Glitch Productions

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Glitch Productions Pty. Ltd.
Glitch Productions
FormerlyGlitchy Boy (2017–2018)
Company typePrivate
IndustryAnimation
Founded24 May 2017; 6 years ago (2017-05-24) (As Glitchy Boy)
5 September 2018; 5 years ago (2018-09-05) (As Glitch Productions)
Founders
  • Kevin Lerdwichagul
  • Luke Lerdwichagul
Headquarters
Sydney, New South Wales
,
Australia
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Products
ServicesComputer animation
Web series
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2020–present
Subscribers10 million[1]
Total views929 million[1]
100,000 subscribers2020
1,000,000 subscribers2022
10,000,000 subscribers2024
Last updated: 11 May 2024
Websiteglitchprod.com

Glitch Productions Pty. Ltd. (also known as Glitch, and formerly Glitchy Boy or Glitchy Boy Productions) is an Australian independent computer animation studio based in Sydney, New South Wales. The studio was founded in 2017 by producer Kevin Lerdwichagul and animator Luke Lerdwichagul, who is known for his machinima sketch comedy web series SMG4.

Glitch is known for producing web animated series such as Meta Runner, Murder Drones, and The Amazing Digital Circus. The company was featured in Forbes's 30 Under 30 list for Media, Marketing, and Advertising in 2023.[2]

History[edit]

Background[edit]

Co-founder Luke Lerdwichagul started making videos in 2009. On 7 May 2011, at the age of 11, Luke created his first web series; a Super Mario 64-based machinima later to be known as SMG4 (an acronym of his YouTube channel name, "SuperMarioGlitchy4").[3] Produced using footage from an emulated version of Super Mario 64, the series originally focused Mario and other characters from the greater Mario franchise going on adventures that often involve parodies of internet memes and pop culture; such as competing in a version of Squid Game.[4] Overtime, the series would begin using Garry's Mod as a base, and featured a more prominent cast of original characters.

Around 2016, Luke's older brother, Kevin Lerdwichagul, had observed the channel and its wide audience. He saw the potential to form a business around the channel, later joining SMG4 as a full-time writer and producer. Luke took on a directing role, as well as voicing his titular author surrogate character.[5] In interviews, the brothers have acknowledged their use of copyrighted characters from Nintendo and other third-parties in their videos. However, they were always careful to never place such characters in hateful or defamatory context.[4][6]

Formation[edit]

The studio logo, used from September 2018 to November 2023

On 24 May 2017, Luke uploaded a fan mail video to the SMG4 channel, where he briefly mentioned that he founded a company, dubbed Glitchy Boy, to represent the SMG4, Hobo Bros., and "TheAwesomeMario" YouTube channels.[7] On 5 September 2018, a more formal announcement video was uploaded called "SMG4 Direct (HUGE CHANNEL UPDATE)", where Luke and Kevin fully explained the concept of their company, now rebranded as Glitch Productions. During the video, they also unveiled Hitbox, a live-action series starring Kevin and Luke acting as various Nintendo characters.[8]

On 5 December 2018, following multiple teasers on the SMG4 channel, Glitch released the trailer for Meta Runner on 25 July 2019.[9] The series was funded by Screen Australia, and became the top-performing online investment from the company, racking up 10 million+ viewers across its first season.[10] The first season was also financed with support from Crunchyroll and AMD,[11] and financed in association with Epic Games.[11][12] On 20 April 2020, Screen Australia announced that they would be funding a second season of Meta Runner.[13] On 27 August 2020, Glitch launched its own official YouTube channel.[14]

2021–present[edit]

On 12 March 2021, Glitch unveiled an SMG4 spin-off centred on Meggy Spletzer called Sunset Paradise. The pilot would be released on 26 March 2021.[15] On 12 May 2021, Sunset Paradise received online production funding from Screen Australia.[16] Despite this, by August of the same year, the SMG4 series would no longer be credited to Glitch Productions.[17]

On 9 October 2021, it was announced that Glitch would be releasing a pilot titled Murder Drones on 29 October, created, written, and directed by Liam Vickers.[18][19]

On 1 September 2023, Glitch announced that they would be hosting "GlitchX", an indie animation expo on 9 November 2023.[20] Ahead of the convention, Glitch Productions released the pilot for The Amazing Digital Circus, a series created in collaboration with Gooseworx on 13 October 2023.[21][22]

Controversy and criticism[edit]

In March 2024, Glitch was accused of firing the voice actress for Tari in Meta Runner and SMG4, Celeste Notley-Smith, in a callous manner after she was recast with Lottie Bourne in which led additional allegations against the studio, and confusion among the fans. Notley-Smith wrote on Twitter that she was not notified of her role being recast. Several days later, she released a statement in which she explained that after discovering she had been recast, she reached out to Luke and Kevin, asking why she was removed from her role without contact from the team.[23]

The studio also has allegations of longer hours, blacklisting of ex-employees, and harassment, though those claims have been considered dubious. Kevin Lerdwichagul released a statement claiming that the studio had issues prior due to being short-staffed, but had largely solved worker conditions issues by 2023. The response to worker's rights was largely accepted, though many fans were still concerned that Notley-Smith's firing was never addressed.[24]

Programming[edit]

Current[edit]

Title Creator(s) Premiere date Current season Note(s) Ref(s)
SMG4 Luke Lerdwichagaul 8 May 2011 — Produced as an independent project from 2011-2017 [5]
Murder Drones Liam Vickers 29 October 2021 1 [19]
The Amazing Digital Circus Gooseworx 13 October 2023 1 [25]

Upcoming[edit]

Title Creator(s) Premiere date Ref(s)
The Gaslight District Nick Szopko TBA [26]

Former[edit]

Title Creator(s) Premiere date Finale date Note(s)
TheAwesomeMario Kevin Lerdwichagul
Luke Lerdwichagul 		14 July 2013 31 December 2017 YouTube channel featuring SMG4-related shorts and other content. The channel was created on 12 July 2013, two days prior to the release of the super mario 64 bloopers: youtube mario? episode, and was originally run by Mario in-universe.[27]
Hobo Bros. 3 December 2016 31 December 2020 (On indefinite hiatus) YouTube channel involving Let's Play and reactions
Hitbox Kevin Lerdwichagul 21 September 2018 20 December 2019 Live action series
Meta Runner Kevin Lerdwichagul
Luke Lerdwichagul 		25 July 2019 9 September 2022 The first season was uploaded on the SMG4 channel, with two subsequent seasons uploaded on the GLITCH channel
Sunset Paradise 26 March 2021 30 July 2021 Spin-off of SMG4

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "About GLITCH". YouTube.
  2. ^ "Forbes 30 Under 30 2023: Media, Marketing, and Advertising". Forbes.
  3. ^ "SMG4". YouTube.
  4. ^ a b Asarch, Steven (26 January 2022). "The trippiest gamer on YouTube reveals the one line he'll never cross". Inverse. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  5. ^ a b Walker, Alex (26 July 2019). "Inside The Mario House That SMG4 Built". Kotaku.
  6. ^ "SMG4". Glitch Productions. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Big Things Are Happening (AND TONS OF AWESOME FAN ART!) - SMG4 Mail Time #10". YouTube. 24 May 2017.
  8. ^ "SMG4 Direct (HUGE CHANNEL UPDATE)". YouTube. 5 September 2018.
  9. ^ "Youtubers Kevin, Luke Lerdwichagul release Meta Runner online animated series". Daily Telegraph. 16 July 2019.
  10. ^ Hennessy, James (21 February 2020). "The world of film and TV is changing rapidly. Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason explains how the funding body keeps up". Business Insider Australia. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020.
  11. ^ a b Wright, Steve (25 June 2019). "Meta Runner is an anime funded by Screen Australia, Epic, AMD". Stevivor. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  12. ^ Takahashi, Dean (18 March 2019). "Epic Games awards $500,000 in final Unreal Dev Grants". VentureBeat. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  13. ^ Leah Williams (20 April 2020). "Screen Australia Funds Second Series For Aussie Esports Drama Meta Runner". Kotaku.
  14. ^ Glitch Productions (27 August 2020). "WELCOME TO GLITCH!". YouTube.
  15. ^ "Sunset Paradise (Official Trailer)". YouTube. 12 March 2021.
  16. ^ Sean Slatter (12 May 2021). "Screen Australia announces $1.3 million in online production funding across five projects". IF Magazine.
  17. ^ "SMG4: If Mario Was In... Anime". YouTube. 7 August 2021.
  18. ^ Rouse, Lauren (26 October 2021). "This Aussie Animation Studio Has Made a New Horror Comedy About Murder Drones". Gizmodo.
  19. ^ a b John Schwarz (9 October 2021). "Glitch Productions Reveals Murder Drones Complete With New Teaser". BubbleBlabber.
  20. ^ Jamie Lang (7 November 2023). "Glitch Expo Will Live Stream Conversations With Indie Animation's Hottest Creators This Thursday". Cartoon Brew.
  21. ^ Schwarz, John (27 January 2023). "GLITCH PRODUCTIONS DATES MURDER DRONES EPISODE THREE ; ANNOUNCES NEW SERIES". BubbleBlabber.
  22. ^ Valens, Ana (25 October 2023). "Where and How To Watch 'The Amazing Digital Circus'". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  23. ^ Ulatowski, Rachel (12 March 2024). "Breaking Down the Toxic Work Environment Allegations Against Glitch Productions". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  24. ^ Schwarz, John (6 March 2024). "Glitch Productions CEO Releases Statement Following Allegations". Bubbleblabber. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  25. ^ Valens, Ana (25 October 2023). "Where and How To Watch 'The Amazing Digital Circus'". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  26. ^ "GLITCHX 2023". YouTube. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  27. ^ "super mario 64 bloopers: youtube mario?". YouTube. 14 July 2017.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Glitch_Productions&oldid=1224891297"