Saban Entertainment

Saban Entertainment (along with Saban International, which operated outside the US) was a worldwide-served independent American-Israeli television production company formed in 1983 by music and television producers Haim Saban and Shuki Levy as "Saban Productions", a U.S. subsidiary of "Saban International Paris" (now SIP Animation).

This company was known for importing, dubbing, and adapting several Japanese series such as, Maple Town (...Stories), Noozles (Fushigi na Koala Blinky and Printy), Funky Fables (Video Anime Ehonkan Sekai Meisaku Dowa), Samurai Pizza Cats (Kyatto Ninden Teyande), Dragon Ball Z and the first three Digimon series to North America and international markets for syndication, including both animation and live action shows. Saban is also notable for their various toku adapts of several shows from Toei Company, which include Power Rangers (based on the Super Sentai series), Big Bad Beetleborgs (based on Juukou B-Fighter), VR Troopers (featuring elements of Metal Hero series, like Space Sheriff Shaider, Jikuu Senshi Spielban and Choujinki Metalder), and Masked Rider (an original interpretation using scenes from the Japanese Kamen Rider Black RX).

Saban was involved in the co-production of French/American animated shows created by Jean Chalopin for DIC Entertainment. Some of these early 1980s co-productions were Camp Candy, Ulysses 31, Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors, and The Mysterious Cities of Gold (the third of which was a Japanese co-production).

Saban has also provided music for various TV programs, such as The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! and Inspector Gadget.

History

Early years

Saban Entertainment was formed in 1983 as "Saban Productions". The first Saban logo depicted a Saturn-Like planet with the word "Saban" going across the planet's ring. The planet had five lines under the word "Productions". Several years later, the company created "Saban International" (now Disney Media Distribution), for international distribution of its shows (note: though used interchangeably with "Saban International Paris", they were technically two different entities). In 1988 the company renamed itself "Saban Entertainment".

Partnership with DIC and Marvel

In 1986, Saban Productions bought the foreign rights to the DIC Entertainment library of children's programming, and then sold the rights to Jean Chalopin. DIC then sued Saban for damages and in 1991, DIC and Saban reached a settlement.

New World Animation (The Incredible Hulk), Saban (X-Men), and Marvel Films Animation (Spider-Man) each produced a Marvel series for television.

In August 1996, Saban secured rights from Marvel Entertainment Group for Captain America, Daredevil and Silver Surfer and additional characters to be developed into four series and 52 episodes over seven years.

In 1996, Fox Children's Productions merged with Saban Entertainment to form Fox Kids Worldwide bring the Marvel Productions and Marvel Films Animations library.

Marvel was developing a Captain America animated series with Saban Entertainment for Fox Kids to premier in fall 1998. However, due to Marvel's bankruptcy the series was canceled before the premiere. Ironically, both Marvel and Saban would become parts of the The Walt Disney Company; Saban (renamed BVS Entertainment) in 2002 and Marvel by the end of 2009.

BVS Entertainment

On July 23, 2001, it was announced that the group would be sold to The Walt Disney Company as part of the sale of Fox Family Worldwide (now ABC Family Worldwide) by Haim Saban and News Corporation, and on October 24, 2001, the sale was completed and the group was renamed BVS Entertainment. The last official program and fully produced and distributed by Saban Entertainment was Power Rangers Time Force. However, Power Rangers Wild Force was the last series created by Saban and the latest in which will have a collaboration (Saban created the series and produced only pre-production, following the acquisition of Fox Family Worldwide, the show belongs to copyright of Disney and was distributed by BVS, although the show was produced by MMPR Productions, the producer of the Power Rangers during the Saban era).

Saban International Paris

Saban International Paris, later SIP Animation, was a television production company based in France that operated from 1977 to 2008.

Saban International Paris was found in France by Haim Saban and Jacqueline Tordjman in 1977 as a television production company. In 1983, SIP moved into the animation field. Saban departed the company in 2001 with the purchase of Fox Family Worldwide, which was followed by The Walt Disney Company taking a stake in the company and a name change to SIP Animation on October 1, 2002. SIP co-produced a few animated series with Jetix Europe during the 2000s. SIP Animation was closed in 2008.

Sensation Animation

Sensation Animation was a renamed portion of Saban Entertainment to continue dubbing Digimon episodes from 2002 to 2003.

List of television series and films

Animation TV series

Saban's animated TV series

Some or most series had all but featured the "Saban's" corporate bug in their title.

• Kidd Video (1984â€"1985)
• Care Bears (1985â€"1986) (DiC episodes, international distribution)
• Kissyfur (1986â€"1990)
• Lazer Tag Academy (1986â€"1987)
• ALF: The Animated Series (1987â€"1989)
• The New Archies (1987â€"1988)
• Diplodos (1987â€"1988)
• The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! (1989â€"1990, international distribution)
• Zazoo U (1990â€"1991)
• Kid 'n Play (1990â€"1991)
• Saban's Kids Dinky Doo (1990â€"1994)
• Little Shop (1991)
• Saban's Around the World in 80 Dreams (1992â€"1993)
• Eek! The Cat (1992-1997)
• Saban's Gulliver's Travels (1992â€"1993)
• X-Men (1992â€"1997)
• The Bots Master (1993â€"1994)
• Journey to the Heart of the World (1993â€"1994)
• The Terrible Thunderlizards (1993-1997)
• BattleTech: The Animated Series (1994)
• Iron Man (1994â€"1996)
• Fantastic Four (1994â€"1996)
• Creepy Crawlers (1994â€"1996)
• Spider-Man (1994â€"1998)
• Space Strikers (1995â€"1996)
• Tenko and the Guardians of the Magic (1995â€"1996)
• Iznogoud (1995)
• Little Mouse on the Prairie (1996)
• Saban's Adventures of Oliver Twist (1996â€"1997)
• The Incredible Hulk (1996â€"1997)
• Bureau of Alien Detectors (1996â€"1997)
• The Mouse and the Monster (1996â€"1997)
• The Why Why Family (1996â€"1997)
• Princess Sissi (1997â€"1998)
• Space Goofs (1997â€"2000) (season 1 only)
• Silver Surfer (1998)
• Walter Melon (1998â€"1999)
• Bad Dog (1998â€"1999)
• Mad Jack the Pirate (1998â€"1999)
• The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs (1998â€"1999)
• Monster Farm (1998â€"1999)
• Cartoon Cabana (1998â€"2002)
• The Avengers: United They Stand (1999â€"2000)
• The Kids from Room 402 (1999â€"2000)
• Spider-Man Unlimited (1999â€"2001)
• NASCAR Racers (1999â€"2001)
• Xyber 9: New Dawn (1999, 2007)
• Wunschpunsch (2000)
• Diabolik (2000â€"2001)
• Jim Button (2000â€"2001)
• What's with Andy? (2002â€"2007) (Season 1 only)

Other Foreign Animated TV series

Saban Entertainment dubbed the following Foreign Animated TV Series in English.

• Spartakus and the Sun Beneath the Sea [a. k. a. Les Mondes Engloutis (The Englufed Worlds)] (1985â€"1987)
• Jin Jin and the Panda Patrol (1992)

Japanese Anime

Saban Entertainment dubbed the following Anime TV Series in English:

• Dream Star Button Nose (1985)
• Macron 1 (1985â€"1986)
• Bumpety Boo (1985â€"1986)
• Maple Town (1986â€"1987)
• My Favorite Fairy Tales (1986) (video series)
• Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics (1987â€"1989)
• Ox Tales (1987â€"1988)
• Noozles (1988â€"1993)
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1988)
• Tales of Little Women (1988)
• Wowser (1988â€"1989)
• Dragon Warrior: Legend of the Hero Abel (1989â€"1991)
• Peter Pan: The Animated Series (1989)
• Samurai Pizza Cats (1990â€"1991)
• Kabatotto (1990â€"1992)
• Maya the Bee (1990â€"1992)
• The Littl' Bits (1991â€"1995)
• Honeybee Hutch (1991â€"1992)
• Saban's Adventures of the Little Mermaid (1991â€"1992)
• Pinocchio: The Series (1992)
• Huckleberry Finn (1992)
• Bob in a Bottle (1992)
• Funky Fables (1992) (video series released under the brand "Sugar & Spice")
• Super Pig (1994â€"1995)
• Teknoman (1995â€"1996)
• Eagle Riders (1996â€"1997)
• Dragon Ball Z (1996â€"1998) (Seasons 1 and 2 only)
• Flint the Time Detective (1998â€"1999)
• Digimon Adventure (1999â€"2000)
• Cybersix (1999â€"2000)
• Shinzo (2000)
• Dinozaurs (2000)
• Escaflowne (2000)
• Mon Colle Knights (2000)
• Digimon Adventure 02 (2000â€"2001)
• Digimon Tamers (2001â€"2002)
• Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001â€"2002)

Live-Action TV series

Saban Entertainment produced and distributed Live Action TV series:

• The Hallo Spencer Show (1979â€"2001)
• Kids! (1984â€"1990)
• Kidsings! (1984â€"1990)
• I'm Telling! (1987â€"1988)
• Treasure Mall (1988)
• Video Power (1990â€"1992)
• Saban's Kids in Chorus and Kids in Instruments (1991â€"1995)
• Scorch (1992)
• Saban's Children's Sing-a-Long (1992â€"1996)
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993â€"1995)
• VR Troopers (1994â€"1996)
• Sweet Valley High (1994â€"1997)
• Goosebumps (1995â€"1998) (International distribution only)
• Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers (1996)
• Masked Rider (1995â€"1996)
• Power Rangers Zeo (1996)
• Big Bad Beetleborgs (1996â€"1998)
• Power Rangers Turbo (1997)
• Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (1997â€"1998)
• The All New Captain Kangaroo (1997â€"1998)
• Power Rangers in Space (1998)
• Mister Moose's Fun Time (1998â€"1999)
• The Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog (1998â€"1999)
• Power Rangers Lost Galaxy (1999)
• Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue (2000)
• Power Rangers Time Force (2001)
• Los Luchadores (2001)
• Power Rangers Wild Force (2002) (only pre-production, distributed by BVS Entertainment, but Saban was the only accredited)

Live-Action Films

• Rescue Me (1988)
• Heathers (1989)
• The Phantom of the Opera (1990)
• A Perfect Little Murder (1990)
• Prey of the Chameleon (1992)
• Round Trip to Heaven (1992)
• A Passion for Murder (1992)
• Revenge on the Highway (1992)
• Till Death Us Do Part (1992)
• Anything for Love (1993)
• In the Shadows, Someone's Watching (1993)
• Under Investigation (1993)
• Terminal Voyage (1994)
• Samurai Cowboy (1994)
• Shadow of Obsession (1994)
• Guns of Honor: Rebel Rousers (1994)
• Blindfold: Acts of Obsession (1994)
• Guns of Honor: Trigger Fast (1994)
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995)
• Virtual Seduction (1995)
• Christmas Reunion (1995)
• Blind Vision (1996)
• Chimp Lips Theater (1997)
• Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997)
• Casper: A Spirited Beginning (1997)
• The Christmas List (1997)
• Gotcha (1998)
• Circles (1998)
• National Lampoon's Men in White (1998)
• Casper Meets Wendy (1998)
• Rusty: A Dog's Tale (1998)
• Addams Family Reunion (1998)
• Richie Rich's Christmas Wish (1998)
• The Christmas Takeover (1998)
• Men of Means (1999)
• Taken (1999)
• Don't Look Behind You (1999)
• Au Pair (1999)
• Ice Angel (2000)
• Au Pair II (2001)
• Oh, Baby! (2001)

Animation films

• Digimon: The Movie (2000)

Media releases

• Most Saban owned media from the early 1990s made its way to VHS in most regions. However, from the late 1990s on, almost all Saban owned entities were only released as Region 4 (Australia). According to current rights holders in the US, Buena Vista Entertainment, which acquired it through their buyout of the Fox Family Channel, they currently have no plans to release these films on to DVD, instead, some of it is seen on their daughter network, Disney XD, and originally was seen on Toon Disney and ABC Family before the decease of Jetix in the US.

Digimon

• In Australia, Digimon: Digital Monsters seasons one and two is being re-released by Madman Entertainment as of August 17, 2011.

• In addition, the first four series are being released to DVD in North America through New Video.

Power Rangers

• In Germany they have released complete season box sets to every Power Rangers series, with the English Versions included up until season 6 due to problems with Disney. The series is available in the German Amazon.

• The first 17 seasons of Power Rangers have been licensed for DVD releases by Shout! Factory, which has released the first 17 seasons to DVD in Region 1.

• Saban is teaming up with Lions Gate Entertainment to make a live-action reboot movie of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

Others

• On March 13, 2012, Shout! Factory announced a home video distribution deal with Saban, which includes VR Troopers, the two seasons of Beetleborgs and Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation.

Saban's library

Although most of Saban's library is currently owned by The Walt Disney Company, there are a few exceptions. The Power Rangers franchise, which was purchased by Haim Saban from Disney for $43 million on May 12, 2010. Later, the rights of Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation, Masked Rider, VR Troopers, Beetleborgs, Digimon, Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2000), Transformers: Armada, Transformers: Energon and Transformers: Cybertron were bought by Saban Brands in 2011, 2012 and 2014.

References

External links

• Saban Entertainment at the Internet Movie Database