Editing DreamWorks Animation (section)

==== Diversification and expansion (2012–2015) ====
In July 2012, DreamWorks Animation won a $155 million bid to acquire [[DreamWorks Classics|Classic Media]],<ref name=ClassicMedia>{{cite news|last=Lieberman|first=David|title=DreamWorks Animation Agrees To Pay $155M For Classic Media|url=https://deadline.com/2012/07/dreamworks-animation-buy-classic-media-rocky-bullwinkle-305403/|access-date=July 24, 2012|newspaper=Deadline|date=July 23, 2012|archive-date=July 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724184416/http://www.deadline.com/2012/07/dreamworks-animation-buy-classic-media-rocky-bullwinkle/|url-status=live}}</ref> which has since been renamed to DreamWorks Classics.<ref>{{cite news|last=Venkatesan|first=Adithya|title=DreamWorks to buy Classic Media for $155 million: WSJ|url=https://in.reuters.com/article/us-classicmedia-dreamworks-acquisition/dreamworks-to-buy-classic-media-for-155-million-wsj-idINBRE86M05920120723|access-date=August 13, 2012|newspaper=Reuters|date=July 23, 2012|archive-date=September 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922100509/http://in.reuters.com/article/us-classicmedia-dreamworks-acquisition/dreamworks-to-buy-classic-media-for-155-million-wsj-idINBRE86M05920120723|url-status=dead}}</ref> In August 2012, DreamWorks Animation formed a joint venture with Chinese investment companies to establish a [[Shanghai]]-based entertainment company, named [[Oriental DreamWorks]], to develop and produce original Chinese films and their derivatives.<ref>{{cite news|title=Oriental DreamWorks Rewrites Its China Production Strategy|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/oriental-dreamworks-rewrites-its-china-production-strategy-1200601504/#|access-date=November 14, 2013|newspaper=Variety|first=Patrick|last=Frater|date=September 6, 2013|archive-date=November 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114195031/http://variety.com/2013/film/news/oriental-dreamworks-rewrites-its-china-production-strategy-1200601504/|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to a ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' report, DreamWorks Animation was in talks with [[Sony Pictures]] to distribute its upcoming films, such as the 2013 releases of ''[[The Croods]]'' and ''[[Turbo (2013 film)|Turbo]]''. The report also mentioned a possibility where Sony would handle United States distribution while [[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox]] would handle international distribution. Renewal of the deal with Paramount was also open, but only with more favorable terms for Paramount (they even offered a one-year extension of the deal, but Katzenberg desired to get a better deal).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Horn|first1=John|last2=Fritz|first2=Ben|title=DreamWorks Animation could be headed to Sony|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-dreamworks-animation-sony-20120712,0,6507312.story|access-date=July 18, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 13, 2012|archive-date=July 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717005424/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-dreamworks-animation-sony-20120712,0,6507312.story|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Finke|first1=Nikki|title=Paramount Expects DreamWorks Toon Exit; Studio Starts Paramount Animation Unit; Jeff Katzenberg Zeroing In Time Warner|url=https://deadline.com/2011/07/paramount-starting-animation-division-145386/|access-date=July 25, 2017|newspaper=Deadline|date=July 6, 2011|archive-date=September 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922100025/http://deadline.com/2011/07/paramount-starting-animation-division-145386/|url-status=live}}</ref> Around the same time, DreamWorks Animation entered talks with [[Warner Bros.]] for a potential distribution deal as well, only to be turned down by the studio.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fritz |first1=Ben |title=Warner Bros. uninterested in DreamWorks Animation deal |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/07/dreamworks-animation-deal-with-warner-bros-appears-unlikely.html |access-date=February 21, 2020 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 29, 2011 |archive-date=February 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221221959/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/07/dreamworks-animation-deal-with-warner-bros-appears-unlikely.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2012, DreamWorks Animation signed a five-year distribution deal with 20th Century Fox for all territories.<ref name="Finke">{{cite news|last=Finke|first=Nikki|title=EXCLUSIVE: DreamWorks Animation To Fox For New 5-Year Distribution Deal; Paying Fees Of 8% Theatrical And 6% Digital|url=https://deadline.com/2012/08/exclusive-dreamworks-animation-to-fox-321701/|access-date=August 20, 2012|newspaper=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=August 20, 2012|archive-date=August 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822012707/http://www.deadline.com/2012/08/exclusive-dreamworks-animation-to-fox/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the deal did not include the distribution rights of previously released films, which DWA acquired from Paramount later in 2014.<ref name="VarietyQ22014Earnings">{{cite news|last1=Chney|first1=Alexandra|title=DreamWorks Animation Q2 Earnings Fall Short of Estimates, SEC Investigation Revealed|url=https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/dreamworks-animation-q2-earnings-fall-short-of-estimates-1201271262/|access-date=July 30, 2014|work=Variety|date=July 29, 2014|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623141606/https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/dreamworks-animation-q2-earnings-fall-short-of-estimates-1201271262/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Rise of the Guardians]]'' (2012) was the last DreamWorks Animation film to be distributed by Paramount, and ''The Croods'' became the first DreamWorks Animation film to be distributed by 20th Century Fox.

On April 11, 2013, DreamWorks Animation announced that it has acquired the intellectual property for the [[Troll doll|''Trolls'' franchise]] from the Dam Family and Dam Things. DreamWorks Animation, which has "big plans for the [[Franchising|franchise]]", has become the exclusive worldwide licensor of the merchandise rights, except for Scandinavia, where Dam Things remains the licensor.<ref name=vty/> On May 1, Katzenberg and DWA announced their intent to purchase [[YouTube]] channel [[AwesomenessTV]], which was finalized later in the month.<ref>Lieberman, David. (May 1, 2013). [https://deadline.com/2013/05/dreamworks-animation-agrees-to-pay-33m-for-awesomenesstv-487571/ DreamWorks Animation Agrees To Pay $33M+ For AwesomenessTV] . ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]''.</ref>

The following month, DWA announced a multi-year content deal to provide 300 hours of exclusive original content to the [[video on demand]] Internet [[streaming media]] provider, [[Netflix]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Szalai|first1=George|title=Netflix to Air New DreamWorks Animation Shows|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/netflix-air-new-dreamworks-animation-569874|access-date=October 12, 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 17, 2013|archive-date=October 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025110613/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/netflix-air-new-dreamworks-animation-569874|url-status=live}}</ref> Part of the intent of the deal was in part to establish a more reliable income for DWA to defray the financial risk of solely relying on the theatrical film market.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://zolmax.com/netflix-secures-deal-with-dreamworks-for-new-shows-nasdaqnflx/75785/ |title=» Netflix Secures Deal With DreamWorks For New Shows (NASDAQ:NFLX) |website=Zolmax |date=June 28, 2013 |access-date=July 8, 2013 |archive-date=July 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703072015/http://zolmax.com/netflix-secures-deal-with-dreamworks-for-new-shows-nasdaqnflx/75785/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The next day, DWA completed a five-year licensing agreement with [[Super RTL]] to start that September for the Classic Media library and the Netflix slate.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Spangler|first1=Todd|title=DreamWorks Animation Sees $100m Revenue This Year From Netflix, Other TV Deals|url=https://variety.com/2013/digital/news/dreamworks-animation-sees-100m-revenue-this-year-from-netflix-other-tv-deals-1200498406/|access-date=October 12, 2014|work=Variety|date=June 18, 2013|archive-date=December 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219135542/http://variety.com/2013/digital/news/dreamworks-animation-sees-100m-revenue-this-year-from-netflix-other-tv-deals-1200498406/|url-status=live}}</ref> With the Netflix and Super RTL deals in place for television, DWA announced executive hiring for its new television group, DreamWorks Animation Television in late July. Former Nickelodeon senior executive Margie Cohn became Head of Television for the group.<ref>{{cite news|last=Graser|first=Marc|title=Nickelodeon Vet Marjorie Cohn to Run DreamWorks Animation Television|url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/news/nickelodeon-vet-marjorie-cohn-to-run-dreamworks-animation-television-1200570293/|access-date=August 5, 2013|newspaper=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=July 31, 2013|archive-date=August 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130803162608/http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/nickelodeon-vet-marjorie-cohn-to-run-dreamworks-animation-television-1200570293/|url-status=live}}</ref> In September that same year, DreamWorks announced that it has acquired the television library of London-based [[Chapman Entertainment]] with the programs to distributed through DWA's UK-based television distribution operation.<ref>{{cite news |last=Vivarelli |first=Nick |title=DreamWorks Animation Buys Chapman Entertainment Library |url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/news/dreamworks-animation-buys-chapman-entertainment-library-1200616294/# |access-date=November 14, 2013 |newspaper=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=September 18, 2013 |archive-date=November 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131124050141/http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/dreamworks-animation-buys-chapman-entertainment-library-1200616294/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The next year, in February, DreamWorks announced the foundation of a new publishing division called '''DreamWorks Press''', to publish books in print and digital form.<ref>{{cite news |last=Trachtenberg |first=Jeffrey A. |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304450904579369402273047942 |title=DreamWorks Animation Creates Children's Books Imprint |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=February 10, 2014 |access-date=February 10, 2014 |archive-date=April 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413033722/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304450904579369402273047942 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June, the rights to [[Felix the Cat]] were acquired by DreamWorks Animation from Felix the Cat Productions, owned by Don Oriolo.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/dreamworks-animation-acquires-rights-to-felix-the-cat-1201221646/|title=DreamWorks Animation Buys Felix the Cat|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=June 17, 2014|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=June 17, 2014|archive-date=June 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628204955/https://variety.com/2014/film/news/dreamworks-animation-acquires-rights-to-felix-the-cat-1201221646/|url-status=live}}</ref> The same month, [[DreamWorksTV (YouTube channel)|DreamWorksTV]] channel debuted on YouTube and operated by AwesomenessTV.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Verrier|first1=Richard|last2=Chang|first2=Andrea|title=DreamWorks Animation launches family-oriented YouTube channel|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-dreamworks-animation-youtube-20140617-story.html|access-date=June 18, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 17, 2014|archive-date=June 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617233712/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-dreamworks-animation-youtube-20140617-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> DreamWorks Animation then purchased Paramount's distribution rights to the pre-2013 library in July, and since then, DreamWorks Animation's then-distribution partner 20th Century Fox has distributed the library on their behalf until 2018, in which DreamWorks Animation's parent company [[Universal Pictures]] has assumed these responsibilities.<ref name="VarietyQ22014Earnings" />

The studio was reported to be acquired twice in the end of 2014. First, it was reported in September that the Japanese conglomerate [[SoftBank Group|SoftBank]] was in talks to acquire DreamWorks Animation for a price of $3.4 billion,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Krolicki|first1=Kevin|last2=Bansal|first2=Paritosh|title=Japan's SoftBank in talks to buy DreamWorks: source|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dreamworks-anim-softbank-idUSKCN0HN03F20140928|access-date=November 15, 2014|work=Reuters.com|publisher=Thomson Reuters|date=September 28, 2014|archive-date=March 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311014334/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-dreamworks-anim-softbank-idUSKCN0HN03F20140928|url-status=live}}</ref> but the next day, it was reported that SoftBank had withdrawn its offer.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schwartzel|first1=Erich|last2=Mattioli|first2=Dana|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/softbank-dreamworks-animation-talks-cool-1412025651|title=SoftBank, DreamWorks Animation Talks Cool|date=September 29, 2014|access-date=November 15, 2014|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|archive-date=December 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230233858/http://www.wsj.com/articles/softbank-dreamworks-animation-talks-cool-1412025651|url-status=live}}</ref> Next on November 12, it was reported that [[Hasbro]] was in talks to buy DreamWorks Animation in November. The proposal reportedly calls for the combined company to take the name "DreamWorks-Hasbro" and for Jeffrey Katzenberg to become its chairman, but as a matter of policy, neither Hasbro nor DWA publicly comment on mergers and acquisitions.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lieberman|first1=David|last2=Patten|first2=Dominic|title=DreamWorks Animation & Hasbro In Merger Talks; Deal With Hearst Looming|url=https://deadline.com/2014/11/dreamworks-animation-hasbro-merger-negotiations-in-works-1201282751/|access-date=November 15, 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|date=November 12, 2014|archive-date=November 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115075936/http://deadline.com/2014/11/dreamworks-animation-hasbro-merger-negotiations-in-works-1201282751/|url-status=live}}</ref> Two days later, the talks were reported to have fallen through.<ref>{{cite news|last1=de la Merced|first1=Michael J.|last2=Barnes|first2=Brooks|title=Hasbro Said to End Talks to Take Over DreamWorks Animation|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/11/14/hasbro-said-to-end-talks-to-take-over-dreamworks-animation/|access-date=November 15, 2014|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 14, 2014|archive-date=November 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115103415/http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/11/14/hasbro-said-to-end-talks-to-take-over-dreamworks-animation/|url-status=live}}</ref>

DreamWorks Animation announced their launch into the television broadcasting business on December 9, 2014, by creating their own channel called the [[DreamWorks Channel]]. With [[HBO Asia]] handling affiliate sales, marketing and technical services, the network launched in several Asian countries (except China and Japan) in the second half of 2015.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bond|first1=Paul|title=DreamWorks Animation to Launch TV Channel in Asia|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-animation-launch-tv-channel-755631|access-date=December 10, 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 9, 2014|archive-date=June 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629023717/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-animation-launch-tv-channel-755631|url-status=live}}</ref> The channel first premiered in English on August 1, 2015, and a [[Thai language|Thai]]-dubbed channel launched in September 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=DreamWorks to launch first dedicated channel in Thailand|first=David|last=Blecken|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/dreamworks-launch-first-dedicated-channel-thailand/1358017|access-date=August 3, 2015|work=Campaign|date=July 29, 2015|archive-date=August 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813204355/http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/dreamworks-launch-first-dedicated-channel-thailand/1358017|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in December, DWA sold a 25% stake in AwesomenessTV for $81.25 million to the [[Hearst Communications|Hearst Corporation]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Verrier|first1=Richard|title=Hearst Corp. buys 25% stake in AwesomenessTV|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-dreamworks-hearst-20141211-story.html|access-date=December 16, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 11, 2014|archive-date=December 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216062614/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-dreamworks-hearst-20141211-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 5, 2015, DreamWorks Animation announced that [[Bonnie Arnold]], producer of the ''[[How to Train Your Dragon]]'' series and [[Mireille Soria]], producer of the ''[[Madagascar (franchise)|Madagascar]]'' series were named co-presidents of the studio's feature animation division. At the same time, it was also announced that [[Bill Damaschke]] would step down from his position as Chief Creative Officer. So far, under Arnold and Soria's current tenure they signed [[Jason Reitman]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/jason-reitman-beekle-book-adaptation-dreamworks-animation-1201433534/|title=Jason Reitman Takes On 'Beekle' Book Adaptation For DreamWorks Animation|first=Dominic|last=Patten|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 27, 2015|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=December 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214132210/https://deadline.com/2015/05/jason-reitman-beekle-book-adaptation-dreamworks-animation-1201433534/|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Edgar Wright]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/634723-edgar-wright-to-direct-dreamworks-animations-movie-on-shadows|title=Edgar Wright to Direct DreamWorks Animation's Movie on Shadows|date=November 19, 2015|work=ComingSoon.net|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=February 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211210406/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/634723-edgar-wright-to-direct-dreamworks-animations-movie-on-shadows|url-status=live}}</ref> to work on their own animation debuts. Two weeks later, PDI/DreamWorks completely shut down as part of its parent company's larger restructuring efforts due to the box office underperformance of ''[[Mr. Peabody & Sherman]]'' and ''[[Penguins of Madagascar]]'' (both 2014), cutting 500 jobs.<ref>{{cite news|title=BREAKING: DreamWorks Will Shut Down PDI/DreamWorks Studio; 500 Jobs Will Be Eliminated|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/business/breaking-dreamworks-animation-will-shut-down-pdidreamworks-studio-over-500-jobs-will-be-eliminated-108161.html|newspaper=Cartoon Brew|date=January 22, 2015|first=Amid |author-link=Amid Amidi|last=Amidi|access-date=June 29, 2020|archive-date=July 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730024759/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/business/breaking-dreamworks-animation-will-shut-down-pdidreamworks-studio-over-500-jobs-will-be-eliminated-108161.html|url-status=live}}</ref>