Born in Belgium, raised in Toronto and New York, Michael Hirsh is a co-founder of animation companies including Nelvana, Cookie Jar Entertainment, and Wow! Unlimited.
He is also the producer of series such as Babar, The Adventures of Tintin, Rolie Poli Olie, Beetlejuice, The Magic Schoolbus, Franklin, Little Bear among many many others. He also produced the animated short The Story of the Faithful Wookie which introduced the character Boba Fett during the Star Wars Christmas special.
Animation Nation is his behind-the-scenes account of working with such famous cartoon franchises as Babar, The Adventures of Tintin, Berenstain Bears, Franklin, The Magic School Bus, and Beetlejuice, and larger-than-life personalities including Roseanne Barr, Mr. T., Deborah Harry, and Tim Burton.
It is not just a memoir; it’s a celebration of the power of creativity and perseverance. Packed with humor and hard-won wisdom, Hirsh’s narrative is a testament to how passion and entrepreneurial zeal can build a global empire from humble beginnings.
Hirsh’s work left an indelible mark not only on the animation industry but also on children around the world. Through Hirsh’s vision and perseverance, he brought these characters off the page and into children’s living rooms where children could immerse themselves in the world of their beloved animated friends.
All in all, Michael Hirsh produced and created over 6,000 episodes of children’s TV programming. These programs ran on every children’s network and cable channel around the world. He understood the secret ingredient needed to captivate children with entertaining shows that parents would wholeheartedly endorse and enjoy.
ANIMATION NATION: How We Built a Cartoon Empire, published by The Sutherland House Inc., takes readers on a journey through the rise of one of the world’s most influential independent animation companies, in addition to his follow-up enterprises, including Cookie Jar Entertainment and WOW! Unlimited Media.
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