Toronto animation house Cuppa Coffee says it has turned down a sale offer of US$38 million from a consortium between a Japanese broadcaster and a U.S. network. The deal, put forward in the summer, reportedly included the cost of opening a new Cuppa studio in Tokyo catering to the Asian market and came with certain performance clauses.

Although Cuppa owner and executive producer Adam Shaheen says he was flattered by the deal, which would have seen him continuing to run the shop, he feels the expansion would have taken Cuppa off the right track.

‘The second the people who have assessed your company to be a money-making opportunity for them come in, they’re not in it for anything other than that,’ Shaheen says. ‘It’s not for the good of the kiddies or to further any passions or desires internally for designers and directors.’

Cuppa, which produces animation for the short- and long-form worlds, moved into a new 50,000-square-foot, purpose-built facility in August. For Shaheen, that is expansion enough for the foreseeable future, as he points to other companies that have gotten so big so quickly that they are now experiencing hard times. He is also seeing a rash of individuals in animation with dollar signs in their eyes.

‘I started as an illustrator, and that has never gone away,’ he says. ‘There’s just too many people in this biz who should be selling cell phones in the Eaton Centre.’

Shaheen explains that he is publicizing his refusal of the lucrative sale offer as a sign of strength at Cuppa, which currently employs more than 140 people.

Cuppa’s slate for the new year includes two shorts for Sesame Street and a 2D pilot for a U.S. major.

Cuppa also reports that it’s in final negotiations for two other kids series set to go into production in early 2003.

-www.cuppacoffee.com

Bastedo out of the Loop

Partner Jeff Bastedo has left Toronto animation and design provider Loop Media. Bastedo, who had served as creative director since the company’s launch in 1995, has moved on to form Big Fat Toe, a shop specializing in character animation and development for series, features and the Internet. Loop says Bastedo’s departure was amicable.

With Bastedo gone, Loop partner Sonja Perovic becomes president of the company. Craig Kirkham has been appointed the new creative director and Australian Aaron White joins as head of design.

Loop is refocusing on broadcast design and spots, and is currently working on projects for clients Molson and Rogers. It is also rebranding channels for Astral Media as well as its own corporate look.

‘We’re looking to revamp our image and we’ve got some great new players on board,’ says Perovic. ‘It’s been really exciting.’

-www.loopmedia.com