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.
Early life 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.
Career 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.
Filmography
Year Title 2004 This is Daniel Cook 2006 This is Emily Yeung I Dare You Roll Play 2007 Are We There Yet?: World Adventures 2010 Dino Dan 2012 Giver 2013 This is Scarlett and Isaiah Dino Dan: Trek's Adventures 2014 Odd Squad 2015 Chirp 2016 Odd Squad: The Movie 2017 Dino Dana 2020 Endlings Dino Dana The Movie 2021 Lockdown 2023 Jane
Awards, nominations and honors Year AwardCategoryWorkResultRef 2013 1st Canadian Screen Awards Best Pre-School Program or Series Are We There Yet?: World Adventure Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program or Series Giver 2015 3rd Canadian Screen Awards Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program or Series Giver Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or Series This Is Scarlett and Isaiah Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or Series Dino Dan: Trek's Adventures Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Pre-School Children's Series Dino Dan: Trek's AdventuresOutstanding Directing in a Children's or Pre-School Children's Series Odd Squad 2016 4th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Pre-School Program or Series Brent Furdyk, "2016 Canadian Screen Awards Nominees Announced". ET Canada, January 19, 2016.Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program or SeriesGiverBest Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series AnnedroidsBest Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesBest Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Directing in a Children's or Pre-School Children's SeriesOdd Squad 2017 5th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesOdd Squad: The Movie Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesOdd SquadBest TV Movie or Limited SeriesOdd Squad: The Movie2018 6th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesOdd Squad Rachel West, "2018 Canadian Screen Awards: Creative Fiction Storytelling Winners Include ‘Mary Kills People’, ‘Vikings’, ‘Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs’". ET Canada, March 7, 2018.Best Cross-Platform Project - Children's and YouthOdd SquadBest Direction, Children's or YouthDino Dana: "Mega Tooth"Odd Squad: "The Cherry On-Top-Inator / Sir" Best Pre-School Program or SeriesDino DanaBest Cross-Platform Project - Children's and YouthAnnedroidsDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Education or Informational SeriesGiver Patrick Hipes, "Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards: ‘Bold And The Beautiful’, ‘Sesame Street’ Top Winners" . Deadline Hollywood, April 27, 2018.2019 7th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesOdd Squad Kelly Townsend, "CSAs ’19: Anne, Schitt’s Creek, Cardinal lead TV nominations". Playback, February 7, 2019.Best Pre-School Program or SeriesDino DanaBest Cross-Platform Project - Children's and YouthBest Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesOdd SquadBest Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesDino Dana Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Directing in a Children's, Pre-school Children's or Family Viewing ProgramOdd Squad: World Turned Odd Patrick Hipes, "Daytime Emmys Creative Arts Awards: ‘Young And The Restless’, ‘Sesame Street’ Among Winners" . Deadline Hollywood, May 4, 2019.Outstanding Children's or Family Viewing ProgramOdd Squad20208th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesDino Dana Brent Furdyk, "Canadian Screen Awards: Winners Revealed In Lifestyle And Reality, Children’s And Youth Categories". ET Canada, May 26, 2020.Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Children's or Family ViewingOutstanding Children's or Family Viewing SeriesGhostwriter20219th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Writing, Web Program or SeriesLockdown Brent Furdyk, "Television Nominees Announced For 2021 Canadian Screen Awards, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Leads The Pack With 21 Nominations". ET Canada, March 30, 2021.Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesEndlingsOdd Squad Mobile UnitBest Writing, Children's or YouthEndlings202210th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesEndlingsLockdownOdd Squad Mobile UnitBest Directing, Children's or YouthOdd Squad Mobile Unit: "H2 Oh No/In Your Dreams"Immersive Experience, NonfictionFossil Hunt
References
External links
Rotten Tomatoes profile