View source for JibJab

{{Short description|American digital entertainment studio}}
{{For|the video game artist|Yandere Simulator{{!}}JIBJAB}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox website
| name             = JibJab Catapult CA, Inc.
| logo             = JibJab.svg
| url              = {{URL|http://www.jibjab.com}}
| registration     = Optional
| language         = [[English language|English]]<br>[[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| company_type     = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| foundation       = {{Start date and age|1999|3|5}}
| owner            = Catapult Capital (2019–present)
| location_city    = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]]
| location_country = U.S.
| key_people       = Evan Spiridellis, [[Organizational founder|Founder]]<br>Gregg Spiridellis, [[Organizational founder|Founder]]<br>Paul Hanges, [[Chief executive officer|CEO]]
| num_employees    = At least 90<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/vsearch/p?f_CC=59526 {{Self-published source|date=June 2022}}</ref>
| website_type     = Humor
| launch_date      = {{Start date and age|1999}}
| current_status   = Active
}}
[[File:Evan & Greg Spiridellis of JibJab.jpg|thumb|Evan and Gregg Spiridellis at Entertainment Gathering 2010]]

'''JibJab''' is an American independent digital entertainment studio based in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]]. Founded in 1999 by brothers Evan and Gregg Spiridellis, it first achieved widespread attention during the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 US presidential election]] when their video of [[George W. Bush]] and [[John Kerry]] singing "[[This Land Is Your Land]]" became a [[Viral video|viral]] hit. Initially known for political and social [[satire]], JibJab produced commercials and shorts for clients such as [[Sony]], [[Noggin (brand)|Noggin]], [[Cartoon Network]], [[Nickelodeon]], [[PBS Kids]], [[Universal Kids|Sprout]], [[NBC]], [[Qubo]], and [[Disney]] before focusing on its now-flagship personalized [[E-card|eCard]] and messaging services. In 2016, its animated sticker-making program – which has been available since 2004 – became the top [[App Store (iOS)|App Store]] app by download growth.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://sensortower.com/blog/imessage-app-growth|title=JibJab Leads iMessage Enabled Apps in Download Growth Following iOS 10's Launch|last=Nelson|first=Randy|website=sensortower.com|access-date=2017-03-17}}</ref>

In 2012, JibJab also expanded into the children's educational market with its multi-platform learning program, [[StoryBots]], which has since spawned two [[Netflix]] TV series, ''[[Ask the StoryBots]]'' and ''[[StoryBots Super Songs]]''.

In 2019, JibJab was acquired by the private equity firm Catapult Capital.<ref>{{Cite web| title = JibJab, one of the first silly selfie video makers, acquired by private equity firm Catapult Capital| work = TechCrunch| date = 13 February 2019| access-date = 2019-03-11| url = https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/13/jibjab-one-of-the-first-silly-selfie-video-makers-acquired-by-private-equity-firm-catapult-capital/}}</ref>

==Political satire==

==="Cooking With Clinton"===
One of JibJab's first animations "Cooking With Clinton" is about then-president [[Bill Clinton]] trying to show the viewers how to bake [[weed brownies]] while being high and repeatedly asking [[Hillary]] for a glass of water.<ref>{{Citation |title=Cooking With Clinton
|url=https://youtube.com/watch/HpBVO9vcr_Y?si=WUy2tOHjk0wHQ8HX |language=en |access-date=2023-04-11}}</ref>

==="Capitol Ill"===
For the [[2000 United States presidential election|2000 presidential election]] JibJab released a Flash movie entitled "Capitol Ill" in July 2000, which featured an animated rap battle between [[George W. Bush]] and [[Al Gore]]. [[Bill Clinton]] and [[George H. W. Bush]] also make appearances. This cartoon aired on ''[[Mad TV]]'' on November 4, 2000.<ref>{{Citation |title=Gorge Bush and Al Gore Rap Capitol Ill | date=5 August 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDorkqZUOv0 |language=en |access-date=2022-04-08}}</ref>

==="Ahnuld for Governor"===
In 2003, JibJab produced a Flash movie poking fun at [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]'s campaign for [[Governor of California|Governor]] of [[California]]. It depicts Schwarzenegger giving a campaign speech.<ref>{{Citation |title=JibJab.com - Ahnuld for Governor |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaIWM2ruyK4 |language=en |access-date=2022-04-08}}</ref>

==="This Land"===
For the [[2004 United States presidential election]], JibJab created a Flash movie entitled "This Land", released on July 9, 2004, which featured animated versions of [[George W. Bush]] and [[John Kerry]]<ref>{{cite web|date=November 16, 2011|title=The Complete Lyrics of JibJab's "This Land" Parody / Travis' Column: Hot Off the Presses|url=http://www.hopstudios.com/nep/column/jibjab_this_land_lyrics.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502004907/http://www.hopstudios.com/nep/column/jibjab_this_land_lyrics.html|archive-date=May 2, 2009|access-date=May 2, 2012|publisher=Hopstudios.com|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|date=July 9, 2004|title=This Land &#124; Funny Video Animation by JibJab|url=http://sendables.jibjab.com/originals/this_land|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204201652/http://sendables.jibjab.com/originals/this_land|archive-date=2009-02-04|access-date=2011-03-27|website=JibJab|publisher=Sendables.jibjab.com}}</ref> - voiced by comedian [[Jim Meskimen]] - singing a [[parody]] of [[Woody Guthrie]]'s song "[[This Land Is Your Land]]".

The video was an instant success, eventually being viewed all over the world, as well as the [[International Space Station]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name="abcnews1">{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/PersonOfWeek/story?id=369362&page=1 |title=People of the Year: Spiridellis Brothers| date=7 January 2006 |website=ABC News}}</ref> The traffic surge forced JibJab's server to be shut down after one day, and the clip was placed on [[AtomFilms]], where it got more than 1 million hits in 24 hours.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/maney/2004-07-27-jibjab_x.htm |title=USATODAY.com - This Net was made for you and me and the rest of the world |website=www.usatoday.com}}</ref>

After being linked to on thousands of websites, the video was featured several times in the printed media and on television, including ''[[NBC Nightly News]]'', [[Fox News]] and ''[[ABC World News Tonight]]''. On July 26, 2004, the creators appeared on ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]''. In December 2004, the Spiridellis brothers were named People of the Year by [[Peter Jennings]].<ref name="abcnews1"/>

[[Howie Richmond|The Richmond Organization]], a music publisher that owns the copyright to Guthrie's tune through its Ludlow Music Unit, threatened legal action.<ref>Wired News (August 8, 2004)[https://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2004/08/64428] CNN Money (July 26, 2004) [https://money.cnn.com/2004/07/26/commentary/wastler/wastler/]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-07-01 |title=JibJab Media v. Ludlow Music ("This Land"Parody) |url=https://www.eff.org/cases/jibjab-media-inc-v-ludlow-music-inc |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |language=en}}</ref> JibJab responded with a lawsuit in a California federal court, claiming the song was protected under a [[fair use]] exemption for parodies. JibJab and Ludlow Music reached a settlement after JibJab's attorneys unearthed evidence that the song had passed into the [[public domain]] in 1973. The terms of the settlement allowed for the continued distribution of ''This Land''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/JibJab-beats-copyright-rap/2100-1026_3-5322970.html|title=JibJab beats copyright rap}}</ref>

==="Good to Be in DC"===
In October 2004, JibJab followed up with another original animation, "Good to Be in DC," set to the tune of [[Dan Emmett]]'s "[[Dixie (song)|Dixie]]". In this video, animated versions of George W. Bush, [[Dick Cheney]], John Kerry, and [[John Edwards]] sing about their hopes for the upcoming election.

==="Second Term"===
Immediately after George W. Bush's election victory, JibJab released a third video, "Second Term." Set to the tune of "[[She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain]]", an animated Bush gloats over his successful bid for a second term as president, and his plans for it, based on his campaign promises.

==="Time for Some Campaignin'"===
For the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential election]], JibJab released another election-themed animation, "Time for Some Campaignin'" in July of that year. Set to the tune of [[Bob Dylan]]'s "[[The Times They Are a-Changin' (song)|The Times They Are a-Changin]]", animated versions of [[Bill Clinton|Bill]] and [[Hillary Clinton]], [[John McCain]], [[Barack Obama]] sing of their presidential hopes, as George W. Bush and Dick Cheney Bid Farewell to the White House. This video was the first instance where viewers had the option of using Jibjab's [[e-cards|e-card]] website to insert their own face as that of a harassed voter.

==="He's Barack Obama"===
Upon [[Barack Obama]] becoming president, JibJab released "He's Barack Obama", where they portrayed Obama as a superhero. The music becomes a heavy metal interpretation of "[[When Johnny Comes Marching Home]]", as Obama promises he will fix the Middle East, defeat the Taliban, fix the schools, fight a giant space robot, wrestle a bear, fix the deficit and more. This one is notable for having been viewed by 
Obama himself. Stated on the description of its YouTube video: "A Over-the-Top Satire That Debuted In front of the President Himself this Friday At the Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner!"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/06/video-jibjab-obama-saves-the-day-023956 | title=VIDEO: JibJab: Obama saves the day | website=[[Politico]] | date=19 June 2009 }}</ref>

===2012 election===
For the [[2012 United States presidential election]], JibJab did not make an election video and instead began to focus their efforts on their e-card business. However, an election web app was released in late October of 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jibjab.com/politicsplus|title=JibJab|website=www.jibjab.com}}</ref>

==Year in Review==
Starting in 2005, and for the next nine consecutive years until 2014, JibJab annually released "Year in Review" videos,<ref>"[https://www.jibjab.com/year-in-review Year in Review]"</ref> usually late in December between [[Christmas]] and [[New Year's Day]], sung to all various [[Classical music|classical melodies]]. The videos were originally uploaded on YouTube and their website. but on December 11, 2015, JibJab made a Facebook announcement that they would not be releasing anymore "Year in Review" videos as the brothers had begun finding them creatively unfulfilling. By then, ten "Year in Review" videos had been made; by the winter of 2016, JibJab removed all "Year in Review" videos from their website (although they would remain on their [[YouTube]] channel) and started to focus on their eCard videos instead. However, on November 24, 2020, in response to popular demand, JibJab uploaded a special "Year In Review" series with a video about 2020, the first, and only, to use an original tune.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=nNaGzi_LpDw|title = JibJab 2020 Year in Review: "2020, You've Got to Go"|website = [[YouTube]]| date=23 November 2020 }}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=January 2023}}

==Others==
===Big Box Mart===
In 2005, JibJab released the video "Big Box Mart".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKv6RcXa2UI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/pKv6RcXa2UI |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=JibJab - Big Box Mart|last=JibJab|date=16 October 2007|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Sung to the tune of "[[Oh, Susannah]]", it tells the story of a 53-year-old frequent patron of the titular [[big-box store]], who is enthralled by the store's discounts and offers, but soon loses his job as a factory worker, which is outsourced to [[Beijing, China]] as a result of the company now selling cheap products to Big Box Mart stores. The man is left no choice but to be employed at his local Big Box Mart for the rest of his life.

===What We Call the News===
Sung to the tune of "[[Battle Hymn of the Republic]]", "What We Call the News" laments the decline of journalism in the cable TV era, particularly sensationalistic stories.

===Founding Fathers Rap===
[[George Washington]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], and [[Thomas Jefferson]] rap about their accomplishments and end their verse with "[[United States Declaration of Independence|We Declare Our independence]]". They are accompanied by [[John Adams]] and [[James Madison]]. Adams is the DJ, and Madison says "Oh Yeah" after every verse.

===Shawshank in a Minute===
This sketch was part (and winner) of a 2006 online competition, The Great Sketch Experiment, held by JibJab<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/Sketch/Comedy/prweb480289.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070121194207/http://www.prweb.com/releases/Sketch/Comedy/prweb480289.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 21, 2007 |title=JibJab Audience Votes Comedy Troupe "Famous Last Nerds" Winner Of Great Sketch Experiment |publisher=Prweb.com |access-date=2010-12-17}}</ref> and their first live action production. Participants included the comedy duo ''Famous Last Nerds'' ([[Jordan Allen-Dutton]] and [[Erik Weiner]]) and [[John Landis]] as director. It both summarizes and parodies ''[[The Shawshank Redemption]]'', condensing the plot to a length of nearly three minutes and underlining it with [[Hip hop music|rap music]].

===Music videos===
JibJab produced a music video for the 2006 song "Do I Creep You Out?" by [["Weird Al" Yankovic]], a parody of [[Taylor Hicks]]' "Do I Make You Proud?". The video depicts the main character stalking a barista in increasingly disturbing ways, ending with him being arrested and jailed as he publicly professes his emotions in a song. In 2009 JibJab produced another music video for Yankovic for the song "CNR", which is a style parody of [[The White Stripes]]. The video and song portrays [[Charles Nelson Reilly]] as a superhuman doing seemingly impossible or improbable things. It also features Yankovic and [[Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz]] as Jack White and Meg White respectively.

==E-cards and messaging==
Starting in October 2007, JibJab began its focus on personalized eCards and videos, letting users insert photographs of their faces into humorous birthday cards, holiday greetings and congratulatory notes<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.recode.net/2014/9/30/11631460/remember-jibjab-theyre-about-to-enliven-your-messages|title=Remember JibJab? They're About to Enliven Your Messages.|date=2014-09-30|website=Recode|access-date=2017-03-17}}</ref> and send them to other people as e-cards or "sendables".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2007/08/09/jibjab|title=Make Your Own JibJab Movies|first=Pete|last=Cashmore|website=[[Mashable]]|date=9 August 2007}}</ref> Initially, this included branded personalized videos, including working with [[OfficeMax]] on the video site ''[[Elf Yourself]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mpdailyfix.com/officemaxs-viral-hit-elf-yourself/|title=MarketingProfs (December 11, 2007)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712221039/http://www.mpdailyfix.com/officemaxs-viral-hit-elf-yourself/|archive-date=July 12, 2010}}</ref> where an uploaded photo is put onto a singing and dancing elf, as well as partnerships with ''[[Star Wars]]'' (for the 30th anniversary of ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/05/jibjab_does_star_wars_day_with.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915170624/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/05/jibjab_does_star_wars_day_with.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 15, 2015|title=Comic Riffs - A new JibJab video for STAR WARS DAY? Yes, 'May-the-4th be with you'}}</ref>) and ''[[Mad Men]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rewired.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/07/06/jibjab-mad-men-starring-you/|title=The Hollywood Reporter (July 6, 2010)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710215007/http://rewired.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/07/06/jibjab-mad-men-starring-you/|archive-date=July 10, 2010}}</ref> A series of eCards were created by Internet personality [[Dane Boedigheimer]] (best known for later creating ''[[Annoying Orange]]'') known as "From the Fridge", featuring anthropomorphized foods such as eggs, chocolates, avocados, pumpkins, cranberries, and cookies suffering a horrifying torture or death in accordance with their use or consumption for events and holidays such as birthdays, anniversaries, congratulation, [[Valentine's Day]], the [[Super Bowl]], [[Easter]], [[Halloween]], [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]], and [[Christmas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy-553W-Vhg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/hy-553W-Vhg |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=JibJab From The Fridge Collection|website=YouTube|date=24 February 2016 |language=en|access-date=2020-11-25}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Since then, in addition to greeting eCards, JibJab has also extended its personalization technology to popular [[music videos]], including:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jibjab.com/ecards/sy_music_videos|title=JibJab.com, Funny Music Videos eCards eCards, Sendables, and More |website=JibJab|language=en|access-date=2017-03-17}}</ref>

* [[...Baby One More Time]] ([[Britney Spears]])
* [[Friday (Rebecca Black song)|Friday]] ([[Rebecca Black]])
* [[Gangnam Style]] ([[Psy]])
* [[Sexy and I Know It]] ([[LMFAO]])
* [[Shut Up and Dance (Walk the Moon song)|Shut Up and Dance]] ([[Walk the Moon]])
* [[Addicted to Love (song)|Addicted to Love]] ([[Robert Palmer (singer)|Robert Palmer]])
* [[Roar (song)|Roar]] ([[Katy Perry]])
* [[Take On Me]] ([[A-ha]])
* [[All About That Bass]] ([[Meghan Trainor]])
* [[Cake by the Ocean]] ([[DNCE]])
* [[Happy (Pharrell Williams song)|Happy]] ([[Pharrell Williams]])
* [[Sorry (Justin Bieber song)|Sorry]] ([[Justin Bieber]])
* [[Cheap Thrills (song)|Cheap Thrills]] ([[Sia]])
Since launching its eCard service, more than 100 million people have visited JibJab's website annually.<ref name="auto1"/> In 2014, the company launched a messaging app for personalized animated GIFs, available on both [[iOS]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] platforms. In 2016, the JibJab app was one of the first mobile apps to be enabled for [[iMessage]] and was ranked first among them in download growth.<ref name="auto"/> The JibJab app was also featured prominently in [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]'s annual WWDC product presentation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-jibjab-partnership-2016-6|title=Here's how a vintage internet company ended up center stage at WWDC|work=Business Insider|access-date=2017-03-17|language=en}}</ref>

==StoryBots==
{{Main|StoryBots}}

In 2012, JibJab expanded into the children's educational market with its multi-platform learning program, [[StoryBots]]. The brand currently includes web-based educational content, as well as two [[Netflix]] television series, ''[[Ask the StoryBots]]'' and ''[[StoryBots Super Songs]]''.

==See also==
* [[Annoying Orange]]
* [[Elf Yourself]]
* [[Flipnote Studio]]
* [[Independent animation]]
* [[StoryBots]]
* [[Vyond]]
* [[YouTube]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.jibjab.com JibJab.com]
* {{Facebook|jibjab}}
* {{Twitter|JibJab}}
* {{YouTube|c=JibJab}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:JibJab}}
[[Category:1999 establishments in California]]
[[Category:2019 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Adult animation]]
[[Category:American comedy websites]]
[[Category:American political satire]]
[[Category:Companies based in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Ebooks]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 1999]]