Atlanta-Based Animation Studio Primal Screen To Shut Down After 30 Years

Design and animation studio Primal Screen, an entrenched part of Atlanta’s broadcast-driven animation scene, is closing shop after thirty years of operation, the owners of the company announced this week.

In a post on Linkedin, Primal Screen said it would wrap down operations by the end of May. The company, whose current CEO is Giulia Bundesmann, did not provide a reason for why it was shutting down.

Primal Screen was started by Douglass Grimmett around 1995 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The company initially focused on animated music videos and advertising, but discovered a more lucrative niche after relocating to Atlanta: on-air branding. Primal Screen formed a particularly close relationship with the then-fledgling Cartoon Network, part of the Turner Broadcasting Systems empire, headquartered out of Atlanta, and produced thousands of IDs, bumpers, and promos for the cartoon broadcaster throughout the years.

In addition to its work for CN, Primal Screen was involved in the on-air branding for the launch of Boomerang, the launch of Voom HD’s Animania (touted as the first global hi-def animation network), a relaunch of Nick Jr., and the launch of Sprout. The company also had a decades-long relationship with PBS Kids and rebranded their on-air graphics at least a half-dozen times.

Dozens of former employees are sharing memories about their time at the studio on the company’s Linkedin page. The official statement on Primal Screen’s closure can be read in its entirety below:

Every great story comes to an end.

We started Primal Screen to do stunning work with people we love. In the past 30 years, we’ve collaborated with amazing clients who trusted us with their audience. Together we never lost sight of the power of playful storytelling. And we’ve told a lot of stories.

At the end of May, Primal Screen’s story comes to a close. We cannot even begin to express how grateful we are for all the opportunities, friendships, and beautiful work we’ve been part of. Although we are no longer accepting new projects, the remarkably talented artists and producers who made us great will continue to create smart, fun, extraordinary work. You’ll be so happy if you welcome one of them into your organization, guaranteed!

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s shared this adventure with us. Your support and creativity have been the heart of Primal Screen.

Some examples of Primal Screen’s work can be viewed below: