Larry Schwarz

Larry Schwarz (born January 20, 1970) is an American animation producer, entrepreneur, writer, and photographer. He was the founder and CEO of now-defunct cartoon studio Animation Collective.[1][2] He is best known for creating Kappa Mikey.[3]

Larry Schwarz
Born (1970-01-20) January 20, 1970
Alma materUniversity of Pennsylvania
Cardozo School of Law
OccupationProducer
Years active1997–present

Early life

Schwarz was born in 1970.[4] He was a child actor and stand-up comedian and enjoyed playing with puppets.[5][6] Schwarz is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.[7]

Career

After attending law school, Schwarz realized that he wanted more playfulness in his career causing him to start a toy brand.[6]

Rumpus Toys

In 1996, while still living with his parents, Schwarz began designing his own plush toys under the Rumpus brand, an online-only toy company. By winter of 1997, he was able to produce a small lot of his toys in China.[4]

His toys were insulted by representatives of Toys R Us and his phone calls were not returned. However, specialty toy chain FAO Schwarz expressed interest for the unique toys and ordered 60 dolls for their flagship store in Manhattan. Demand for Rumpus toys increased when TV host Kathie Lee Gifford displayed organ-themed plush toy Gus Gutz on her show, after which Noodle Kidoodle and eToys.com began to invest in the brand. At this point, the Rumpus company was worth $1 million and had 9 employees.[4][6]

In 1998, Rumpus participated in the New York International Toy Fair.[6]

By 1999, the Rumpus toy brand was worth $15 million. With a staff of 36 in a polka-dotted company headquarters in the Flatiron District,[4] Schwarz founded the Rumpus website, which housed toy sales as well as original Flash animations produced in-house.[8] Toys designed by Schwarz included friendly Monster in My Closet, organ-displaying Gus Gutz, programmable alarm clock toy Wake Me Willy and Harry Hairball.[6]

Schwarz's goal was for Rumpus to become an entertainment brand that created animated films alongside toy sales, "like Disney."[9][10]

Rumpus is now defunct and its former site, Rumpus.com, is no longer accessible.[11]

Animation Collective
Main article: Animation Collective

Larry Schwarz was the CEO of now-defunct Animation Collective. He produced Kappa Mikey (and its spin-off Dancing Sushi), Thumb Wrestling Federation, Leader Dog: The Series, Tortellini Western: The Series, Three Delivery, and Speed Racer: The Next Generation for Nicktoons Network and Ellen's Acres, HTDT, and Princess Natasha for Cartoon Network. In addition, Schwarz served as producer of Wulin Warriors for Cartoon Network and the first season of The Incredible Crash Dummies for the Fox Box. Animation Collective was also the leading multi-platform content provider for kids and teens to America Online.

Larry Schwarz and his Band

Currently, Schwarz is the CEO of Larry Schwarz and His Band, which produces Alien Dawn for Nicktoons Network and Team Toon for Cartoon Network. Both series, produced in partnership with Fremantle Media Kids and Family Entertainment, were created by Schwarz.

In February 2020, Schwarz announced that he is producing Dinosaur, Mermaid, Racecar, Pufferfish along with Believe Entertainment Group.[3]

Publications

Schwarz co-wrote the young adult novel Romeo, Juliet and Jim along with Elise Allen.[12]

He is also a photographer who has published male photography work in books and online.[13]

References
  1. Calvert, Sandra L.; Wilson, Barbara J. (2010-12-13). The Handbook of Children, Media, and Development. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-4443-3694-8.
  2. Milligan, Mercedes (2017-10-16). "Handmade Films Sells Animation Collective Back to Founder Larry Schwarz". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
  3. Wiseman, Andreas (11 February 2020). "'Dear Basketball' Exec-Producer Believe Entertainment Teams With Rock Hill Media & Larry Schwarz For Kids Series". Deadline.
  4. Stoughton, Stephanie. "Little Guy Makes a Rumpus In the Big World of Toys". www.washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post Company. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  5. Liu, Ed (27 June 2008). "Toon Zone Interviews Larry Schwarz on "Three Delivery"". Anime Superhero News. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  6. Ross, Tamie (11 April 1998). "Toymaker's Creations Foster Kids' Imaginations". Oklahoman.com.
  7. "Kidscreen Summit 2021 - Larry Schwarz". summit.kidscreen.com.
  8. Dannacher, Lee. "A Rumpus On The Net". Animation World Network. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  9. Goldman, Abigail (10 April 2000). "Rumpus Toys Plays Contrarian, Pulls Products for Web Exclusive". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  10. "Rumpus goes from just toys into movies, cartoons and more". Brainerd Dispatch. 1 April 2000.
  11. "Rumpus".
  12. "Rights Report: Week of March 10, 2014". PublishersWeekly.com. Publishers Weekly.
  13. Schwarz, Larry (April 22, 2014). The Book of Ash. p. 170. ISBN 9781320057202.
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