Stampede, UTA Launch Kids & Family Animation Production Company Happynest

Content company Stampede Ventures and United Talent Agency (UTA) have teamed up to launch Happynest, an animation production company focused on kids’ and family projects.

Here are the details:

• Happynest will help artists to incubate their ideas through artistic and financial support, and will shepherd the concepts from development through production and sales.
• It will provide creators with expertise, resources, and capital, working to help them retain creative and financial control of their properties.
• There will be a focus on projects that range across “the entire media ecosystem.” The company will aim to create IP that can span books, games, toys, digital media, and more.
• Sadaf Cohen Muncy (pictured at top) will lead Happynest as head of development and production. She was previously vp, entertainment and executive producer at MGA Entertainment. There, she built up the entertainment division and oversaw productions — including animated titles — for brands like L.O.L. Surprise!, Rainbow High, and Bratz.
• Happynest is funded by Stampede Ventures and UTA. The launch was shepherded by Stampede Ventures CEO Greg Silverman and president Chris Bosco, alongside UTA partner Gregory McKnight and motion picture literary agent Anna Berthold-Zuk.
• Greg Silverman launched Stampede in 2018, after serving as Warner Bros.’s president of creative development and worldwide production. The company has animated projects in the works including the feature Prince of Port au Prince and kids’ series for HBO Max. The company announced back in 2019 that it had hired Alberto Mielgo to write and direct a feature .
• UTA has a big presence in animation. Uniquely for a major agency, it has a dedicated animation division.