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Michael Hirsh

Michael Hirsh

Production

Biography

Michael Hirsh is a Canadian producer born in Brussels, Belgium to Polish parents. His parents met at a dance in Brussels after the Holocaust. His family relocated to Canada when he was three year old. He attended York University in Toronto, Ontario. In 1971, Hirsh co-founded the animation studio Nelvana. In 2000, Nelvana was purchased by Corus Entertainment. Hirsh held the position CEO of Nelvana until 2002. In 2003, he led a group which purchased the animation company Cinar Corporation, rebranding it Cookie Jar Entertainment. In 2012, DHX Media acquired Cookie Jar and appointed Hirsh as Executive Chairman and a board member. He stayed at the company until late 2015. In 2016, Hirsh launched a new animation-focused entertainment company, Wow! Unlimited Media.

Known For

Rolie Polie Olie
6.6

Rolie Polie Olie was a children's television series produced by Nelvana, distributed by Disney, and created by William Joyce, Maggie Swanson, and Anne Wood. The show centers on a little roly pollie who is composed of several spheres and other three-dimensional geometric shapes. The show was one of the earliest series that was fully animated in CGI, and the first CGI animated preschool series.Rolie Polie Olie now airs in reruns on Disney Junior. Rolie Polie Olie won a Gemini Award in Canada for "Best Animated Program" in 1999. The show also won a Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Special Class Animated Program" in 2000 and 2005. William Joyce won a 1999 Daytime Emmy for Best Production Design for this series. The show has a vintage atmosphere reminiscent of the 1950s and early 1960s, with futuristic elements.

Rolie Polie Olie

1998Series