  14. ^ Clarke, Steve (7 April 2018). "Beano, Revived and Rebranded for Today's Kids". Variety. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  15. ^ a b "A Menace to young people". The Guardian. 6 July 2000. p. 65. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Jetpack scores rights to Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed". Kidscreen. August 24, 2017. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Jetpack unleashes Dennis & Gnasher worldwide". Kidscreen. October 3, 2018. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  18. ^ Tuchow, Ryan (February 12, 2019). "CBBC orders more Dennis & Gnasher". Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  19. ^ "NBCUniversal snaps up Dennis & Gnasher". March 10, 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  20. ^ Hobson, Jane. "UK tops nominees for 2018 International Emmy Kids Awards". Kidscreen. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  21. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (15 October 2018). "Nominees Revealed for International Emmy Kids Awards '19". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  22. ^ a b White, Peter (12 November 2020). "'Dennis The Menace': Beano Studios Developing YA Adaptation Of Classic British Character As Comic Company Looks To Reimagine Archive". Deadline. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Where will Minnie the Minx cause chaos next?". BBC News. 14 June 2018. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  24. ^ "Bananaman: Comic superhero to make small screen comeback after 35 years". inews.co.uk. 24 February 2021. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  25. ^ "Emanata Studios".
  26. ^ a b "RTS Scotland Awards 2024". Royal Television Society. 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
  27. ^ a b Singleton, David. "Broadcast Digital Awards 2024 shortlist unveiled". Broadcast. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
  28. ^ "Dennis and Gnasher Unleashed". CBBC - BBC. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
  29. ^ "BBC Three - BBC Comedy Short Films, Calamity James". BBC. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
  30. ^ a b "PROJECTS". Emanata Studios. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
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