Iconic Gumby Franchise Acquired by Fox Entertainment: ‘Welcome One And All’
By Movieguide® Staff
Fox Entertainment recently acquired the rights to the iconic Gumby character and franchise.
“The original series had some very overt Christian episodes,” said Movieguide® Founder and Publisher Dr. Ted Baehr.
Fox closed the deal with Gumby creator Art Clokey’s son, Joseph Clokey.
Variety reported: “It gives Fox all rights to Gumby and associated characters across film, television and streaming, consumer products, licensing, publishing, and all other categories.”
The acquisition comes when the fight for new media content is at its highest.
“Competition for globally recognized intellectual property is fierce,” Charlie Collier, CEO of Fox Entertainment, said. “Uncovering this gem, with its built-in awareness and affinity, and bringing it to Fox, adds meaningful value and creative possibilities to the IP itself and to multiple divisions of our company. Fox is proud to be home to these iconic characters. Welcome one and all.”
Art Clokey’s 1953 short film, GUMBASIA, featured the iconic clay, stop-motion animation style which caught the eye of producer Sam Engel.
Clokey created Gumby and other characters for the pilot episode of THE GUMBY SHOW called “Gumby on the Moon” in 1955. NBC would pick up Clokey’s first series in 1956 and help finance another show called GUMBY ADVENTURES.
Gumby also received a feature-length movie in 1995 called GUMBY: THE MOVIE.
Clokey was also known for DAVEY AND GOLIATH, a series that ran—on and off—from 1960 to 2004 and sought to teach children biblical and moral lessons.
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