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J. J. Johnson (producer)


James Anthony Johnson, known professionally as J. J. Johnson, is a Canadian-born writer, director, executive producer, and founding member of Sinking Ship Entertainment. He is the creator of children's television programmes, including This is Daniel Cook, Dino Dana and Endlings. He also serves on the Youth Media Alliance board as a co-chair.

One of four children, Johnson grew up in Elmira, Ontario and started experimenting with film and media in his final year of high school. Johnson was in the running for school president when he and two friends made a Saturday Night Live inspired video featuring Supermarket Sweep host Tino Monte. He won the election and through this victory he realized the power of media.

J. J. Johnson attended Ryerson University's RTA School of Media and graduated in 2002 along with fellow Sinking Ship Entertainment founders, Blair Powers and Matt Bishop. In their final year, Johnson and Powers pitched a project and tried to convince their peers to pick up the remaining crew roles. A classmate warned others who were interested to avoid joining as it'd be like "joining a sinking ship". The two friends registered a company in the same name later that day.

After graduating, Johnson worked at a talent agency where he met Daniel Cook, who became the inspiration behind This is Daniel Cook which debuted in 2004 with Sinking Ship Entertainment. Since then, Johnson has created and directed several popular shows such as Dino Dana, Endlings and Lockdown.

In January 2006, the operations of Sinking Ship Entertainment moved from Johnson's apartment to offices in Toronto.

On November 23, 2014, Sinking Ship Entertainment announced they would be co-producing Odd Squad along with Fred Rogers Productions for PBS Kids. The show went on to win several Daytime Emmy Awards which lead to the creation of Odd Squad Mobile Unit.

In 2021, he announced he would be working alongside Apple TV+ and the Jane Goodall Institute to create Jane, a kids' series that will follow a girl named Jane Garcia, a 10-year-old with an active imagination. Previously, Johnson had worked alongside Apple TV+ and Sesame Workshop to produce the reboot of the 1990's kids' series Ghostwriter.

YearTitle
2004This is Daniel Cook
2006This is Emily Yeung
I Dare You
Roll Play
2007Are We There Yet?: World Adventures
2010Dino Dan
2012Giver
2013This is Scarlett and Isaiah
Dino Dan: Trek's Adventures
2014Odd Squad
2015Chirp
2016Odd Squad: The Movie
2017Dino Dana
2020Endlings
Dino Dana The Movie
2021Lockdown
2023Jane
YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef
20131st Canadian Screen AwardsBest Pre-School Program or SeriesAre We There Yet?: World AdventureNominated
Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program or SeriesGiverNominated
20153rd Canadian Screen AwardsBest Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program or SeriesGiverNominated
Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesThis Is Scarlett and IsaiahNominated
Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesDino Dan: Trek's AdventuresNominated
Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Pre-School Children's SeriesDino Dan: Trek's AdventuresWon
Outstanding Directing in a Children's or Pre-School Children's SeriesOdd SquadWon
20164th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Pre-School Program or SeriesWon
Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program or SeriesGiverNominated
Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesAnnedroidsNominated
Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesNominated
Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesNominated
Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Directing in a Children's or Pre-School Children's SeriesOdd SquadWon
20175th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesOdd Squad: The MovieWon
Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesOdd SquadNominated
Best TV Movie or Limited SeriesOdd Squad: The MovieNominated
20186th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesOdd SquadWon
Best Cross-Platform Project - Children's and YouthOdd SquadWon
Best Direction, Children's or YouthDino Dana: "Mega Tooth"Nominated
Odd Squad: "The Cherry On-Top-Inator / Sir"Nominated
Best Pre-School Program or SeriesDino DanaNominated
Best Cross-Platform Project - Children's and YouthAnnedroidsNominated
Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Education or Informational SeriesGiverWon
20197th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesOdd SquadWon
Best Pre-School Program or SeriesDino DanaWon
Best Cross-Platform Project - Children's and YouthWon
Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesOdd SquadWon
Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesDino DanaNominated
Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Directing in a Children's, Pre-school Children's or Family Viewing ProgramOdd Squad: World Turned OddWon
Outstanding Children's or Family Viewing ProgramOdd SquadWon
20208th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesDino DanaNominated
Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Children's or Family Viewing SeriesGhostwriterWon
20219th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Writing, Web Program or SeriesLockdownNominated
Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesEndlingsNominated
Odd Squad Mobile UnitWon
Best Writing, Children's or YouthEndlingsNominated
202210th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesEndlingsNominated
LockdownNominated
Odd Squad Mobile UnitNominated
Best Directing, Children's or YouthOdd Squad Mobile Unit: "H2 Oh No/In Your Dreams"Nominated
Immersive Experience, NonfictionFossil HuntNominated
  • J. J. Johnson at IMDb
  • Rotten Tomatoes profile
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