ArgosyMTM Group/TVTropes Creator page



Behold, the largest of Seattle's Mid-Majors.

The Argosy unit is an animation powerhouse and the longtime rival to Disney and DreamWorks. The company was founded as a "pulp fiction" magazine, got its hands into filmmaking in 1913 with a hostile takeover of the Edison Trust companies, and in 1930, opened up an animation studio to compete with the meteoric rise of Disney. Live-action content is centred around the UWN television network.

The MTM unit (also known as Mark VII Limited, Stephen J. Cannell Productions, Belisarius Productions, Chuck Lorre Productions, Big Ticket Television, and several other names) is responsible for 75% of live-action television, and also (through its ABS unit) produces anime which are distributed by Johnson Industries in the mainland USA. It also has a smaller Western animation unit, mainly targeting young girls.

Together, they make up one of the largest conglomerates in the world. The company and its parent organization, Multi, also manufacture household products (Newell Brands), operate retail stores (Sears, Kmart, Tandy), make art supplies for children (Crayola), own the Chuck E. Cheese restaurant chain, and have ties to a paramilitary group known as SELL (Security Enforcement and Local Logistics), as well as overseas assets in the UK (ICHC and TVS), El Kadsre (MatsuMedia), Singapore (MediaCorp), and Canada (Corus Entertainment).