Toonrush
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2003
- Employees
- 1-10
- Offices
- 3
About Toonrush
Toonrush is an independent Canadian digital entertainment studio working across animation, games and immersive media. Its production capabilities span 2D and 3D computer animation, character development, interactive entertainment, and virtual and augmented reality. The studio develops its own intellectual property alongside production services for television, films and digital platforms.
The business originated as March Entertainment in 2003 and restructured under the Toonrush name in 2013. Its creative roots extend to Chilly Beach, an early internet Flash series that moved to national television broadcast on CBC in 2003. The predecessor business developed a substantial animation and games catalogue through international productions and broadcaster collaborations. Toonrush continues to maintain and exploit this legacy catalogue while developing newer interactive projects.
Animation and storytelling
Animation services cover concept development, story editing, storyboarding, character design and rigging through to finished 2D and 3D production. The company's catalogue includes television series and feature films originally released under March Entertainment, including Mia and Me Season 1, Dex Hamilton: Alien Entomologist and Chilly Beach. Its development work also includes new animated properties, such as Pepe Pizza Movie, a food-world adventure featuring Piccolo the singing pickle.
Games and immersive media
Toonrush designs and produces casual browser, web and mobile games. Its game library includes Kawaii Fier, Monster Pet Palooza and The Wooden Horse Raceway. Further development projects include the science-fiction exploration and survival experience Terra Guano and the supernatural comedy racing franchise Coffin Racers.
The studio also develops virtual reality experiences, augmented reality applications, interactive environments and simulations. This work connects its character animation and storytelling background with emerging digital formats, including AI applications in media and immersive learning. Its markets encompass children's and family entertainment, broadcasting, digital streaming, games and educational technology. Across these areas, Toonrush combines original property development with the adaptation of characters and stories for multiple platforms.
More about Toonrush
Leadership
Dr. Dan Hawes is the founder and current CEO, with additional roles as executive producer and writer. His interdisciplinary academic work includes Carleton University and the University of Waterloo.
Operating model and technology collaboration
The report describes a boutique core team that scales with project contracts. The Accelerator Centre provides seed and accelerator backing for the business's technology development.
Toonrush works in synergy with Just Virtual, a separately branded venture founded and led by Hawes. Their emerging technology work includes conversational AI, VR-based cognitive priming frameworks and immersive learning environments.
Notable credits
27 creditsOffices
Current and former locations of Toonrush
- 25 William Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 4X9, CanadaStratford, Ontario, Canada
Stratford office
HeadquartersCorporate headquarters and primary production base.
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto office
- 140 Columbia Street West, Suite 403, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3K8, CanadaWaterloo, Ontario, Canada
Waterloo office
Research, development and technical innovation branch at The Accelerator Centre.
- 40 Larch Street, Suite 300, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 5M7, CanadaSudbury, Ontario, Canada
Sudbury office
Former officeOpened 2003 · Closed 2013
Historical March Entertainment animation production facility, retained under the documented company succession.
Open roles
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