Jennifer Lee Steps Down As Disney Animation’s Chief Creative Officer, Jared Bush Takes Over
Lee will remain at the studio to work on the ‘Frozen’ franchise.
Executives
Comings and goings at studios and networks in the animation industry.
Warner Bros. Discovery International Kids Team Gets Major Leadership Reshuffling
The rehaul includes a promotion for Pablo Zuccarino and the exit of APAC chief Christopher Ho.
Hannah Minghella Takes Over As Netflix’s Head Of Feature Animation
She replaces Karen Toliver, who will leave the company.
Rodeo FX Grows Original Animation Ambitions, Hires New Exec To Head Division
The independent Montreal vfx company aims to develop its own original animation projects and stories.
‘Lego’ Animated Films Producer Dan Lin To Take Over As Netflix Film Boss
Lin will leave his label Rideback to replace outgoing Netflix feature boss Scott Stuber on April 1.
Sean Bailey, Who Spearheaded Disney’s Era Of Live-Action And Photorealistic Animation Adaptations, Is Leaving The Company
Films made under Bailey’s purview grossed roughly $7 billion at the global box office.
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation Solidifies Leadership Structure with Two Hires, One Promotion
Kim Mackey is the units new executive vp of production talent, Jessie Carbonaro its vp of production talent, and Susan Akinbola its vp of development.
Emmy-Winning ‘Rick And Morty’ Executive Producer And Former Sony Exec Rick Mischel Launches New Canadian Studio
Artists Animation Studio will focus on 2d Harmony and hand-drawn animation services for productions aimed at all ages.
Sony Writes Down Value Of ‘Hilda’ Producer Silvergate Media By $50 Million
Silvergate Media co-founder and chair William Astor has also stepped down.
Warner Animation Boss Sam Register Not A Fan Of AI: “I Haven’t Seen Anything AI Can Do Visually That An Artist Doesn’t Do Better”
In a roundtable, he added: “As an animation studio, I just think it’s important we protect the artists and the art form as long as we can.”
Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri On Original Animation Box Office Struggles, Shifting Audience Tendencies, And Keeping Budgets Down
Meledandri says if established studios tried cutting budgets to Illumination levels, it would be disruptive to their artistic culture.
Toon Boom Animation Appoints Former Corus Exec Colin Bohm As New CEO
The Harmony and Storyboard Pro developer was purchased by New York-based investment firm Integrated Media Company earlier this year.
Deepfake David Zaslav Explains Why He Canned ‘Coyote Vs. Acme’
In the parody video, faux Zaslav explains what the real Zaslav is doing.
AI Will Cut Animation Labor And Production Time By 90% Says Former Dreamworks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg
“In the good old days it took 500 artists five years to make a world-class animated movie. I think it won’t take 10% of that three years from now,” he claimed during a panel.
Pixar’s Pete Docter Blames Disney+ For Early ‘Elemental’ Box Office Struggles, Evolving Audience Habits
According to Docter, “We’ve told people, ‘Hey, all of this is going to be available to you on Disney+!'”
Unity CEO John Riccitiello Retires Amid Pricing Model Controversy
Unity is under fire for unpopular changes to how game devs will be charged and retroactively changing its TOS.
Sony Pictures Imageworks Promotes Michelle Grady To Studio President
A 20-plus-year industry vet, Grady has spent the last seven at Imageworks.
‘Moana’ Producer Osnat Shurer Joins Baobab Studios As Co-Chief Creative Officer
Shurer will work on Baobab’s multi-platform ‘Momoguro’ franchise as well as Disney+ series ‘Intercats’ and ‘Witchverse.’
Bob Iger Made Bob Chapek’s Time As Disney CEO “About Three Years Of Hell,” Says New Report
Thanks to a new report by CNBC’s Alex Sherman, we now know far more about the tumultuous period from 2020-2022 when The Walt Disney …
Hasbro Launches Entertainment Division In Wake Of Entertainment One Sale
Hasbro Entertainment has appointed a trio of former eOne bosses to lead its film, tv, animation, and digital media businesses.
