Nerd Corps Entertainment is a Vancouver-based Canadian animation studio specializing in CGI animation that was established in 2002 by former Mainframe Entertainment producers Asaph Fipke and Chuck Johnson.
They are best known for creating All-CGI Cartoons like Slugterra, Storm Hawks, and League of Super Evil, almost all of which bear a distinctive visual style that uses 2D sensibilities. Many of them are troperrific Saturday Morning-style action shows that run on Rule of Cool and Rule of Fun, but they've also done a few episodic comedies and even preschool-aimed series. Most of their shows were originally aired on and created for various Canadian kids' networks, including Teletoon, YTV, WildBrainTV, and CBC Kids, becoming among those channels' best-known staples. Outside of Canada, their shows were typically handled by Cartoon Network or Disney XD (and its predecessor Toon Disney). All of their properties are produced and developed entirely in-house, right down to the promotional materials and creative services for merchandising and licensing.
It was acquired by DHX Media in 2014, and as of 2016, Nerd Corps Entertainment is now under the generic DHX Media name alongside fellow Vancouver-based cartoon creators Studio B Productions, which they now share an office space with.
Productions include:
- Dragon Booster (2004–2006)
- Storm Hawks (2007–2009)
- League of Super Evil (2009–2012)
- Hot Wheels: Battle Force 5 (2009–2011) - co-produced with Nelvana and Mattel
- Rated "A" for Awesome (2011–2012)
- Slugterra (2012–2016)
- Monster High (2012–2016) - movies only; co-produced with Mattel
- Max Steel (2013–2016) - co-produced with Mattel and Fremantle Media Kids and Family
- Kate & Mim-Mim (2014–2018) - co-produced with Fremantle Media Kids and Family; Season 2 done under DHX Media label
- Blaze and the Monster Machines (2014-present) - animation only; Season 2 done under DHX Media label
- Endangered Species (2015) - Final original series before total absorption into DHX Media Vancouver studio
- The Deep (2015) - animation only; produced under DHX Media label
- Mega Man: Fully Charged (2018-2019) - animation only; under DHX Media label
Their work provides examples of:
- All-CGI Cartoon: All of their original productions are animated in this style, and they have also provided the animation for many CGI cartoons.
- Domestic-Only Cartoon: All of their series are produced entirely in-house rather than being outsourced. Given that they started off as an animation studio for CGI work, this really isn't too surprising.
- Only So Many Canadian Actors: Lots of voice actors associated with The Ocean Group on their shows.
- Production Posse: Their original shows tend to feature a lot of the same people working on them.
- What Could Have Been: They were commissioned by Disney to create an animated Power Rangers series at one point back when Disney owned the franchise, and while they did get some concept art done, the project ultimately didn't get past that stage.
