DePatie–Freleng Enterprises
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| Partnership | |
| Industry | Animation |
| Fate | Partnership dissolved, Remaining assets acquired and re-branded by Marvel in 1981. Intellectual properties were acquired by various entites since Friz Freleng's death. |
| Successor | Marvel Productions |
| Founded | 1963 |
| Founder |
David H. DePatie Friz Freleng |
| Defunct | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Burbank, California |
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Key people
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David H. DePatie Friz Freleng |
| Products |
Television shows Theatrical shorts Television specials Title sequences Television commercials |
| Owner | David H. DePatie Friz Freleng |
DePatie–Freleng Enterprises (also known as Mirisch–Geoffrey–DePatie–Freleng Productions when involved with the Mirisch brothers and Geoffrey Productions; and DFE Films) was an American animation production company, active from 1963 to 1981. Based in Burbank, California, DFE produced theatrical cartoons, animated series, commercials, film title design sequences and television specials. Notable among these are The Pink Panther theatrical cartoons and movie title sequences and the Dr. Seuss television specials. Most DFE productions are now owned by Marvel Entertainment (a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company), with some exceptions.
DFE was founded by two former Warner Bros. Cartoons employees, director/composer/producer Friz Freleng and executive David H. DePatie, after Warner Bros. closed its animation studio in 1963. Although Freleng and DePatie were no longer working for Warner Bros., a generous gesture from a Warner executive allowed Freleng and DePatie to lease the former Warner cartoons studio on California Street in Burbank, complete with equipment and supplies for a few dollars each year. Although DFE's initial business was commercials and industrial films, several lucky breaks put the new studio into the theatrical cartoon business.
Director Blake Edwards contacted DFE and asked them to design a panther character for Edwards's new film, The Pink Panther. Pleased with the design for the character, Edwards contracted with DFE to produce the animated titles for the film. Upon the film's release, the titles garnered a tremendous amount of attention, so much that a large amount of the picture's gross is believed to have been generated by the success of DFE's title sequence.
DFE soon agreed to a contract with United Artists to produce a series of cartoon shorts featuring the Pink Panther, which would include over 100 shorts for both theatrical release and television through 1980. Also in 1964, Freleng and DePatie's old employer, Warner Bros., contracted with DFE to produce new Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for television.
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