Rockstar Games Co-Founder Dan Houser Unveils 'Absurdaverse' Franchise
Cutting Class Media is providing animation services for the Absurdaverse animated shorts — the debut project from Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser's new media company, Absurd Ventures. The interconnected comedy satire universe spans an animated series and an original AAA open-world video game, with the first shorts set to premiere at the Netflix Is A Joke Festival in Los Angeles.
April 21, 2026
Cutting Class, Lakeside Animation Launch YouTube Channel Brand
Cutting Class Media and Lakeside Animation have launched Part-Time Cult, a new digital-first adult animation brand and YouTube channel dedicated to original animated content.
January 21, 2026
Cutting Class Announces Distribution Slate
Toronto-based Cutting Class Media has debuted its distribution slate with 10 new and previously announced titles.
The media company, led by Joshua Bowen and Carly Sacks, is shopping its slate of animated and live-action projects at local and global markets such as Realscreen, NATPE and Prime Time.
One Big Way Trump Tariffs May Upend Hollywood Production
Not surprisingly, Canadian indie producers are busily finding ways to work around the U.S. trade policy threat. Says Josh Bowen, co-CEO and head of animation at Cutting Class Media: “You can work around any tariff by being innovative and giving your partners reasons to still buy stuff from you. And so if that means I’m essentially providing a discount with the way that I’m doing things already, then that’s great value to my partner when still providing great quality.”
Cutting Class, Tipping Hand team on ultramarathon doc
Toronto prodcos Cutting Class Media and Tipping Hand Media have teamed up to produce a documentary chronicling the transformation of a professional gamer into an ultramarathon athlete.
Cutting Class, Lakeside producing adult animated comedy series
The 8 x 30-minute adult comedy Not Safe For Work, currently in production, is created by Sam Chou (Crime: The Animated Series) and Ellery VanDooyeweert (Brogan: Master of Castles). Both are co-showrunners, while Chou directs and VanDooyeweert serves as head writer. Lakeside will handle animation services, while Cutting Class Media will oversee production and distribution.
Cutting Class, Lakeside to produce adult animated comedy feature with Titmouse
Cutting Class Media and Lakeside Animation have started production on the adult animated comedy feature, Matters Beyond. The feature is created by Daniel C. Katz (Super Turbo Story Time), who will also serve as writer, director and producer. L.A.-based Titmouse (Big Mouth) will collaborate on the animation side.
Cutting Class X Lakeside Animation Announce Co-Prod Deals
Joshua Bowen and Carly Sacks made waves earlier this year when they left Blue Ant Media and formed their own production company Cutting Class Media that intends to focus on developing adult animation projects with Joshua leading the division with impending greenlights already on the docket. Now Cutting Class has announced that they have announced a 10-project deal with Lakeside Animation
Cutting Class, Lakeside Animation ink five-year partnership
Toronto-headquartered Cutting Class Media has announced a five-year partnership with North Bay, Ont.’s Lakeside Animation to produce 10 long-form adult-animated original productions. The two companies plan to utilize their collective expertise, Lakeside Animation’s local and international animation teams and government incentives in order to produce multiple long-form animations per year without having to rely on presales.
Cutting Class Media boards CBC doc What We Carry
Prodco and distributor Cutting Class Media has boarded the feature documentary What We Carry. What We Carry was commissioned for CBC’s documentary Channel and delves into the interwoven stories of a grandmother who once taught at a residential school and the community she impacted.
Cutting Class Media adds Harriet Luke as head of unscripted
The Toronto-based prodco and distributor Cutting Class Media is expanding its roster with the hire of Harriet Luke as a partner and head of unscripted. The role will see Luke (pictured) lead the unscripted division.
Cutting Class Media adds Harriet Luke as head of unscripted
The former Saloon Media development exec is overseeing the prodco and distributor’s unscripted slate. The role sees Luke lead the prodco and distributor’s unscripted development slate for the domestic and international markets.
Lapaire goes peopleWatching with Cutting Class, Lakeside
Lapaire Productions is bringing back its award-winning animated web series peopleWatching with the help of Cutting Class Media and North Bay, Ont.’s Lakeside Animation. The series is written and directed by Winston Rowntree. Geoff Lapaire serves as supervising producer and executive producer. Other EPs include Cutting Class execs Bracken Burns (who also voices a character in the series), Josh Bowen and Carly Sacks, and Lakeside’s Iouri Stepanov.
Industry Vets Form New Production-Distribution Label Cutting Class Media
Joshua Bowen, founder and formerly Managing Director of Look Mom! Productions, and Carly Sacks, former Director of Production Finance at Blue Ant Media, have teamed up to form Cutting Class Media to focus on the development, production and distribution of long-form animation and live-action content. The Canadian company will announce its initial slate of greenlights in the coming months.
Joshua Bowen, Carly Sacks launch Cutting Class Media
Former Blue Ant Media execs Joshua Bowen and Carly Sacks have branched out to form their own production and distribution outfit, Cutting Class Media with new partner Bracken Burns.
The Toronto-based company will focus on the development, production and distribution of both live-action content and long-form animation.
Blue Ant alums Joshua Bowen, Carly Sacks pair up to launch Cutting Class Media
Joshua Bowen, the founder and former MD at Blue Ant-backed animation firm Look Mom! Productions, has partnered with former Blue Ant production finance director Carly Sacks to launch a new production and distribution company, Cutting Class Media (CCM).
