Disney & Skydance exec Jonathan Schneider lands at Invisible Universe

Jonathan Schneider

Disney and Skydance veteran Jonathan Schneider has been hired by animation firm Invisible Universe to lead its adoption of new technology.

Schneider becomes president of studios at Invisible and is tasked with expanding the business and implementation of tech such as motion capture, real-time rendering and artificial intelligence.

He took up the role earlier this month and reports into Invisible CEO, Tricia Biggio, who co-founded the firm in 2018. Backers include tennis player Serena Williams, actor Jennifer Aniston and Dreamers VC, the firm backed by Hollywood star Will Smith.

The prodco, which raised $12m in August and has hired execs including former Nickelodeon exec Nerissa Holder Hall, is behind shows including Qai Qai, based on a doll launched by Williams.

The company aims to grow the popularity of its characters on social media before launching content via TV, while also rolling out films, merchandise and games.

Schneider worked for agencies including WME before to Nickelodeon Animation in 2007. He then spent eight years at Disney TV Animation, leading development and budgets for its channels business.

He left in 2019, joining Skydance as SVP of operations and business strategy, exiting earlier this year.

Biggio said: “Jonathan is a bit of a Hollywood unicorn in that he has straddled both creative and operations at executive levels for some of the biggest companies in media.

“He shares the vision for Invisible Universe to continue redefining what it means to launch new franchises for this next generation.”