Weston Woods Studios


Weston Woods Studios is a production company that makes audio and short films based on well-known books for children.
It was founded in 1953 by Morton Schindel in Weston, Connecticut, and named after the wooded area near his home. The company's first project was Andy and the Lion in 1954, and its first animated film was The Snowy Day in 1963. Starting in 1968, Weston Woods began a long collaboration with animator Gene Deitch and opened international offices in Henley-on-Thames, England, UK, in 1972; Canada in 1975; and Australia in 1977. In addition to making the films, the company also conducted interviews with the writers, illustrators, and makers of the films. The films appeared on children's television programs such as Captain Kangaroo, Pinwheel, The Great Space Coaster, Lunchbox, Eureeka's Castle, and Mister Moose's Fun Time. In the mid-1980s, the films were released on VHS under the Children's Circle titles, and Wood Knapp Video distributed these releases from 1988 to 1995.
Beginning in 1968, the company also made filmstrips and audio recordings synchronized to them, which became known as the Picture Book Parade. Many of these recordings were narrated by actor Owen Jordan and were often different or expanded recordings from the films.
In 1996, the company was acquired by Scholastic Corporation.

Selected filmography

In 2002, a DVD collection of Weston Woods films entitled Scholastic Video Collection was released. Many compilations of Weston Woods films have been released under the title Scholastic Storybook Treasures.