Exclusive: DreamWorks Animation/Universal’s Kung Fu Panda 4 crossed the $500M mark globally this past weekend, reaching the milestone on a staggered release pattern that has worked well for the partners in the past (think Puss in Boots: The Last Wish). Through Wednesday, it’s at $324M international box office and $509M worldwide.
Directed by Mike Mitchell (and co-directed by Stephanie Ma Stine), the fourquel arrived eight years after the third installment of the franchise that began in 2008 and is the first of the series released by Universal after the studio acquired Dwa in 2016. All told thus far, the series has grossed $2.328B, the No .2 highest-grossing Dwa franchise behind Shrek.
KFP4, which has done gangbusters in Mexico ($35.6M through Wednesday) and logged the biggest April animation opening of all time in Korea, is poised to become the third-highest-grossing film of the bunch. Although if comping to current exchange rates...
Directed by Mike Mitchell (and co-directed by Stephanie Ma Stine), the fourquel arrived eight years after the third installment of the franchise that began in 2008 and is the first of the series released by Universal after the studio acquired Dwa in 2016. All told thus far, the series has grossed $2.328B, the No .2 highest-grossing Dwa franchise behind Shrek.
KFP4, which has done gangbusters in Mexico ($35.6M through Wednesday) and logged the biggest April animation opening of all time in Korea, is poised to become the third-highest-grossing film of the bunch. Although if comping to current exchange rates...
- 5/2/2024
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Audiences will get the opportunity to preview footage from DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming animated feature “The Wild Robot” at the Annecy International Film Festival.
The studio, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, will showcase “The Wild Robot” footage on June 11 with a filmmaker presentation from writer and director Chris Sanders (“The Croods”). An Artists’ Panel discussion with the film’s creative leadership team will also take place later that day.
On June 12, the filmmakers will be doing a special book signing at the Bonlieu library.
Based on Peter Brown’s book, “The Wild Robot” follows the journey of Roz, a robot who finds themselves shipwrecked on an uninhabited island. Roz soon learns to adjust to their new surroundings and finds friendship through the animals on the island. The film’s voice cast includes Lupita Nyong’o as Roz, Pedro Pascal as the fox Fink, Catherine O’Hara as the opossum Pinktail, Bill Nighy...
The studio, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, will showcase “The Wild Robot” footage on June 11 with a filmmaker presentation from writer and director Chris Sanders (“The Croods”). An Artists’ Panel discussion with the film’s creative leadership team will also take place later that day.
On June 12, the filmmakers will be doing a special book signing at the Bonlieu library.
Based on Peter Brown’s book, “The Wild Robot” follows the journey of Roz, a robot who finds themselves shipwrecked on an uninhabited island. Roz soon learns to adjust to their new surroundings and finds friendship through the animals on the island. The film’s voice cast includes Lupita Nyong’o as Roz, Pedro Pascal as the fox Fink, Catherine O’Hara as the opossum Pinktail, Bill Nighy...
- 4/24/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Universal brought its CinemaCon presentation to a heartfelt finale in Las Vegas on Wednesday with a 30-minute segment dedicated to the glittering jewel of its 2024 release slate, Wicked.
Leads Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who play the witches Elphaba and Glinda from the magical Land of Oz, introduced footage to the first part of Jon Chu’s Broadway adaptation, which recently wrapped production in London and is scheduled to open on November 27. The second instalment comes out on November 26, 2025.
Chu fought back tears as he joined the film’s producer Marc Platt, who won a Tony for the Broadway show,...
Leads Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who play the witches Elphaba and Glinda from the magical Land of Oz, introduced footage to the first part of Jon Chu’s Broadway adaptation, which recently wrapped production in London and is scheduled to open on November 27. The second instalment comes out on November 26, 2025.
Chu fought back tears as he joined the film’s producer Marc Platt, who won a Tony for the Broadway show,...
- 4/11/2024
- ScreenDaily
Universal brought its CinemaCon presentation to a heartfelt finale in Las Vegas on Wednesday with a 30-minute segment dedicated to the glittering jewel of its 2024 release slate, Wicked.
Leads Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who play the witches Elphaba and Glinda from the magical Land of Oz, introduced footage to the first part of Jon Chu’s Broadway adaptation, which recently wrapped production in London and is scheduled to open on November 27. The second instalment comes out on November 26, 2025.
Chu fought back tears as he joined the film’s producer Marc Platt, who won a Tony for the Broadway show,...
Leads Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who play the witches Elphaba and Glinda from the magical Land of Oz, introduced footage to the first part of Jon Chu’s Broadway adaptation, which recently wrapped production in London and is scheduled to open on November 27. The second instalment comes out on November 26, 2025.
Chu fought back tears as he joined the film’s producer Marc Platt, who won a Tony for the Broadway show,...
- 4/11/2024
- ScreenDaily
Three-time Oscar-nominated director Chris Sandlers and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o previewed unfinished footage of DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” at CinemaCon — what Sandlers says took inspiration from Disney classics and Hayao Miyazaki’s work, resulting in an original visual style that he described as “a Monet painting in a Miyazaki forest.”
Based on Peter Brown’s book, the story follows Roz, a robot voiced by Nyong’o, who is accidentally marooned on an uninhabited island. There, the city robot meets and learns from the animals in her new environment.
In this rich world, a fox meets and advises Roz. “You need to learn how things work on this island, and kindness is not a survival skill,” the fox says.
Soon Roz watches a gosling hatch, who believes Roz is his mother. They form a bond as Roz tries to figure out how the baby can learn to swim and fly.
Based on Peter Brown’s book, the story follows Roz, a robot voiced by Nyong’o, who is accidentally marooned on an uninhabited island. There, the city robot meets and learns from the animals in her new environment.
In this rich world, a fox meets and advises Roz. “You need to learn how things work on this island, and kindness is not a survival skill,” the fox says.
Soon Roz watches a gosling hatch, who believes Roz is his mother. They form a bond as Roz tries to figure out how the baby can learn to swim and fly.
- 4/11/2024
- by Carolyn Giardina
- Variety Film + TV
Nonprofit media company Shine Global celebrated its second annual Children’s Resilience in Film Awards at Paramount Studios on Tuesday night. Recognizing films and filmmakers around the world that highlight the resilience and strength of children in the face of adversities such as poverty, violence, illness and discrimination, the awards honored documentary Name Me Lawand with the event’s grand prize of $15,000.
Directed by Edward Lovelace, Name Me Lawand follows a deaf Kurdish boy’s emotional journey toward discovering how to express himself using British Sign Language, depicting the power of communication and community.
“This award is for Lawand — for his bravery, his determination in getting his message out to the world. His message is a beautiful one, which guided the entire filmmaking process,” said Lovelace in a written acceptance speech read by cinematographer Lol Crawley. “We as filmmakers have learned so much just by watching and listening to these...
Directed by Edward Lovelace, Name Me Lawand follows a deaf Kurdish boy’s emotional journey toward discovering how to express himself using British Sign Language, depicting the power of communication and community.
“This award is for Lawand — for his bravery, his determination in getting his message out to the world. His message is a beautiful one, which guided the entire filmmaking process,” said Lovelace in a written acceptance speech read by cinematographer Lol Crawley. “We as filmmakers have learned so much just by watching and listening to these...
- 10/4/2023
- by Sydney Odman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
When DreamWorks purchased the “Trolls” franchise in 2013, it seemed like an odd revival. The furry creatures had been lost in the 1990’s after being the toy fad of a generation.
Since then, DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures managed to turn this IP back into a multi-million dollar success story, powered by catchy songs from star-studded casts and topped with glitter, lots of it. Clips from the third film, due to be released on Nov. 17 in the U.S, were presented Thursday at France’s Annecy Animation Festival, the world’s biggest toon fest, in front of an electrified audience.
Introduced by director Walt Dohrn and producer Gina Shay (returning for their third “Trolls”film together), along with co-director Tim Heitz, the whimsical world of “Trolls Band Together” unveiled itself as a richer and brighter universe than ever, leaving fans’ eyes sparkling.
“We wanted to go even further than the previous films,...
Since then, DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures managed to turn this IP back into a multi-million dollar success story, powered by catchy songs from star-studded casts and topped with glitter, lots of it. Clips from the third film, due to be released on Nov. 17 in the U.S, were presented Thursday at France’s Annecy Animation Festival, the world’s biggest toon fest, in front of an electrified audience.
Introduced by director Walt Dohrn and producer Gina Shay (returning for their third “Trolls”film together), along with co-director Tim Heitz, the whimsical world of “Trolls Band Together” unveiled itself as a richer and brighter universe than ever, leaving fans’ eyes sparkling.
“We wanted to go even further than the previous films,...
- 6/17/2023
- by Kevin Giraud
- Variety Film + TV
DreamWorks Animation is committing to “subverting the hero’s journey,” said president Margie Cohn at Annecy, introducing “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” and “Orion and the Dark.”
One of the big U.S. world premieres at Annecy, the world’s biggest animation festival, “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” featured at a DreamWorks Animation studio focus at Annecy, the world’s biggest animation festival.
“DreamWorks has a long tradition of taking an unlikely hero, like a chubby panda or an ogre with a heart of gold, and subverting your expectations. We will take what you think might be an evil sea monster and convince you she is actually the hero,” “Ruby Gillman” producer, Kelly Cooney Cilella, added.
Commenting also on the company’s long list of strong female characters, from Princess Fiona to Princess Poppy from “Trolls, she added that “We think Ruby is next. And this time, she is in the title.
One of the big U.S. world premieres at Annecy, the world’s biggest animation festival, “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” featured at a DreamWorks Animation studio focus at Annecy, the world’s biggest animation festival.
“DreamWorks has a long tradition of taking an unlikely hero, like a chubby panda or an ogre with a heart of gold, and subverting your expectations. We will take what you think might be an evil sea monster and convince you she is actually the hero,” “Ruby Gillman” producer, Kelly Cooney Cilella, added.
Commenting also on the company’s long list of strong female characters, from Princess Fiona to Princess Poppy from “Trolls, she added that “We think Ruby is next. And this time, she is in the title.
- 6/14/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
In February 2013, Dreamworks Animation Television teamed with Netflix on its first-ever children’s and family series, Turbo Fast. Just four months later, the studio and streamer would unveil a multiyear content deal — 300 hours of exclusive original, first-run content.
The pact was the official beginning of the television animation studio and at that time, the largest content deal in the streamer’s history. One of the most significant signs of the rise and permanence of the streaming era, the deal heralded a new age for the kids and family content industry.
Dreamworks Animation TV and current Dwa president Margie Cohn’s team would spend the next decade steering the studio through that and an NBC Universal acquisition, producing more than 2,100 episodes of animated programming across 43 series and partnering with Netflix, Apple TV+, Hulu, Peacock, Amazon and free-to-air broadcasters around the globe.
“The whole thing started on the back of the biggest order of television in history,...
The pact was the official beginning of the television animation studio and at that time, the largest content deal in the streamer’s history. One of the most significant signs of the rise and permanence of the streaming era, the deal heralded a new age for the kids and family content industry.
Dreamworks Animation TV and current Dwa president Margie Cohn’s team would spend the next decade steering the studio through that and an NBC Universal acquisition, producing more than 2,100 episodes of animated programming across 43 series and partnering with Netflix, Apple TV+, Hulu, Peacock, Amazon and free-to-air broadcasters around the globe.
“The whole thing started on the back of the biggest order of television in history,...
- 6/8/2023
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Dreamworks Animation got some help from Jack Black, Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake to highlight its upcoming slate, including Trolls Band Together — a new movie from its Trolls franchise set to open Nov. 17 — and Kung Fu Panda 4, slated for a March 8, 2024 release.
Jack Black — the voice of panda Po — got a hero’s welcome as he took the stage to introduce Kung Fu Panda 4. He described the story for the spring 2024 release via a comedic and dramatic monologue: “Po faces his biggest challenge ever. Will he survive?”
Black shared that Po is set to become the spiritual leader of his Valley of Peace, but also needs a succession plan for his role as the chosen Dragon Warrior. In the story, he also will train a new kung fu practitioner and meets a villain called the Chameleon who can summon villains from the past. “Po has to defeat every one of them,...
Jack Black — the voice of panda Po — got a hero’s welcome as he took the stage to introduce Kung Fu Panda 4. He described the story for the spring 2024 release via a comedic and dramatic monologue: “Po faces his biggest challenge ever. Will he survive?”
Black shared that Po is set to become the spiritual leader of his Valley of Peace, but also needs a succession plan for his role as the chosen Dragon Warrior. In the story, he also will train a new kung fu practitioner and meets a villain called the Chameleon who can summon villains from the past. “Po has to defeat every one of them,...
- 4/27/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Universal, the studio that owns the highest-grossing movie of the year so far with its billion-dollar-bound The Super Mario Bros Movie, brought the stars and filmmakers to CinemaCon on Wednesday. Could we expect anything less?
Showing up were Vin Diesel. There was also Christopher Nolan, Jack Black, Justin Timberlake, Will Ferrell, David Gordon Green and producer Jason Blum, and Illumination CEO and founder Chris Meledandri.
Uni began its late-afternoon presentation at Caesars Palace Colosseum Theatre with a reel of filmmakers heralding the cinema experience including Steven Spielberg, Jordan Peele, Blum, Kelly McCormack, Louis Leterrier, Jon M Chu, James Wan, Judd Apatow, Elizabeth Banks, Meledandri, Alexander Payne, Margie Cohn, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Tricia Cooke, Ethan Coen, Phil and Chris Lord, The Daniels, Wes Anderson, and Chris Nolan.
Showing up were Vin Diesel. There was also Christopher Nolan, Jack Black, Justin Timberlake, Will Ferrell, David Gordon Green and producer Jason Blum, and Illumination CEO and founder Chris Meledandri.
Uni began its late-afternoon presentation at Caesars Palace Colosseum Theatre with a reel of filmmakers heralding the cinema experience including Steven Spielberg, Jordan Peele, Blum, Kelly McCormack, Louis Leterrier, Jon M Chu, James Wan, Judd Apatow, Elizabeth Banks, Meledandri, Alexander Payne, Margie Cohn, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Tricia Cooke, Ethan Coen, Phil and Chris Lord, The Daniels, Wes Anderson, and Chris Nolan.
- 4/27/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro, Nancy Tartaglione and Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
DreamWorks Animation is definitely having a moment, especially coming off the Oscar-nominated “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” They’ll continue that celebration this summer at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, held in the rolling hills of France in mid-June.
The studio’s presentations will include the premiere of “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,” an early glimpse at “Trolls Band Together” and the first look at new, yet-unannounced projects.
On Tuesday, June 13, at 4 p.m., at the L’Impérial Palace, DreamWorks Animation will present a Studio Focus session on two upcoming film projects. “The Croods” director Kirk DeMicco will lead a discussion on the visual design and making of his new film “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.” The press release also mentions that the presentation will also “offer attendees an exclusive first look at an unannounced film from the studio” and if it’s the film we think it is … get ready.
The studio’s presentations will include the premiere of “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,” an early glimpse at “Trolls Band Together” and the first look at new, yet-unannounced projects.
On Tuesday, June 13, at 4 p.m., at the L’Impérial Palace, DreamWorks Animation will present a Studio Focus session on two upcoming film projects. “The Croods” director Kirk DeMicco will lead a discussion on the visual design and making of his new film “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.” The press release also mentions that the presentation will also “offer attendees an exclusive first look at an unannounced film from the studio” and if it’s the film we think it is … get ready.
- 4/20/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
DreamWorks Animation will reveal exclusive looks of their new projects at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, including the premiere of the new film “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” and a work-in-progress presentation of “Trolls Band Together,” as well as first look at an unannounced film from the studio. DreamWorks will also host an outdoor screening of “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.”
“We are excited to showcase our newest projects to the global animation community at Annecy,” says Margie Cohn, president of DreamWorks Animation.
“As a studio that celebrates creativity and innovation, it’s an honor for us to participate in this annual event and share our passion for animation with fans from around the world. We look forward to connecting with other industry leaders, and for the opportunity to engage with audiences through the power of storytelling.”
“Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” is a film by Academy award nominee Kirk DeMicco.
“We are excited to showcase our newest projects to the global animation community at Annecy,” says Margie Cohn, president of DreamWorks Animation.
“As a studio that celebrates creativity and innovation, it’s an honor for us to participate in this annual event and share our passion for animation with fans from around the world. We look forward to connecting with other industry leaders, and for the opportunity to engage with audiences through the power of storytelling.”
“Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” is a film by Academy award nominee Kirk DeMicco.
- 4/20/2023
- by Sophia Scorziello
- Variety Film + TV
DreamWorks Animation has set its presentation for the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
DreamWorks boasts the world premiere of star-studded feature “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” and a special in-progress sneak peek at viral franchise installment “Trolls Band Together.”
“We are excited to showcase our newest projects to the global animation community at Annecy,” DreamWorks Animation President Margie Cohn said. “As a studio that celebrates creativity and innovation, it’s an honor for us to participate in this annual event and share our passion for animation with fans from around the world. We look forward to connecting with other industry leaders, and for the opportunity to engage with audiences through the power of storytelling.”
The 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival will be held from June 11 to 17. A special Studio Focus session on June 13 will feature Academy Award-nominated director Kirk DeMicco discussing visual design and the making of the new original film “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.
DreamWorks boasts the world premiere of star-studded feature “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” and a special in-progress sneak peek at viral franchise installment “Trolls Band Together.”
“We are excited to showcase our newest projects to the global animation community at Annecy,” DreamWorks Animation President Margie Cohn said. “As a studio that celebrates creativity and innovation, it’s an honor for us to participate in this annual event and share our passion for animation with fans from around the world. We look forward to connecting with other industry leaders, and for the opportunity to engage with audiences through the power of storytelling.”
The 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival will be held from June 11 to 17. A special Studio Focus session on June 13 will feature Academy Award-nominated director Kirk DeMicco discussing visual design and the making of the new original film “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.
- 4/20/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Deadline’s Most Valuable Blockbuster tournament took a hiatus during the pandemic as movie theaters closed for the majority of 2020-2021 and theatrical day-and-date titles on both the big screen and studios’ respective streaming platforms became more prevalent. Coming back from that brink, the studios have largely returned to their theatrical release models and the downstream monies they can bring. Not to mention their power in launching IPs around the world with big global marketing campaigns. When it comes to evaluating the financial performance of top movies, it isn’t about what a film grosses at the box office. The true tale is told when production budgets, P&a, talent participations and other costs collide with box office grosses, and ancillary revenues from VOD to DVD and TV. To get close to that mysterious end of the equation, Deadline is repeating our Most Valuable Blockbuster tournament for 2022, using data culled by seasoned and trusted sources.
- 4/5/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Coming into a franchise as storied as the Shrek series, director Joel Crawford was thrilled at the opportunity to show a new side of the iconic Puss in Boots. A sequel to the 2011 Puss in Boots film, DreamWorks Animation’s Puss in Boots: The Last Wish takes place after Shrek Forever After, when Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) is accidentally killed by a bell and discovers he is down to his ninth, and final, life. After a brush with a mysterious wolf who is determined to take his last life, Puss decides to live the rest of his life in hiding. However, he soon learns about a wishing star that could help them get his lives back. Crawford wanted to take the story of Puss in Boots into a darker direction than the other films in the Shrek franchise, using inspiration from Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,...
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,...
- 12/27/2022
- by Ryan Fleming
- Deadline Film + TV
As calls for diversity and gender parity in entertainment are reshaping the industry, animation continues to promote and represent women in game-changing roles, for executives and creative leaders.
Jennifer Lee leads Walt Disney Animation Studios. Kristine Belson runs Sony Animation. Karen Toliver heads Netflix’s toon arm. Ramsey Naito oversees Nickelodeon. Margie Cohn tops DreamWorks. And of course there are a many more.
“I think it was initially maybe 10 or 15 years ago, it was an area where women could get into a leadership role, somewhere on the ladder of say series production as a production executive, or studio executive in a junior way,” says Meredith Roberts, executive vice president, TV animation, Disney branded television.
“Over time they’ve had success and they’ve climbed the ladder and become much higher caliber, top producers, a senior studio level people, and along the way, because they were afforded those opportunities, they’ve...
Jennifer Lee leads Walt Disney Animation Studios. Kristine Belson runs Sony Animation. Karen Toliver heads Netflix’s toon arm. Ramsey Naito oversees Nickelodeon. Margie Cohn tops DreamWorks. And of course there are a many more.
“I think it was initially maybe 10 or 15 years ago, it was an area where women could get into a leadership role, somewhere on the ladder of say series production as a production executive, or studio executive in a junior way,” says Meredith Roberts, executive vice president, TV animation, Disney branded television.
“Over time they’ve had success and they’ve climbed the ladder and become much higher caliber, top producers, a senior studio level people, and along the way, because they were afforded those opportunities, they’ve...
- 12/5/2022
- by Karen Idelson
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
When families settle into their seats to watch DreamWorks Animation’s latest release Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, they’ll be welcomed by a set of new yet familiar faces.
To help trumpet in its latest era, the studio is unveiling a new curtain raiser, which will make its debut nationwide during special Nov. 26 “Caturday” early screenings of the Shrek franchise sequel — ahead of its Dec. 21 theatrical release. The 32-second dream-like sequence spotlights a number of the studio’s most popular and long-running franchises in both film and TV, before settling on its classic moon shot.
“We make dreams come to life on screen, so the idea was basically that you go into the dreams of a new child. They are taking you through this dreamscape and reintroducing you to these iconic figures that we’ve created over all these years,” says production designer Kendal Cronkhite,...
When families settle into their seats to watch DreamWorks Animation’s latest release Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, they’ll be welcomed by a set of new yet familiar faces.
To help trumpet in its latest era, the studio is unveiling a new curtain raiser, which will make its debut nationwide during special Nov. 26 “Caturday” early screenings of the Shrek franchise sequel — ahead of its Dec. 21 theatrical release. The 32-second dream-like sequence spotlights a number of the studio’s most popular and long-running franchises in both film and TV, before settling on its classic moon shot.
“We make dreams come to life on screen, so the idea was basically that you go into the dreams of a new child. They are taking you through this dreamscape and reintroducing you to these iconic figures that we’ve created over all these years,” says production designer Kendal Cronkhite,...
- 11/25/2022
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
At “Netflix at The Grove,” a two-story, 10,000-square-foot shopping experience in Los Angeles, fans can browse and purchase merchandise from four of the streamer’s biggest properties. That includes global hits Squid Game, Stranger Things and Bridgerton, as well as a title that might be less expected: preschool series Gabby’s Dollhouse.
Making its debut on Jan. 5, 2021, the DreamWorks Animation show could be called a sleeper hit in that it’s breaking records for both the streamer and its studio to less obvious fanfare than the more adult titles it shares Grove shelf space with — and even some of its kids and family programming counterparts (think Bluey and Cocomelon).
“Series like Gabby’s Dollhouse are few and far between, especially in this highly competitive and crowded television landscape,” Margie Cohn, president, DreamWorks Animation, tells The Hollywood Reporter. “The most popular properties today are still the...
At “Netflix at The Grove,” a two-story, 10,000-square-foot shopping experience in Los Angeles, fans can browse and purchase merchandise from four of the streamer’s biggest properties. That includes global hits Squid Game, Stranger Things and Bridgerton, as well as a title that might be less expected: preschool series Gabby’s Dollhouse.
Making its debut on Jan. 5, 2021, the DreamWorks Animation show could be called a sleeper hit in that it’s breaking records for both the streamer and its studio to less obvious fanfare than the more adult titles it shares Grove shelf space with — and even some of its kids and family programming counterparts (think Bluey and Cocomelon).
“Series like Gabby’s Dollhouse are few and far between, especially in this highly competitive and crowded television landscape,” Margie Cohn, president, DreamWorks Animation, tells The Hollywood Reporter. “The most popular properties today are still the...
- 11/3/2022
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
The potential for advances in technology to help create and share new types of stories, as well as diversity and inclusion, were key themes during a discussion of the future of storytelling at the View VFX and animation conference, which is taking place this week in person in Turin, Italy, and virtually via a livestream.
Speakers including Lucasfilm and Ilm’s creative head Rob Bredow discussed everything from VR and Ar experiences to new forms of entertainment such as Walt Disney World’s Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience. “That kind of storytelling, building a film world, opened my eyes to the kind of stories we can create,” Bredow said of the latter, citing opportunities “for more types of storytelling and more personalized stories.”
Director Peter Ramsey — an Oscar-winner for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse — warned that these opportunities can be “more engaging if done well,...
The potential for advances in technology to help create and share new types of stories, as well as diversity and inclusion, were key themes during a discussion of the future of storytelling at the View VFX and animation conference, which is taking place this week in person in Turin, Italy, and virtually via a livestream.
Speakers including Lucasfilm and Ilm’s creative head Rob Bredow discussed everything from VR and Ar experiences to new forms of entertainment such as Walt Disney World’s Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience. “That kind of storytelling, building a film world, opened my eyes to the kind of stories we can create,” Bredow said of the latter, citing opportunities “for more types of storytelling and more personalized stories.”
Director Peter Ramsey — an Oscar-winner for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse — warned that these opportunities can be “more engaging if done well,...
- 10/20/2022
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
If it’s possible to pull off solemn conversations about the stakes for women around the world and also have a fantastic party that toasts their remarkable achievements, Variety did just that on Wednesday in Beverly Hills.
In a sprawling takeover of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, heavy-hitting executives, producers, writers, talent and glitterati convened to celebrate the annual event and magazine feature.
Cover stars Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Ava DuVernay, activist icon Malala Yousafzai, and actor Elizabeth Olsen were all in attendance to speak on behalf of causes important to each of them — as well as lighting a path forward to equity in a time of unrest for women and other marginalized communities in the U.S..
“It’s a choice to be optimistic,” Hilary Clinton told the crowd, addressing the striking down of the landmark American abortion legislation Roe v. Wade, the...
In a sprawling takeover of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, heavy-hitting executives, producers, writers, talent and glitterati convened to celebrate the annual event and magazine feature.
Cover stars Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Ava DuVernay, activist icon Malala Yousafzai, and actor Elizabeth Olsen were all in attendance to speak on behalf of causes important to each of them — as well as lighting a path forward to equity in a time of unrest for women and other marginalized communities in the U.S..
“It’s a choice to be optimistic,” Hilary Clinton told the crowd, addressing the striking down of the landmark American abortion legislation Roe v. Wade, the...
- 9/29/2022
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Named president of DreamWorks Animation in January, Margie Cohn runs the studio’s film and television divisions, overseeing the release of two feature films each year via parent company NBCUniversal and the roughly 25 series in active production.
Cohn has been with the studio since 2013, building the DreamWorks Animation Television unit after the studio signed a groundbreaking series content deal with Netflix.
“I’m so proud of what we’re doing,” says Cohn. “I’m proud and honored to be leading this studio. I have always thought DreamWorks stood for quality and innovation, and my goal is to build upon that for the future.”
From day one, Cohn has been “hyper-focused” on developing content at DreamWorks, bringing in new voices while nurturing the studio’s existing talent.
“We have a lot of people who have great ideas and great skill sets, and we want to add to that,” she says. “Donna Langley...
Cohn has been with the studio since 2013, building the DreamWorks Animation Television unit after the studio signed a groundbreaking series content deal with Netflix.
“I’m so proud of what we’re doing,” says Cohn. “I’m proud and honored to be leading this studio. I have always thought DreamWorks stood for quality and innovation, and my goal is to build upon that for the future.”
From day one, Cohn has been “hyper-focused” on developing content at DreamWorks, bringing in new voices while nurturing the studio’s existing talent.
“We have a lot of people who have great ideas and great skill sets, and we want to add to that,” she says. “Donna Langley...
- 10/10/2019
- by Jennifer Wolfe
- Variety Film + TV
When Margie Cohn first came to DreamWorks Animation to build its nascent TV business in 2013, she thought she was heading a department of about five people — the team who sat near her office on the studio’s Mediterranean-style Glendale lot. Soon, however, Cohn learned that a group of writers who were gathering every day beside the campus’ burbling central fountain also were under her purview. “The people at the fountain actually didn’t have a place to sit yet, just some bullpen where they couldn’t really work,” Cohn says. “And they were working for ...
- 10/9/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
When Margie Cohn first came to DreamWorks Animation to build its nascent TV business in 2013, she thought she was heading a department of about five people — the team who sat near her office on the studio’s Mediterranean-style Glendale lot. Soon, however, Cohn learned that a group of writers who were gathering every day beside the campus’ burbling central fountain also were under her purview. “The people at the fountain actually didn’t have a place to sit yet, just some bullpen where they couldn’t really work,” Cohn says. “And they were working for ...
- 10/9/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Annecy — “·Hello, I’m Margie Cohn, and I am president of DreamWorks….”
By that time, as she walked onto the stage at Annecy on Tuesday for a DreamWorks Animation presentation of upcoming titles, Dwa president Cohn’s self introduction had been drowned by a barrage of applause and yelps of approbation.
It’s hard to underestimate the goodwill that Universal’s DreamWorks Animation has built up over the years at Annecy, first by creating a studio as an alternative to Disney, and most recently by one of its crowning achievements, the “How to Train Your Dragon” movie trilogy, presented as works in progress at Annecy to reverent appreciation, and celebrated this year by a medley of special moments from the three movies and the presence on stage of director Dean Deblois.
That said, the two upcoming movies that Cohn and creatives previewed at Annecy – a full 25 minutes of “Abominable” and...
By that time, as she walked onto the stage at Annecy on Tuesday for a DreamWorks Animation presentation of upcoming titles, Dwa president Cohn’s self introduction had been drowned by a barrage of applause and yelps of approbation.
It’s hard to underestimate the goodwill that Universal’s DreamWorks Animation has built up over the years at Annecy, first by creating a studio as an alternative to Disney, and most recently by one of its crowning achievements, the “How to Train Your Dragon” movie trilogy, presented as works in progress at Annecy to reverent appreciation, and celebrated this year by a medley of special moments from the three movies and the presence on stage of director Dean Deblois.
That said, the two upcoming movies that Cohn and creatives previewed at Annecy – a full 25 minutes of “Abominable” and...
- 6/11/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Just days after the latest trailer for Abominable dropped, DreamWorks wowed the audience at the 2019 Annecy International Animated Film Festival by unveiling a full 25 minutes of the upcoming film. Six key scenes and several stills were revealed during the company's powerhouse presentation, which also included the first 10 minutes of the new Trolls World Tour sequel and the world premiere of its short Marooned.
The team behind Abominable, DreamWorks president Margie Cohn and Pearl Studio chief creative officer Peilin Chou, touted the film's groundbreaking cast and crew and hailed it as a “love letter to China.”
Chou noted ...
The team behind Abominable, DreamWorks president Margie Cohn and Pearl Studio chief creative officer Peilin Chou, touted the film's groundbreaking cast and crew and hailed it as a “love letter to China.”
Chou noted ...
- 6/11/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Just days after the latest trailer for Abominable dropped, DreamWorks wowed the audience at the 2019 Annecy International Animated Film Festival by unveiling a full 25 minutes of the upcoming film. Six key scenes and several stills were revealed during the company's powerhouse presentation, which also included the first 10 minutes of the new Trolls World Tour sequel and the world premiere of its short Marooned.
The team behind Abominable, DreamWorks president Margie Cohn and Pearl Studio chief creative officer Peilin Chou, touted the film's groundbreaking cast and crew and hailed it as a “love letter to China.”
Chou noted ...
The team behind Abominable, DreamWorks president Margie Cohn and Pearl Studio chief creative officer Peilin Chou, touted the film's groundbreaking cast and crew and hailed it as a “love letter to China.”
Chou noted ...
- 6/11/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Like the art form it celebrates, the Annecy International Animated Film Festival has been growing creatively and commercially by leaps and bounds — increasingly attracting attention from Hollywood’s expanding roster of animation studios.
Annecy artistic director Marcel Jean says the number of festival goers has nearly doubled since 2013 to 11,700 in 2018. The number of projects has also soared, prompting the addition this year of a competition called Contrechamps for lower-budget, indie feature films.
And while the Mifa market at the Imperial Palace drew nearly 3,800 badge-holders last year, an annual increase of 22 percent, it’s the festival’s appreciation of and openness to the creativity of animation that draws an influential audience too tempting for studios to pass up.
“It’s really about the art of animation there, not so much about the business of animation,” says Melissa Cobb, VP of kids and family at Netflix, which is officially attending the festival...
Annecy artistic director Marcel Jean says the number of festival goers has nearly doubled since 2013 to 11,700 in 2018. The number of projects has also soared, prompting the addition this year of a competition called Contrechamps for lower-budget, indie feature films.
And while the Mifa market at the Imperial Palace drew nearly 3,800 badge-holders last year, an annual increase of 22 percent, it’s the festival’s appreciation of and openness to the creativity of animation that draws an influential audience too tempting for studios to pass up.
“It’s really about the art of animation there, not so much about the business of animation,” says Melissa Cobb, VP of kids and family at Netflix, which is officially attending the festival...
- 6/5/2019
- by Thomas J. McLean
- Variety Film + TV
Universal’s DreamWorks Animation has unveiled first-look images of “Marooned,” the latest title in its burgeoning short films program. The film is produced by Jeff Hermann, just attached to produce Tom McGrath’s “The Boss Baby 2.”
Directed by Andrew Erekson,“Marooned” world premieres on June 11 at France’s Annecy Intl. Animation Film Festival as part of a DreamWorks Animation feature presentation which has now been expanded, to offer a first look at “Trolls World Tour,” the sequel to “Trolls,” which earned $347 million worldwide.
Part of a muscular DreamWorks Animation Annecy presence, hosted by president Margie Cohn, the Dwa feature presentation will also showcase excerpts from “Abominable,” written and directed by Jill Culton, as previously announced.
Hermann and Erekson, a story artist on “How To Train Your Dragon,” will both attend the Annecy presentation. Billed as a stylized look at a not too distant future, “Marooned” turns on C-oR13, a...
Directed by Andrew Erekson,“Marooned” world premieres on June 11 at France’s Annecy Intl. Animation Film Festival as part of a DreamWorks Animation feature presentation which has now been expanded, to offer a first look at “Trolls World Tour,” the sequel to “Trolls,” which earned $347 million worldwide.
Part of a muscular DreamWorks Animation Annecy presence, hosted by president Margie Cohn, the Dwa feature presentation will also showcase excerpts from “Abominable,” written and directed by Jill Culton, as previously announced.
Hermann and Erekson, a story artist on “How To Train Your Dragon,” will both attend the Annecy presentation. Billed as a stylized look at a not too distant future, “Marooned” turns on C-oR13, a...
- 5/28/2019
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Women in Animation, Les Femmes s’Animent announce June 10 date, programme line-up.
Celebrated academic and inclusion expert Stacy Smith and French actor and women’s activist Julie Gayet will be among the speakers at the Women in Animation World Summit in Annecy, France, on June 10.
Organised by Women in Animation (Wia) and Les Femmes s’Animent (Lfa), the third summit takes place in conjunction with the Annecy International Animation Festival and Mifa 2019 and has chosen the notion of belonging as this year’s theme.
The Walt Disney Studios vice-president of multicultural audience engagement and Wia secretary Julie Ann Crommett will kick off the day-long,...
Celebrated academic and inclusion expert Stacy Smith and French actor and women’s activist Julie Gayet will be among the speakers at the Women in Animation World Summit in Annecy, France, on June 10.
Organised by Women in Animation (Wia) and Les Femmes s’Animent (Lfa), the third summit takes place in conjunction with the Annecy International Animation Festival and Mifa 2019 and has chosen the notion of belonging as this year’s theme.
The Walt Disney Studios vice-president of multicultural audience engagement and Wia secretary Julie Ann Crommett will kick off the day-long,...
- 5/24/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Veteran Sony Pictures executive Randy Lake has joined DreamWorks Animation as chief operating officer.
Lake will start at DreamWorks Animation in July. In his new role, he will be responsible for strategic planning and primary business operations, including feature and television production, post production, business and legal affairs, finance and technology.
“As we solidify our leadership team, Randy provides a strong strategic vision that will be beneficial to the entire studio as we partner in taking DreamWorks into the future,” said Margie Cohn, DreamWorks Animation president. “His years of experience working cross-divisionally will allow us to expand upon the successful collaboration between our film and television divisions, as well as with our colleagues at Universal, furthering DreamWorks position as one of the most prolific animation studios in the world.”
Lake most recently served as president of studio operations and Imageworks at Sony Pictures Entertainment, where he oversaw all operations, strategy,...
Lake will start at DreamWorks Animation in July. In his new role, he will be responsible for strategic planning and primary business operations, including feature and television production, post production, business and legal affairs, finance and technology.
“As we solidify our leadership team, Randy provides a strong strategic vision that will be beneficial to the entire studio as we partner in taking DreamWorks into the future,” said Margie Cohn, DreamWorks Animation president. “His years of experience working cross-divisionally will allow us to expand upon the successful collaboration between our film and television divisions, as well as with our colleagues at Universal, furthering DreamWorks position as one of the most prolific animation studios in the world.”
Lake most recently served as president of studio operations and Imageworks at Sony Pictures Entertainment, where he oversaw all operations, strategy,...
- 5/15/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
DreamWorks Animation has set veteran Sony Pictures executive Randy Lake as its new chief operating officer. Starting in July, he will oversee the studio’s strategic planning and primary business operations, including feature and television production, post production, business and legal affairs, finance and technology.
“As we solidify our leadership team, Randy provides a strong strategic vision that will be beneficial to the entire studio as we partner in taking DreamWorks into the future,” DreamWorks Animation President Margie Cohn said. “His years of experience working cross-divisionally will allow us to expand upon the successful collaboration between our film and television divisions, as well as with our colleagues at Universal, furthering DreamWorks position as one of the most prolific animation studios in the world.”
Lake most recently served as President of Studio Operations & Imageworks at Sony Pictures Entertainment, where he oversaw all operations, strategy and planning for Sony Pictures Imageworks, post production services,...
“As we solidify our leadership team, Randy provides a strong strategic vision that will be beneficial to the entire studio as we partner in taking DreamWorks into the future,” DreamWorks Animation President Margie Cohn said. “His years of experience working cross-divisionally will allow us to expand upon the successful collaboration between our film and television divisions, as well as with our colleagues at Universal, furthering DreamWorks position as one of the most prolific animation studios in the world.”
Lake most recently served as President of Studio Operations & Imageworks at Sony Pictures Entertainment, where he oversaw all operations, strategy and planning for Sony Pictures Imageworks, post production services,...
- 5/15/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
When animation guru John Lasseter was ousted from his post at Pixar last year, trailed by a series of allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct, it seemed like a wake-up call for an animation industry that was slowly coming around to its own #MeToo moment. Yet Lasseter’s controversial hiring by Skydance Animation just months later highlighted the challenges of reshaping an industry that many women say has systematically worked against them.
“I do feel like there’s been a glass ceiling that I’ve been hitting up against,” Marge Dean, president of Women in Animation, says. “I feel like I have to justify myself and my position, or explain myself in more detail than my male colleagues have to. I think I have to work a little bit harder to prove myself.”
Some of the most powerful positions in the animation industry are held by women, including newly minted DreamWorks Animation president Margie Cohn,...
“I do feel like there’s been a glass ceiling that I’ve been hitting up against,” Marge Dean, president of Women in Animation, says. “I feel like I have to justify myself and my position, or explain myself in more detail than my male colleagues have to. I think I have to work a little bit harder to prove myself.”
Some of the most powerful positions in the animation industry are held by women, including newly minted DreamWorks Animation president Margie Cohn,...
- 5/15/2019
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Randy Lake will join DreamWorks Animation as its new chief operating officer starting in July, the studio on announced on Wednesday.
Lake moves to DreamWorks after a 13-year stint at Sony Pictures. In his new role, Lake will oversee DreamWorks’ strategic planning and primary business operations, including feature and TV production, post-production, business and legal affairs, finance and technology. The appointment was made by DreamWorks Animation president Margie Cohn.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Margie and her passionate and talented team and look forward to this opportunity to build upon DreamWorks’ storied legacy during such an exciting time at the studio,” Lake said in a statement.
Also Read: DreamWorks Animation President Margie Cohn Reorganizes Creative Ranks, Appoints New Executives
Lake’s move to the Universal-owned DreamWorks follows Amy Pascal who moved her production shingle from Sony to Universal earlier this month.
DreamWorks and Universal have been taking steps in...
Lake moves to DreamWorks after a 13-year stint at Sony Pictures. In his new role, Lake will oversee DreamWorks’ strategic planning and primary business operations, including feature and TV production, post-production, business and legal affairs, finance and technology. The appointment was made by DreamWorks Animation president Margie Cohn.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Margie and her passionate and talented team and look forward to this opportunity to build upon DreamWorks’ storied legacy during such an exciting time at the studio,” Lake said in a statement.
Also Read: DreamWorks Animation President Margie Cohn Reorganizes Creative Ranks, Appoints New Executives
Lake’s move to the Universal-owned DreamWorks follows Amy Pascal who moved her production shingle from Sony to Universal earlier this month.
DreamWorks and Universal have been taking steps in...
- 5/15/2019
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Film marketing veteran Jim Gallagher has been hired as Evp Marketing, Animation and Family at Warner Bros Pictures. It’s a newly created role, and he exits NBCUniversal’s DreamWorks Animation, where he led theatrical marketing and oversaw recent titles including How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Boss Baby and Trolls.
Gallagher, who before Dwa worked at Disney for 14 years rising to president of marketing from 2006-2010, now joins the Warner Bros marketing team and be tasked with developing global campaigns in support of the Warners’ animated and hybrid family films. He will report directly to Blair Rich, President, Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures and President, Worldwide
Marketing, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
Warner Bros said Jp Richards, Evp Worldwide Marketing and Chief Data Strategist, will continue to work with Rich to set marketing strategy and planning.
“Jim is a highly regarded animation and family marketing executive who’s...
Gallagher, who before Dwa worked at Disney for 14 years rising to president of marketing from 2006-2010, now joins the Warner Bros marketing team and be tasked with developing global campaigns in support of the Warners’ animated and hybrid family films. He will report directly to Blair Rich, President, Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures and President, Worldwide
Marketing, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
Warner Bros said Jp Richards, Evp Worldwide Marketing and Chief Data Strategist, will continue to work with Rich to set marketing strategy and planning.
“Jim is a highly regarded animation and family marketing executive who’s...
- 4/17/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Universal’s DreamWorks Animation will sneak-peek extended footage for its upcoming feature “Abominable” (September 27) and premiere its latest short “Marooned” at the 43rd Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 10th-15th). The animation powerhouse’s president Margie Cohn will additionally offer a first look at the new “Fast & Furious” animated series, and present an exhibition of artwork from the “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy at the Manège du haras. The third installment in the series, “The Hidden World,” has passed $509-million worldwide.
Following a strong CinemaCon promo, DreamWorks will preview its upcoming feature slate on June 11, headlined by “Abominable,” a co-production with Pearl Studio, written and directed by Jill Culton (“Open Season”), about teenager Yi (Chloe Bennet of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) venturing to the Himalayas to reunite a Yeti with its family.
“Marooned,” about selfish robot C-0R13, stranded on an abandoned lunar outpost,...
Following a strong CinemaCon promo, DreamWorks will preview its upcoming feature slate on June 11, headlined by “Abominable,” a co-production with Pearl Studio, written and directed by Jill Culton (“Open Season”), about teenager Yi (Chloe Bennet of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) venturing to the Himalayas to reunite a Yeti with its family.
“Marooned,” about selfish robot C-0R13, stranded on an abandoned lunar outpost,...
- 4/8/2019
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
must readPresentation features live performance by Jennifer Hudson from Cats and Yesterday star Himesh Patel.
Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham delivered the highlight of Universal’s CinemaCon presentation on Wednesday (3) when they took to the stage in Las Vegas to introduce a non-stop action-packed first trailer from Fast And Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw.
“Our goal was to build out the Fast And Furious franchise,” Johnson told the audience at Colosseum in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. “We wanted to create something that was special, something that had our own tapestry, our own feel, or own energy but the bottom line was...
Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham delivered the highlight of Universal’s CinemaCon presentation on Wednesday (3) when they took to the stage in Las Vegas to introduce a non-stop action-packed first trailer from Fast And Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw.
“Our goal was to build out the Fast And Furious franchise,” Johnson told the audience at Colosseum in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. “We wanted to create something that was special, something that had our own tapestry, our own feel, or own energy but the bottom line was...
- 4/3/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Is Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous about to become your new Netflix obsession?
As reported by the good folks at Jurassic Outpost, a number of Twitter users (h/t @nsjstuff and @derekzrncic) have spotted a Netflix listing which strongly suggests Universal Pictures is in the process of developing a TV series based on Jurassic World.
Said to be titled ‘Camp Cretaceous,’ it’s unclear as yet whether this is a Lego title or some form of animated series in the vein of Universal’s Fast and Furious spinoff that’s due to hit Netflix later in 2019. Margie Cohn, the president of DreamWorks Animation Television, recently outlined the company’s desire to expand its suite of TV series though, beginning with Fast and Furious.
We are excited to extend and expand our successful relationship with Netflix by not only delivering more high-quality DreamWorks programming, but connecting fans of Universal films with fascinating new stories.
As reported by the good folks at Jurassic Outpost, a number of Twitter users (h/t @nsjstuff and @derekzrncic) have spotted a Netflix listing which strongly suggests Universal Pictures is in the process of developing a TV series based on Jurassic World.
Said to be titled ‘Camp Cretaceous,’ it’s unclear as yet whether this is a Lego title or some form of animated series in the vein of Universal’s Fast and Furious spinoff that’s due to hit Netflix later in 2019. Margie Cohn, the president of DreamWorks Animation Television, recently outlined the company’s desire to expand its suite of TV series though, beginning with Fast and Furious.
We are excited to extend and expand our successful relationship with Netflix by not only delivering more high-quality DreamWorks programming, but connecting fans of Universal films with fascinating new stories.
- 3/21/2019
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Newly minted DreamWorks Animation president Margie Cohn has set her leadership team with two new roles at the Universal-owned shop.
Kristin Lowe has been named chief creative officer in feature films, and Peter Gal has the same role in television. Both will report to Cohn effective immediately, with several other workflow changes at the Burbank, Calif., animation studio.
Cohn has aligned the marketing, public relations, business and legal affairs, human resources, and recruiting functions for both film and TV as such: Michael Vollman has been named executive vice president in marketing; Courtenay Palaski has been named senior vice president in charge of communications; Josh Meyer will lead business affairs; and Ashley Brinsfield will oversee human resources and recruiting.
All of those positions will report to Cohn as well as CFO Kelly Betz, business operations head Daniel Solnicki, and Robbin Kelly in legal affairs.
“With this new structure, Dwa is positioned...
Kristin Lowe has been named chief creative officer in feature films, and Peter Gal has the same role in television. Both will report to Cohn effective immediately, with several other workflow changes at the Burbank, Calif., animation studio.
Cohn has aligned the marketing, public relations, business and legal affairs, human resources, and recruiting functions for both film and TV as such: Michael Vollman has been named executive vice president in marketing; Courtenay Palaski has been named senior vice president in charge of communications; Josh Meyer will lead business affairs; and Ashley Brinsfield will oversee human resources and recruiting.
All of those positions will report to Cohn as well as CFO Kelly Betz, business operations head Daniel Solnicki, and Robbin Kelly in legal affairs.
“With this new structure, Dwa is positioned...
- 2/28/2019
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Newly appointed DreamWorks Animation president Margie Cohn announced two new leadership roles in addition to a realigned executive structure on Thursday.
Cohn named Kristin Lowe has the feature department’s chief creative officer and Peter Gal as the chief creative officer on the TV side, both of which are newly created roles. The appointments, which are effective immediately, place all aspects of creative under one leader in each division in an attempt to streamline management of upcoming slates.
Both Lowe and Gal will report directly to Cohn, who was tapped to head DreamWorks Animation in January.
“With this new structure, Dwa is positioned for growth as we continue to create beloved and award-winning films and television series,” Cohn said in a statement. “Kristin and Peter are both very well-respected executives, and their leadership will only serve to strengthen Dwa’s position as a home to the very best storytellers. The...
Cohn named Kristin Lowe has the feature department’s chief creative officer and Peter Gal as the chief creative officer on the TV side, both of which are newly created roles. The appointments, which are effective immediately, place all aspects of creative under one leader in each division in an attempt to streamline management of upcoming slates.
Both Lowe and Gal will report directly to Cohn, who was tapped to head DreamWorks Animation in January.
“With this new structure, Dwa is positioned for growth as we continue to create beloved and award-winning films and television series,” Cohn said in a statement. “Kristin and Peter are both very well-respected executives, and their leadership will only serve to strengthen Dwa’s position as a home to the very best storytellers. The...
- 2/28/2019
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Following her appointment as DreamWorks Animation President back in January, Margie Cohn is realigning the executive structure on the Glendale lot.
Today Cohn named Kristin Lowe Chief Creative Officer, Features and Peter Gal appointed Chief Creative Officer, Television in newly created roles, effective immediately.
The appointments will strategically place all aspects of creative under one leader in each division to streamline management of upcoming slates.
In addition, Cohn has aligned the marketing, public relations, business and legal affairs, human resources and recruiting functions for both features and television respectively under Michael Vollman, Evp, Marketing; Courtenay Palaski, Svp/Head of Communications; Josh Meyer, Head of Business Affairs; and Ashley Brinsfield, Head of Human Resources and Recruiting. All of these positions will report to Cohn, along with CFO, Kelly Betz; Evp Business Operations, Daniel Solnicki; and Robbin Kelly, Head of Legal Affairs.
“With this new structure, Dwa is positioned for growth as...
Today Cohn named Kristin Lowe Chief Creative Officer, Features and Peter Gal appointed Chief Creative Officer, Television in newly created roles, effective immediately.
The appointments will strategically place all aspects of creative under one leader in each division to streamline management of upcoming slates.
In addition, Cohn has aligned the marketing, public relations, business and legal affairs, human resources and recruiting functions for both features and television respectively under Michael Vollman, Evp, Marketing; Courtenay Palaski, Svp/Head of Communications; Josh Meyer, Head of Business Affairs; and Ashley Brinsfield, Head of Human Resources and Recruiting. All of these positions will report to Cohn, along with CFO, Kelly Betz; Evp Business Operations, Daniel Solnicki; and Robbin Kelly, Head of Legal Affairs.
“With this new structure, Dwa is positioned for growth as...
- 2/28/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Newly installed DreamWorks Animation chief Margie Cohn has set her leadership team, naming Kristin Lowe chief creative officer of film, while Peter Gal will have the same title on the television side.
Both are newly created roles. The appointments — announced Thursday as Dwa celebrates the box office success of How to Train Your Dragon — The Hidden World — are effective immediately.
Cohn, who reports to Universal Pictures Filmed Entertainment Group Donna Langley, was promoted to her post in January as part of a reorganization putting Dwa's film and TV operations under one executive (she previously ran the television ...
Both are newly created roles. The appointments — announced Thursday as Dwa celebrates the box office success of How to Train Your Dragon — The Hidden World — are effective immediately.
Cohn, who reports to Universal Pictures Filmed Entertainment Group Donna Langley, was promoted to her post in January as part of a reorganization putting Dwa's film and TV operations under one executive (she previously ran the television ...
- 2/28/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Newly installed DreamWorks Animation chief Margie Cohn has set her leadership team, naming Kristin Lowe chief creative officer of film, while Peter Gal will have the same title on the television side.
Both are newly created roles. The appointments — announced Thursday as Dwa celebrates the box office success of How to Train Your Dragon — The Hidden World — are effective immediately.
Cohn, who reports to Universal Pictures Filmed Entertainment Group Donna Langley, was promoted to her post in January as part of a reorganization putting Dwa's film and TV operations under one executive (she previously ran the television ...
Both are newly created roles. The appointments — announced Thursday as Dwa celebrates the box office success of How to Train Your Dragon — The Hidden World — are effective immediately.
Cohn, who reports to Universal Pictures Filmed Entertainment Group Donna Langley, was promoted to her post in January as part of a reorganization putting Dwa's film and TV operations under one executive (she previously ran the television ...
- 2/28/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group Donna Langley is putting together her kitchen cabinet, elevating several key executives to new roles and bringing others back to the studio from their posts at different divisions. The promotions come less than a month after Langley assumed her new role, replacing Jeff Shell as filmed entertainment group chair. Shell was named chairman of NBCUniversal Film and Entertainment, a role that will leave him more focused on the company’s television business.
When it comes to Langley’s leadership team, Peter Levinsohn will continue as president and chief distribution officer, a role in which he oversees domestic theatrical distribution, global home entertainment, worldwide television distribution, new media and digital strategy, and film technology. Prior to joining Universal in 2013, Levinsohn spent 25 years at Fox, holding leadership roles in the company’s film studio and its new media, digital distribution, and interactive media arms.
Jimmy Horowitz...
When it comes to Langley’s leadership team, Peter Levinsohn will continue as president and chief distribution officer, a role in which he oversees domestic theatrical distribution, global home entertainment, worldwide television distribution, new media and digital strategy, and film technology. Prior to joining Universal in 2013, Levinsohn spent 25 years at Fox, holding leadership roles in the company’s film studio and its new media, digital distribution, and interactive media arms.
Jimmy Horowitz...
- 1/31/2019
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The Universal Filmed Entertainment Group has became the first major film studio to sign on to the #4PercentChallenge, the initiative to boost work for female directors unveiled at the Sundance Film Festival last week by Nina Jacobson, Paul Feig, Amy Schumer, Angela Robinson and Franklin Leonard.
In Park City, the challenge backed by Time’s Up and the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative involves committing to announcing a project with one female director — especially women of color — in the next 18 months. Already, individuals including Kerry Washington and Tessa Thompson have said they will work with a female director over that span.
The initiative stems from a study that shows only 4% of the directors of the 1,200 top-grossing films from 2007 to 2018 were directed by women.
At Donna Langley-led Universal, Peter Cramer, Peter Kujawski and Margie Cohn sealed their commitment today.
Big News...
In Park City, the challenge backed by Time’s Up and the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative involves committing to announcing a project with one female director — especially women of color — in the next 18 months. Already, individuals including Kerry Washington and Tessa Thompson have said they will work with a female director over that span.
The initiative stems from a study that shows only 4% of the directors of the 1,200 top-grossing films from 2007 to 2018 were directed by women.
At Donna Langley-led Universal, Peter Cramer, Peter Kujawski and Margie Cohn sealed their commitment today.
Big News...
- 1/29/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Universal Pictures and MGM have become the first of Hollywood studios to accept the "4 percent challenge" issued by Time's Up and the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, calling on industry leaders to commit to announcing one project with a female director in the next 18 months.
In a tweet issued today, Universal’s president of production, Peter Cramer, along with Peter Kujawski, chairman of the studio’s specialty label Focus Features, and Margie Cohn, president of DreamWorks Animation, said they “proudly join colleagues throughout the industry in accepting the #TimesUp #4PercentChallenge.”
In response, Times Up, which ...
In a tweet issued today, Universal’s president of production, Peter Cramer, along with Peter Kujawski, chairman of the studio’s specialty label Focus Features, and Margie Cohn, president of DreamWorks Animation, said they “proudly join colleagues throughout the industry in accepting the #TimesUp #4PercentChallenge.”
In response, Times Up, which ...
- 1/29/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Universal Pictures and MGM have become the first of Hollywood studios to accept the "4 percent challenge" issued by Time's Up and the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, calling on industry leaders to commit to announcing one project with a female director in the next 18 months.
In a tweet issued today, Universal’s president of production, Peter Cramer, along with Peter Kujawski, chairman of the studio’s specialty label Focus Features, and Margie Cohn, president of DreamWorks Animation, said they “proudly join colleagues throughout the industry in accepting the #TimesUp #4PercentChallenge.”
In response, Times Up, which ...
In a tweet issued today, Universal’s president of production, Peter Cramer, along with Peter Kujawski, chairman of the studio’s specialty label Focus Features, and Margie Cohn, president of DreamWorks Animation, said they “proudly join colleagues throughout the industry in accepting the #TimesUp #4PercentChallenge.”
In response, Times Up, which ...
- 1/29/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The far-right has now aggressively infiltrated the politics of countless nations, developed and otherwise, advocating malicious rhetoric that targets vulnerable groups, preaches ethnocentrism, and weaponizes religion. Outside of what happened in the United States in 2016, last year’s presidential election in Brazil, which crowned a candidate holding such extreme views, is a testament to the harmful powers of alarmist populism.
Although produced prior to the recent rise of these traditionalist forces in the country, Brazilian animated feature “Tito and the Birds” is a shrewd response to bigotry, packaged as a spooky adventure achieved through the integration of artisanal and digital techniques. The outcome is a stylistically singular treasure with tonal and aesthetic hints of Laika’s horror-inspired “ParaNorman” and the animated Van Gogh biopic “Loving Vincent.”
São Paulo native Gustavo Steinberg, the creative commander propelling the entire operation, co-directed the film with animators Gabriel Bitar and André Catoto. Steinberg made...
Although produced prior to the recent rise of these traditionalist forces in the country, Brazilian animated feature “Tito and the Birds” is a shrewd response to bigotry, packaged as a spooky adventure achieved through the integration of artisanal and digital techniques. The outcome is a stylistically singular treasure with tonal and aesthetic hints of Laika’s horror-inspired “ParaNorman” and the animated Van Gogh biopic “Loving Vincent.”
São Paulo native Gustavo Steinberg, the creative commander propelling the entire operation, co-directed the film with animators Gabriel Bitar and André Catoto. Steinberg made...
- 1/25/2019
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Wrap
Reactions among women’s advocacy groups in Hollywood was swift after last week’s news that John Lasseter had been hired to run David Ellison’s Skydance Animation, this after the creative force behind Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios was forced to exit Disney because of accusations of sexual misconduct over the years.
Women In Animation’s president Marge Dean waited to weigh in until today, the same day Lasseter faced his new staff in a Skydance Animation town hall, where he apologized for his past that included accusations of unwanted physical contact with female subordinates.
Dean’s open letter, below, describes her range of emotions after hearing of the hire, which Skydance boss David Ellison has taken great pains to explain, and which came up against tough questions from Skydance staff during town halls last week. She also offers a way companies can help fight sexual harassment in the workplace: hire more women.
Women In Animation’s president Marge Dean waited to weigh in until today, the same day Lasseter faced his new staff in a Skydance Animation town hall, where he apologized for his past that included accusations of unwanted physical contact with female subordinates.
Dean’s open letter, below, describes her range of emotions after hearing of the hire, which Skydance boss David Ellison has taken great pains to explain, and which came up against tough questions from Skydance staff during town halls last week. She also offers a way companies can help fight sexual harassment in the workplace: hire more women.
- 1/14/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
On Wednesday, the animation industry was rocked by two major events: Ousted Pixar/Disney leader John Lasseter resurfaced as head of upstart Skydance Animation, and DreamWorks Animation TV head Margie Cohn took over feature animation from Chris deFaria (who served as president for only two years). Her elevation should improve synergy at DreamWorks and create greater unity with Illumination, which has taken an active role in developing “Shrek” and “Puss in Boots” sequels.
But the Lasseter hire was the most shocking update, as it found the disgraced animation guru instantly returning to a new senior leadership position after a string of sexual harassment allegations took him out of circulation.
It was unlikely that Lasseter would ever return to Disney and Pixar, the company he helped launch more than 30 years ago, or any other major studio. The post-Lasseter era at Pixar and Disney has already begun, with the promise of greater inclusion,...
But the Lasseter hire was the most shocking update, as it found the disgraced animation guru instantly returning to a new senior leadership position after a string of sexual harassment allegations took him out of circulation.
It was unlikely that Lasseter would ever return to Disney and Pixar, the company he helped launch more than 30 years ago, or any other major studio. The post-Lasseter era at Pixar and Disney has already begun, with the promise of greater inclusion,...
- 1/10/2019
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
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