Corus’s Nelvana studio teams with L.A.-based Bento Box to create animated series

TORONTO – The owner of YTV, Teletoon, Cartoon Network and other Canadian specialty television channels is creating a Toronto-based animation production company in partnership with the L.A.-based team behind many of Fox TV’s prime-time programs.

Corus Entertainment (TSX:CJR.B) says the new collaboration with Bento Box Entertainment will produce animated series targeted to the 18 to 34 age group — an older demographic than usually addressed by its Nelvana animation studios.

Nelvana president Scott Dyer says Corus and Bento Box have been working towards releasing “edgy” new series that will be out in 2016.

Bento Box Entertainment was founded by Scott Greenberg, Mark McJimsey and Joel Kuwahara. The trio’s production credits include “The Simpsons” and “The Simpsons Movie,” “King of the Hill” and “Bob’s Burgers.”

They announced Bento Box Canada from Cannes, France. Their first series will be called “The Pandas” — a satirical, irreverent family comedy to begin production this fall in Toronto.