Added past tense wording and links← Previous revisionRevision as of 02:16, 10 October 2026 Line 19: Line 19: === 2004–2008: Beginning === === 2004–2008: Beginning === On June 4, 2004, Bollinger uploaded the very first ''Pencilmation'' cartoon onto [[Newgrounds]].{{cite web |title=Pencilmation #1|url=https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/172844 |last=captainmcross|date=June 4, 2004 |website=Newgrounds |access-date=December 9, 2020}} It was received with high praise and would end up being awarded a Daily Feature from the site. One year later, on October 31, 2005, Bollinger would upload the second installment, "Pencilmation #2".{{cite web |title=Pencilmation #2|url=https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/275345 |last=captainmcross|date=October 31, 2005 |website=Newgrounds |access-date=December 9, 2020}} This too was well-received and ended up winning a Frontpaged award along with other accolades. Between 2006 and 2008, Bollinger stepped back from Pencilmation and started work on other animated projects, such as the short-lived dialogue-based series “Generic Brand Cartoons” in 2006 and the 2008 short film “The Mosquito Who Gave Up Blood”. His work was introduced to a nationwide audience when it was used on [[The CW]] series [[Online Nation]]. On June 4, 2004, Bollinger uploaded the very first ''Pencilmation'' cartoon onto [[Newgrounds]].{{cite web |title=Pencilmation #1|url=https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/172844 |last=captainmcross|date=June 4, 2004 |website=Newgrounds |access-date=December 9, 2020}} It was received with high praise and would end up being awarded a Daily Feature from the site. One year later, on October 31, 2005, Bollinger would upload the second installment, "Pencilmation #2".{{cite web |title=Pencilmation #2|url=https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/275345 |last=captainmcross|date=October 31, 2005 |website=Newgrounds |access-date=December 9, 2020}} This too was well-received and ended up winning a Frontpaged award along with other accolades. Between 2006 and 2008, Bollinger stepped back from ''Pencilmation'' and started work on other animated projects, such as the short-lived dialogue-based series "Generic Brand Cartoons" in 2006 and the 2008 short film "The Mosquito Who Gave Up Blood". His work was introduced to a nationwide audience when it was used on [[The CW]] series [[Online Nation]]. === 2009–2011: Early YouTube era === === 2009–2011: Early YouTube era === After a 3-year hiatus, Bollinger returned to his ''Pencilmation'' series for a college project back when he was attending the School of Visual Arts, citing the reason being a preferred format for doing animated shorts with simple little characters, being faster to animate. Bollinger then uploaded all previous episodes onto his new YouTube channel and produced a total of ten new episodes during 2009, attempting to make each one every fortnight. In April 2010, "Pencilmation #10", ''Hook, Line and Stinker'', won 1st Place in Animation at the 31st College Television Awards hosted by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation.{{cite web|last=Emmys.com Staff|date=April 2010|title=College Television Awards|url=https://www.emmys.com/content/college-television-awards|access-date=December 9, 2020|website=Emmys}} After a 3-year hiatus, Bollinger returned to his ''Pencilmation'' series for a college project back when he was attending the [[School of Visual Arts]], citing the reason being a preferred format for doing animated shorts with simple little characters, being faster to animate. Bollinger then uploaded all previous episodes onto his new YouTube channel and produced a total of ten new episodes during 2009, attempting to make each one every fortnight. In April 2010, "Pencilmation #10", ''Hook, Line and Stinker'', won 1st Place in Animation at the 31st College Television Awards hosted by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation.{{cite web|last=Emmys.com Staff|date=April 2010|title=College Television Awards|url=https://www.emmys.com/content/college-television-awards|access-date=December 9, 2020|website=Emmys}} === 2011–2012: Hank Hanky period === === 2011–2012: Hank Hanky period === Line 36: Line 36: By this period, ''Pencilmation'' had become a well-oiled machine, each intricate process handled by several hands, the animation style becoming much more extravagant and sophisticated. Several new episodes were being produced every week, a process that once took Bollinger several weeks per episode by himself. A regular cast of recurring characters had been established. By this period, ''Pencilmation'' had become a well-oiled machine, each intricate process handled by several hands, the animation style becoming much more extravagant and sophisticated. Several new episodes were being produced every week, a process that once took Bollinger several weeks per episode by himself. A regular cast of recurring characters had been established. === 2018–present: Rise in popularity === === 2018–2023: Rise in popularity === In 2019, ''Pencilmation'' was featured in YouTube's annual [[YouTube Rewind]], being acknowledged as the third most viewed creator channel of the year with 2.8 billion views.{{cite web |title=YouTube Rewind 2019: For the Record {{!}} #YouTubeRewind|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lAe1cqCOXo|last=YouTube|date=December 5, 2019 |website=YouTube |access-date=December 9, 2020}}{{cite web|last=Lawler |first=Richard|date=December 5, 2019|title=YouTube Rewind 2019 charts put 'Minecraft,' PewDiePie at the top|url=https://www.engadget.com/2019-12-05-youtube-rewind-2019.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAI3G1j354uZTIe-BaxpIsYsHBF-36neq_d3S9NgRNX57dbV2f8lN0MNjZy6VUrgPkpm0bskZ30l3ApKuhr44qjDNjujyQToWLNrFyOySrhPOW6_I2-0O6QyM0f9B2_SVKm-U-uimCyPFIdNhidGPOjFfXmVfj-SlmvHV9kATzMH5|access-date=December 19, 2020|website=Engadget}}{{cite web|last=Business Insider India Staff |date=December 6, 2019|title=The most-viewed creators on YouTube in 2019 include PewDiePie, David Dobrik, and some of your favorite gamers|url=https://www.businessinsider.in/slideshows/miscellaneous/the-most-viewed-creators-on-youtube-in-2019-include-pewdiepie-david-dobrik-and-some-of-your-favorite-gamers/slidelist/72404087.cms#slideid=72404103|access-date=December 19, 2020|website=Business Insider India}}{{cite web|last=Woodcock|first=Zara |date=December 5, 2019|title=PewDiePie crowned most watched and most-subscribed YouTuber of the year|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/05/pewdiepie-crowned-watched-subscribed-youtuber-year-11279399/|access-date=December 19, 2020|website=Metro}}{{cite web|last=Doménech In 2019, ''Pencilmation'' was featured in YouTube's annual [[YouTube Rewind]], being acknowledged as the third most viewed creator channel of the year with 2.8 billion views.{{cite web |title=YouTube Rewind 2019: For the Record {{!}} #YouTubeRewind|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lAe1cqCOXo|last=YouTube|date=December 5, 2019 |website=YouTube |access-date=December 9, 2020}}{{cite web|last=Lawler |first=Richard|date=December 5, 2019|title=YouTube Rewind 2019 charts put 'Minecraft,' PewDiePie at the top|url=https://www.engadget.com/2019-12-05-youtube-rewind-2019.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAI3G1j354uZTIe-BaxpIsYsHBF-36neq_d3S9NgRNX57dbV2f8lN0MNjZy6VUrgPkpm0bskZ30l3ApKuhr44qjDNjujyQToWLNrFyOySrhPOW6_I2-0O6QyM0f9B2_SVKm-U-uimCyPFIdNhidGPOjFfXmVfj-SlmvHV9kATzMH5|access-date=December 19, 2020|website=Engadget}}{{cite web|last=Business Insider India Staff |date=December 6, 2019|title=The most-viewed creators on YouTube in 2019 include PewDiePie, David Dobrik, and some of your favorite gamers|url=https://www.businessinsider.in/slideshows/miscellaneous/the-most-viewed-creators-on-youtube-in-2019-include-pewdiepie-david-dobrik-and-some-of-your-favorite-gamers/slidelist/72404087.cms#slideid=72404103|access-date=December 19, 2020|website=Business Insider India}}{{cite web|last=Woodcock|first=Zara |date=December 5, 2019|title=PewDiePie crowned most watched and most-subscribed YouTuber of the year|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/05/pewdiepie-crowned-watched-subscribed-youtuber-year-11279399/|access-date=December 19, 2020|website=Metro}}{{cite web|last=Doménech |first=Emilio |date=December 5, 2019|title=QUIÉNES SON LOS 10 CREADORES DE YOUTUBE MÁS VISTOS DEL 2019|url=https://www.revistavanityfair.es/cultura/entretenimiento/articulos/quienes-10-creadores-youtube-mas-vistos-2019/42171|access-date=December 19, 2020|website=Vanity Fair España}} Between 2018 and 2020, Pencilmation's subscriber count exploded from a little more than 1 million to over 18 million,{{cite web |title=Most Popular Animation Channels {{!}} Most Subscribed Animator [ 2012 - 2020 ]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umpwi82ZkZo&feature=youtu.be |last=Datalented - Most Popular Data|date=May 21, 2020 |website=YouTube |access-date=December 9, 2020}} the channel views count from tens of millions to over 9 billion. This was largely in part due to YouTube's internal algorithm promoting videos on its [[YouTube Kids]] platform, as well as considerable exposure from being included as a part of the 2019 [[YouTube Rewind]] video recap. By the end of 2020, Bollinger and company had produced the 500th episode of ''Pencilmation''. |first=Emilio |date=December 5, 2019|title=QUIÉNES SON LOS 10 CREADORES DE YOUTUBE MÁS VISTOS DEL 2019|url=https://www.revistavanityfair.es/cultura/entretenimiento/articulos/quienes-10-creadores-youtube-mas-vistos-2019/42171|access-date=December 19, 2020|website=Vanity Fair España}} Between 2018 and 2020, Pencilmation's subscriber count exploded from a little more than 1 million to over 18 million,{{cite web |title=Most Popular Animation Channels {{!}} Most Subscribed Animator [ 2012 - 2020 ]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umpwi82ZkZo&feature=youtu.be |last=Datalented - Most Popular Data|date=May 21, 2020 |website=YouTube |access-date=December 9, 2020}} the channel views count from tens of millions to over 9 billion. This was largely in part due to YouTube's internal algorithm promoting videos on its [[YouTube Kids]] platform, as well as considerable exposure from being included as a part of the 2019 [[YouTube Rewind]] video recap. By the end of 2020, Bollinger and company had produced the 500th episode of ''Pencilmation''. Today, ''Pencilmation'' is still helmed by Bollinger and employs a global, remote team of hundreds of artists, writers, and production staff. By 2023, ''Pencilmation'' was still helmed by Bollinger and employed a global, remote team of hundreds of artists, writers, and production staff. == Episodes == == Episodes == Line 220: Line 220: |{{Start date and age|2023|1|7}} |{{Start date and age|2023|1|7}} |{{End date and age|2023|12|13}}{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVn9ihN1xKo|title=Lil' Miss has the BEST games -in- "Sport Mission!"|publisher=Pencilmation|via=YouTube|date=December 13, 2023|access-date=September 7, 2025}} |{{End date and age|2023|12|13}}{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVn9ihN1xKo|title=Lil' Miss has the BEST games -in- "Sport Mission!"|publisher=Pencilmation|via=YouTube|date=December 13, 2023|access-date=September 7, 2025}} |- |35 |94{{efn|Episodes are published on Ross Bollinger's [[TikTok]] account a few hours to a few days ahead of their debut on ''Pencilmation''.}} |{{Start date and age|2025|7|16}}{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eive-wd5FyM|title=Superbird! #animation #cartoon #animals #birds #comedy|publisher=Pencilmation|via=YouTube|date=July 16, 2025|access-date=September 7, 2025}} | |} |} Line 230: Line 225: ===Main cast=== ===Main cast=== *'''Pencilmate:''' (voiced by Joe Porter, Ross Bollinger, Oswald Garrington, and Leif Grant) is the main protagonist throughout the first 34 seasons of the series. Color: blue. The tormented yet tenacious and misfortune leader of the Pencilmation gang. *'''Pencilmate:''' (voiced by Joe Porter, Ross Bollinger, Oswald Garrington, and Leif Grant) is the main protagonist of the series. Color: blue. The tormented yet tenacious and misfortune leader of the Pencilmation gang. *'''Pencilmiss:''' (voiced by Kesh Mesha, Ama Bollinger, Daphne Garrington, and Katie Snyder) is the secondary protagonist throughout the first 34 seasons of the series. Color: pink. The assertive, smart, and sweet character with a bit of a silly side. She is Pencilmate's romantic companion. *'''Pencilmiss:''' (voiced by Kesh Mesha, Ama Bollinger, Daphne Garrington, and Katie Snyder) is the secondary protagonist of the series. Color: pink. The assertive, smart, and sweet character with a bit of a silly side. She is Pencilmate's romantic companion. *'''The Pencil:''' draws both the characters and the world itself, as they are very mischievous and are typically the one behind the antics the gang goes through. *'''The Pencil:''' draws both the characters and the world itself, as they are very mischievous and are typically the one behind the antics the gang goes through. *'''Mini-Pencilmate:''' AKA Mini P and/or Mini Mate (voiced by Joe Porter, Ross Bollinger, Oswald Garrington, and Leif Grant) is the hyper and mischievous young neighborhood boy who pals around with Pencilmate and crew. Color: yellow. He is constantly finding himself in trouble. *'''Mini-Pencilmate:''' AKA Mini P and/or Mini Mate (voiced by Joe Porter, Ross Bollinger, Oswald Garrington, and Leif Grant) is the hyper and mischievous young neighborhood boy who pals around with Pencilmate and crew. Color: yellow. He is constantly finding himself in trouble. Line 252: Line 247: * '''White Color Pencil:''' is another variant of the Pencil of the Color Pencils who can be seen in the show, can draw everything of the white color. * '''White Color Pencil:''' is another variant of the Pencil of the Color Pencils who can be seen in the show, can draw everything of the white color. * '''Brown Color Pencil:''' is a Color Pencil and a variant of the classic Pencil, can draw everything of brown. * '''Brown Color Pencil:''' is a Color Pencil and a variant of the classic Pencil, can draw everything of brown. *Beginning in Season 35, the series replaces the Pencilmate & co. cast in favor of employing a selection of rotating cast members, usually [[animal]]s. The most common of these characters are: **'''Steve''' (voiced by Ross Bollinger{{efn|The voice actor(s) for these new shorts is currently uncredited, but it's possible that Bollinger himself is voicing the cast}}) is a yellow dog who is genial and high-spirited, but not very bright. He is usually accompanied by Max, a black and white cat, and Bill, a grey dog. **'''Max''' (voiced by Ross Bollinger) is a black and white cat who tends to be more down-to-earth and reasonable than Steve, his impulsive yellow dog companion. == Notes == {{notelist}} == References == == References == Line 268: Line 257: [[Category:2000s YouTube series]] [[Category:2000s YouTube series]] [[Category:2004 web series debuts]] [[Category:2004 web series debuts]] [[Category:2023 web series endings]] [[Category:2004 drawings]] [[Category:2004 drawings]] [[Category:2010s YouTube series]] [[Category:2010s YouTube series]]