Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Musical Animation Execs

At Skydance, Bill Damaschke (formerly of DreamWorks Animation) is out, and the Man from Pixar is in.

John Lasseter, the Pixar co-founder who was forced to resign from the Walt Disney Company in June after complaints about unwanted touching in the workplace, has become one of the first men toppled in the #MeToo era to find a new Hollywood perch.

David Ellison, a “Mission: Impossible” producer and founder of Skydance Media, a production company affiliated with Paramount Pictures, said on Wednesday that Mr. Lasseter would become Skydance’s animation chief. Mr. Lasseter, 61, will start this month at the company. ...

Mr. Lasseter might have been pushed out the air lock at Disney due to busy hands, but Skydance's Ellison sees more benefit than cost in hiring Mr. Lasseter. If Mr. Lasseter can deliver animated blockbusters or even fair-sized hits, then CEO Ellison's new hire might have been worth it. But there is a bit of surprise and blowback regarding Sundance Animation's new executive.

... “He’s a talented guy but, really, has there been any contrition?” wondered one film executive who declined to be identified. ...

If John Lasseter can deliver a big hit, that will likely ease a lot of high-rollers' minds at Skydance.

But Lasster isn't the only animation mucky-muck who's making a move...

... Universal announced this afternoon that DreamWorks Animation Group President Chris deFaria, after two years in the position, is exiting the studio in the coming months.

In his place, Universal Pictures Chairman Donna Langley has promoted DWA TV president Margie Cohn who will now oversee both film and television operations. ...

I don't know who was disappointed in Mr. Defaria's stewardship (How to Train Your Dragon 3 has opened well Down Under, after all) but today's action points to Donna Langley being more positive about Ms. Cohn than Mr. deFaria. There's really no other conclusion to come to, is there?

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