Kids


WWE Studios plans TV originals assault

WWE Studios is expanding beyond feature films and into original TV and digital content production. The production arm of wrestling/sports entertainment giant WWE is looking to work with coproducers on scripted and reality TV shows, and is also eyeing the family and animated spaces. WWE Studios president Michael Luisi will continue to oversee the business, […]

Studio Ghibli appoints new president

Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli has appointed Kiyofumi Nakajima as its new president. Nakajima will replace Koji Hoshino, who has acted as president since 2008. Hoshino will become Studio Ghibli’s new chairman and work on overseas expansion, merchandising, licensing and developing new business. Toshio Suzuki will continue to act as producer with all three execs […]

Pixar founder on leave after ‘unwanted hugs’ accusation

John Lasseter, the chief creative officer for Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, will take a six-month break from work after misconduct allegations. Pixar staff told The Hollywood Reporter that Lasseter often gave “unwanted hugs” and invaded the personal space of his colleagues. Staffers have also accused the man behind films such as Toy Story, […]

Blue Ant TV boss steps down in rejig

Blue Ant Media’s CEO of television and digital, Raja Khanna, is leaving the Canadian content business after more than a decade. He will leave his post at the end of the year, as the company continues to position itself as an international production, distribution and channels operation. “In order to deliver on our growth strategy, […]

eOne sales down but Peppa props up profits

Entertainment One (eOne) has seen its half-year revenues dip slightly, but evergreen kids series Peppa Pig drove group profits up as it continues to build scale. London-listed eOne posted unaudited revenues of £395.7 million (US$523.7 million), which was down 1% from £401 million in the same period the year before. However, underlying EBITDA was up […]

Blue Ant builds out global division with hires

Canada-based international producer and distributor Blue Ant Media has appointed Aser Group’s Beatrice Lee (pictured) and National Geogarphic’s Carlyn Staudt for its newly launched kids and global division. The hires come as Blue Ant rapidly expands internationally after buying David Haslingden’s Racat Group. Lee has been appointed to the newly created role as CEO for […]

Mattel content chief exits for NBCU

Mattel chief content officer Catherine Balsam-Schwaber has moved to NBCUniversal (NBCU) in a move that appears to end Mattel’s ambitions in the original programming space. Last year, Mattel trumpeted its hire of Balsam-Schwaber to lead production division Mattel Creations at MIPTV, but she has now joined NBCU’s crafts-focused online portal Craftsy as general manager. “We […]

Warner Bros. hires Nick exec for toon series

Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) has hired Nickelodeon’s Audrey Diehl as VP of series. The new post will see the development exec overseeing programming development and select current series. Diehl (pictured) has been with Viacom-owned Nick for 14 years, the past four as VP of animation development. At Warner Bros., she’ll report to president of WBA […]

Breakthrough exec transfers to D360

Breakthrough Entertainment’s Jodi Mackie is moving to another Toronto-based sales house, Distribution360 (D360). Mackie has joined the distributor as director of sales and acquisitions after ten years with Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables vendor Breakthrough. At D360, she will work across the company catalogue, which comprises kids, family and unscripted. She debuts at […]

Cyber Group hires ex-TF1, Gaumont veterans

France’s Cyber Group Studios has added former TF1 Production and Gaumont Animation production execs as the newly minted kids firm continues to expand. Stéphanie Baclet (pictured) has been named head of productions at Cyber Group’s new studio in the Hauts-de-France region, with Caroline Audebert taking the same role in Paris. Baclet previously worked as studio […]