Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull joins the board of directors of Baobab Studios

ExclusivePixar co-founder and longtime president of Disney Animation Ed Katmul has joined the board of directors of Baobab Studios and the Creative Advisory Council.

Winner of five Academy Awards and also the AM Turing Award (known as the Nobel Prize in Computer Science) for his contributions to 3D graphics and CGI film production, Catmull brings over 50 years of experience to Baobab’s board. He was president of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar, from Disney’s 2006 acquisition of Pixar to his retirement in 2019, and has curated several new films for both studios, including Disney. great hero 6, Frozen Y zootopiaand from pixar Search for Jemo, The Incredibles 2 Y toy story 4, to name a few. As a board member of the Independent Animation Studio, Catmull will lead creativity and operations as the studio accelerates its award-winning storytelling through emerging and traditional media.

“I am honored to join the board of directors of Baobab Studios and to be part of their creative journey,” said Katmul. “Baobab is at the forefront of extraordinary storytelling through the media and I look forward to supporting the entire team as the company becomes the premier animation studio of the future.”

“I have been following Eddie’s work for years and am proud to welcome him to our board of directors,” added Maureen Fan, co-founder and CEO of Baobab Studios. “Eddie’s leadership and innovative genius are unmatched in the world of animation and his vision will be invaluable as we introduce new characters and worlds, as well as an active role for our audiences within them.”

Katmul joins Baobab in his roles as Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin, as well as Glenn Entis, former director of visual arts and technology at PDI, whose computer animation company PDI was acquired by DreamWorks SKG. in 2000.

Lynn are the first two founders of Twitch, the world’s largest live video platform for gamers and developers, which Amazon acquired in 2014 for $ 1 billion. As one of the most respected entrepreneurs and executives in digital media, Lin and Twitch serve as the center of gravity for the multi-billion dollar sports industry, reinventing games, traditional sports, content and other interactive technologies. Lin is also co-founder of Gold House, a leading Asia Pacific replacement company that integrates, invests and promotes creative and API companies.

Entis is an Academy Award-winning animation pioneer and gaming industry veteran who founded Pacific Data Images (PDI) and wrote his first animation system, winning a scientific and technical award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. PDI was later acquired by DreamWorks SKG to enable the DreamWorks Animation switch on PC graphics. Together they created the studio’s first animated film, Anci!Directed by Baobab Studios co-founder and creative director Eric Darnell.

Before becoming CEO of DreamWorks Interactive, along with Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg, Entity controlled the creation of video games, including revolutionary ones. jersey medal The series, whose story was directed and produced by Spielberg, was composed by Michael Jacchino. Its commercial and critical success spawned 14 sequels and a new genre of video games: the World War II First Person Shooter. Acquired by Dream Arts Interactive In 2000, Entis joined the gaming giant as Chief Technology and Visual Officer.

Fan, Darnell and Larry Cutlers founded Baobab Studios in 2015 and have already seen the studio win nine Emmy Awards, including consecutive Best Interactive Media trophies. Dear!, Asteroids!, Raven: LegendAnd last year, Baba Yaga. Baobab is known for his work in traditional animation, virtual reality and augmented reality media and has also launched projects including Giacomo, Ottoson, paper birds Y ნამოო. named fast companyThe most innovative company of 2018, its works have been seen a million times and interpreted by talents such as John Legend, Oprah, Kate Winslet, Jennifer Hudson, Glenn Close, Daisy Ridley, Constance Wu, Diego Luna, Lisa Kosh, Ty Shearidon, Ty Etheridan Hawke, Lupita Nyong’o, Ali Wong and Edward Norton.

The company recently strengthened its team at the intersection of film and games with five new additions to its creative and marketing teams, involving Oscar nominees Eric O and Johnny Chandra as directors, Haley Porter as director of marketing and Michael McCormick. (sim) and Brian Tinsman (Pokemon) Like the creative directors of games. Baobab recently announced that it will partner with Disney-branded TV to create Witchcraft, an anthology series of Disney + events. The series is based on Baba Yaga, a three Emmy Award-winning Baobab short film and a virtual reality experience featuring female-only ensemble Kate Winslet, Jennifer Hudson, Daisy Ridley and Glenn Close. Studio IP is currently adapted for books as well, as well as additional movies, original series and games.