Today: DreamWorks Turns 21, Founded in 1994

DreamWorks Animation, founded in 1994 as DreamWorks SKG, turns 21 today, reminding us all that DreamWorks is, in fact, a '90s child. DreamWorks Animation started small, putting its first animated film out almost 4 years after being founded, but - despite recent financial hardship - has since established itself as a stronghold of animation.

Right to left: Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen. Photo Credit: Art Streiber

DreamWorks Animation was founded by Steven Spielberg, who brought over talent from Amblimation; David Geffen, a music executive and business magnate who produced such films as Beetlejuice and Little Shop of Horrors; and Jeffrey Katzenberg, a disgruntled but majorly talented Disney executive. Although the studio began with computer-generated animation, it did persevere in traditional animation until the box office failure of Sinbad in 2003. 

DreamWorks Animation (SKG)'s first feature film, Antz (1998), was the second computer-generated feature film ever, after Pixar's Toy Story, and was released about a month and a half before Pixar's A Bug's Life. The controversy of story similarity landed DreamWorks, and especially Katzenberg, in hot water with Pixar's Lasseter; A Bug's Life won out in the box office against Antz, but the film established DreamWorks Animation as a power-studio, one unafraid to push boundaries. Since then, DreamWorks Animation has created over 28 feature films, four of which became unique and virulent film franchises, including Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and How To Train Your Dragon.

Home is DreamWorks Animation's most recent film, released this year in March, and the film features two outcasts from different planetary societies who find each other and embark on an adventure of hilarity and heartwarming wisdom. The film earned $386 million in the box office against Disney's live-action Cinderella remake and Divergent's sequel, Insurgent. Along with the box office success, the film was a success for the studio's creativity, as it marked the first original film not spun off from a previous franchise since Turbo in 2013. Because of DreamWorks' financial problems recently, its upcoming film slate has significantly fewer such films and more sequels or spin-offs of current, commercially successful franchises. Take a look back at DreamWorks Animation's first feature film, Antz, below and, in celebration of the studio's birthday, be sure to check out Home, a fun and beautifully animated film. 

Stay tuned for a look back at some live-action television, more Halloween fun, and a movie adventure next week! And don't forget to vote on the poll to choose the best Film of the Week this month!