Warner Animation Group Names Senior Creative Team
December 14 2017 - 1:35PM
Business Wire
Allison Abbate Named Executive Vice
President, Warner Animation Group
Chris Leahy Named Senior Vice President,
Warner Animation Group
Warner Animation Group, the animated film production arm of
Warner Bros. Pictures, has announced the appointment of two
senior-level creative executives: Allison Abbate has been named
Executive Vice President, and Chris Leahy has been named Senior
Vice President. Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Content Officer,
Warner Bros. Pictures shares oversight of Warner Animation Group
with Courtenay Valenti, President, Production and Development,
Warner Bros. Pictures.
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Allison Abbate, EVP, Warner Animation
Group (Photo: Business Wire)
“Allison and Chris are well known and well respected in the
animation community and will be key to expanding our operations at
Warner Animation Group,” said Emmerich. “We have ambitious plans
for WAG and will rely on Allison and Chris to attract world-class
animation talent to help us develop and deliver a robust slate of
both animated and live-action/hybrid titles.”
“Warner Bros. has a long and storied history in animation,” said
Valenti. “From our early animated theatrical shorts to our recent
LEGO releases from WAG, animation is a Studio cornerstone. I am so
excited that Allison and Chris, both admired and excellent
animation executives, will help us focus our efforts in this area
to become an important player in family entertainment.”
In her new role, Abbate will be responsible for the overall
strategy and creative direction of the WAG group. Leahy will
oversee all aspects of production and operations. Both executives
will work closely with Valenti, as well as with writers, producers
and directors to ensure WAG’s vision and creative strategy are
met.
A 20-year industry veteran, Abbate is a highly respected and
accomplished producer known for her work on some of the most
innovative and critically acclaimed animated films, including
producing “The Iron Giant,” for which she won a BAFTA Award. Her
credits also include “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “Tim Burton’s Corpse
Bride” and “Frankenweenie,” all of which were Oscar, BAFTA and
Golden Globe nominated. She also co-produced the animation for
Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Space Jam” and served as an Executive
Producer on “The LEGO Movie.”
Leahy most recently served as Vice President, Theatrical
Animation, Warner Bros. Pictures. In this role, he oversaw the
production of “Storks,” “The LEGO Batman Movie” and “The LEGO
Ninjago Movie.” Prior to Warner Bros., Leahy worked at DreamWorks
Animation for 12 years. Most recently, he was an Associate Producer
on “Penguins of Madagascar” and a Production Manager on
“Turbo.”
WAG titles currently in production include “Smallfoot” (slated
for release September 28, 2018), “The LEGO Movie Sequel” (February
8, 2019) and “Scoob” (May 15, 2020). The division also has a number
of animated and live-action/hybrid titles in development.
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Warner Bros.Jack
Horner818-954-3291Jack.Horner@warnerbros.com