EXCLUSIVE: As the Annecy International Animation Film Festival begins to get underway this weekend, newly hired Warner Bros. Animation President Bill Damaschke has announced a rebranding of the motion picture division with a focus on filmmakers.
Previously known as WAG aka Warner Animation Group, the Burbank, CA lot’s feature toon unit will now be known as Warner Bros. Pictures Animation.
“It’s honoring the past and rich history of the company. Warner Bros. Pictures Animation released movies like Iron Giant, Space Jam, Corpse Bride, Polar Express, Happy Feet and The Lego Movie — benchmark films that broke new ground, new technology, new ways of telling stories and were successful, artistically and commercially. They last in people’s hearts, every one of those films,” said Damaschke about the label which counts a filmmaker-driven original feature animated canon from such directors as Brad Bird, Tim Burton, George Miller, Robert Zemeckis and Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.
Damaschke’s plans with Warners is to hatch original IP much like he did during his two decades at DreamWorks Animation.
“Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca are inspiring producers and filmmakers themselves who are focused on directors and writers as part of their studio leadership,” continued Damaschke, “and we plan to follow their creative lead at WBPA.”
“Under Pam and Mike’s leadership with the support of (Warner Bros. Discovery CEO) David Zaslav, we have an opportunity to really support these types of films and filmmakers in a way that will create new stories and worlds that audiences can anticipate and recognize for years to come,” added Damaschke.
WAG’s slate centered around animated established IP such as Scoob, Tom & Jerry, Space Jam: A New Legacy and DC League of Super-pets. Such storied Warner Bros. toon franchises will continue to be part of the Warner Bros. Pictures Animation mix, but with an eye on starting new franchises as well. The plan is to have the division ultimately yield two animated theatrical releases a year.
Damaschke arrives to Warner Bros. Pictures Animation from Skydance Media. In addition, he previously produced the ten Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Moulin Rouge! and The Prom through his independent production company StoryKey Entertainment.
He’s working with a core staff of 90 which includes production artists, filmmakers and writers with the remaining WAG production, The Cat in the Hat, in the works from Oscar nominated and Emmy winning filmmaker Erica Rivinoja (Borat Subsequent Movie Film) and Annie Award nominated Alessandro Carloni (Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon). The plan is to have that film ready for either a 2025 or 2026 theatrical release (Back in 2018, Warners struck a deal with Dr. Seuss Enterprises Lp to produce multiple animation films based on the author’s children’s books). Animalogic, an animation partner in Vancouver, Canada, will continue to team with Warner Bros. on animated projects. Also finishing up from WAG is the Dave Green-directed, Chis DeFaria and James Gunn produced, Coyote vs. Acme. Damaschke also tells us that a Flintstones origin story animated movie, Meet the Flintstones, is also in early development, written by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, who directed The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
We first told you that Damaschke notched the top animation post at Warner Bros., a feature division that Zaslav was prizing next to DC, which is run by Gunn and Peter Safran, and the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group (WBMPG). Damaschke will report to the latter group’s Co-Chairs and CEOs De Luca and Abdy.
Damaschke got his start at DreamWorks Animation, where he landed his first animation job as production assistant on The Prince of Egypt, and ultimately rose through the ranks to lead the company as Chief Creative Officer. During his long tenure at DWA, he steered a number of acclaimed and popular animated franchise films to the big screen, including the blockbusters Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Croods. Damaschke also oversaw all of DreamWorks Animation’s live theatrical productions, including the award-winning Shrek The Musical. He also served as a producer on Shark Tale, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2004, and as an EP of Over the Hedge and Kung Fu Panda.
“Bill combines the unmatched creativity and imagination of an artist with the acumen, instincts and amazing track record of a born leader,” said De Luca and Abdy. “His decades of experience, passion for storytelling, and forward-focused vision align perfectly with our overall creative strategy for the Studio and make him the ideal shepherd for Warner Bros.’ groundbreaking and iconic film animation business. We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Bill to the Warner Bros. family and can’t wait to dive into this exhilarating new era with him at the helm.”