Andy Heyward

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Photo of Andy Heyward.
Photograph of Andy Heyward in 2010.

Andrew B. Heyward, more commonly known as Andy Heyward, is a long-time animation producer who was chairman of DiC Entertainment for most of its existence. Due to DiC's cost-cutting philosophy and the tendency of DiC alumni to become successful in the animation business, Andy Heyward has been nicknamed the "Roger Corman of animation".[1]

History[edit]

Howard Stevens (played by Andy Heyward) in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
Heyward as Howard Stevens in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

Heyward started his career in the animation business as a writer for Hanna-Barbera, but left to become head of the newly-formed American division of the French animation producer DIC in 1982. Although initially intended to simply distribute and translate DIC's productions, the American chapter soon expanded and started to develop successful properties on its own (most notably, Inspector Gadget). Andy Heyward acquired the company from founder Jean Chalopin in 1987, making DiC a purely American operation.

Andy Heyward approached Nintendo with the proposal to make the Super Mario animated series,[2] and was executive producer on all three shows. Heyward also played the role of Howard Stevens in the The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! live-action segment "The Painting", and appeared as himself in a segment of Club Mario, where he was harassed by Tommy Treehugger and Co-MC while visiting DiC's studio.

Works[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Mallory, Michael (August 23, 2013). "The University of DIC". Animation Magazine. Retrieved July 10, 2016
  2. ^ Canoe: Super Mario Bros. Super Show hit a high score
  3. ^ UCLA Film Archive