Parent HiT Entertainment Founder Jackie Cockle Owner Mattel Total assets 1.119 billion USD | Headquarters Los Angeles Founded 1998 Number of employees 188 Type Subsidiary | |
Industry Media, Television Production & Distribution Key people Jackie Cockle
Brian Little
Joe Dembinski Products Children's Animation, Stop motion Website | ||
HOT Animation is an American stop motion animation & Computer animation studio based in Los Angeles, California, USA. It was established in 1998 by Jackie Cockle, Brian Little, and Joe Dembinski.
Worldwide success followed with Bob the Builder, a show for pre-school children about a builder and his talking machines. In 2000, the theme tune was released as a single, Can We Fix It? with an accompanying promo produced at HOT, which beat Kylie Minogue's "Please Stay", Eminem's Stan and Westlife's "What Makes a Man" to become the Christmas number-one single.
Next came Brambly Hedge, a series of 30-minute specials based on the illustrated books for children by Jill Barklem, and Rubbadubbers, a series about bath toys that come alive. Pingu, a Swiss series about a family of penguins, was recreated with great success in 2003. The company also provided CGI effects for seasons 8-12 of Thomas & Friends.