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Imagi hires top animatorsTMNT studio nabs former DreamWorks Animation exec
Imagi Studios is trying to make itself a player by hiring a quartet of animation talent, including former DreamWorks executives Cecil Kramer and Maryann Garger.
(Source: www.variety.com) Imagi Studios has nabbed a group of former DreamWorks Animation veterans to fill out its studio team. The animation studio, which is releasing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) this weekend, hired former DreamWorks head of production Cecil Kramer to be Imagi's new executive VP of production. Her credits include Shrek, Antz, The Prince of Egypt and Chicken Run. "That's really exciting for me," Kramer said, "having been involved in startups with DreamWorks; then through the relationship with Pacific Data Images, helping the transition of PDI from commercials and shorts into feature films; and then with Aardman on Chicken Run." Maryann Garger, a former DreamWorks producer who worked on Flushed Away, also joined Kramer at Imagi. She will be producing Imagi's next project, their adaptation of the classic anime Astroboy, due in 2009. Lynne Southerland, who co-directed Disney's Mulan 2, is coming to Imagi to work on another classic anime adaptation. This time it's Gatchaman (best known in North America as Battle of the Planets) which should hit theatres in 2008. Yet another DreamWorks staffer has jumped ship: Mark Tarbox will become a line producer to oversee all of Imagi's upcoming projects. The studio currently has 400 animators, artists and technicians in its Hong Kong headquarters. The foursome will join former Animal Logic executive Brett Feeney (Happy Feet, The Matrix Reloaded), who became Imagi's Production VP last week. They will work in Imagi's American headquarters in Sherman Oaks, California. The studio plans to deliver an animated movie once every 8 months. Their strategy is to produce CGI movies based on existing comic book, anime and action franchises. While they may hand distribution to other parties (such as the Weinstein Company for TMNT), Imagi also plans to get revenue from merchandising and ancillary licenses. The studio will also hold sequel rights to some properties. "We see ourselves as the superhero animation studio," said Imagi co-CEO Douglas E. Glen. "You only have to look at the number of animations, action films and sequels in the box office top 10 last year to see where we are aiming. Right now, we are maybe where DreamWorks Animation was 10 years ago."
The copyright of the article Imagi hires top animators in Animated Films is owned by Dominic von Riedemann. Permission to republish Imagi hires top animators in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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