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Two tales of one California company. We start with the original Streamline Pictures. Short History: The first incarnation of Streamline Pictures was founded in 1988 by former Harmony Gold executive and Robotech creator Carl Macek and animation historian Jerry Beck. Based in Burbank, California, the studio specialized in the American home video and television distribution of various anime films, as well as producing dubs for said films. Additionally, it distributed several non-anime titles including "so bad it's good" films, public domain cartoons, several B-movies, and various independent films. Despite being an independent distributor, Streamline Pictures didn't have its own theatrical distribution network, instead it made deals with various mini-major and independent film distributors to release their titles. The company would open a second office in Allen, Texas known as Lyrick Studios. A joint-venture between Streamline, DLM, and The Lyons Group, Lyrick produced live-action feature films and television shows. Streamline also launched an in-house animation studio in 1992, Streamline Pictures Modelworks, which primarily produced CG and stop motion animated shows and films. While it was a pioneer of the anime dubbing industry, the company received criticism due to the quality of some of their dubs. Streamline would sell its stake in Lyrick in 1995. The company would declare bankruptcy in 1996 due to the anime dubbing industry becoming more competitive. It was later bought by the Lyrick Corporation, the then-current parent company of Lyrick Studios the same year. Streamline would then immediately become a label of Lyrick Studios Home Video, releasing titles aimed at older audiences. Most of Streamline's other assets were sold off, closed or integrated into Lyrick Studios outright. Richard Leach, Lyrick's longtime CEO would step down from the company in 2001, selling it to German media company E.M. TV and Merchandising. Streamline would close that same year. Following E.M. TV's acquisition, Streamline Pictures would cease operations. However, its name was moved to Lyrick Studios' Burbank production studio.
