David Forbes, former executive vice president of Orion Pictures Corp. and president of MGM/UA Distribution Company, has been named CEO of Global Animation Holdings, whose family of companies includes Los Angeles-based Spectrum Studios and Manila, Philippines-based ImagineAsia and VirtualMagic Asia. Forbes assumes the new post immediately. Since its formation in 1997, Global Animation and its three principal companies have primarily functioned as a provider for a full range of 3D digital animation, optical and magnetic motion-capture, digital ink and paint and compositing, and traditional 2D animation services for film, television, the Internet and multimedia. "We believe that David's vision and leadership ability will enable Global Animation Holdings to achieve its full potential as an animation industry leader," said Jeffrey Harrison, board chairman of the privately held Global Animation Holdings. "We've already made great strides in becoming a respected, high-quality animation resource, and we now look to David to expand the company's core business here and internationally, while also developing new avenues in which to grow the company. He brings with him a wealth of proven entertainment industry management experience, extensive industry relationships, and the ability to aggressively market our company as both a service organization and content provider." According to Forbes, "There are a great many extremely talented people at all of our facilities, and they have developed some of the most advanced technology to be found anywhere in the industry. We will continue to advance the art and are committed to remaining on the cutting-edge and to providing the highest quality work for clients worldwide on a very cost-effective basis." High on Forbes' agenda is Global Animation's entry into the content development arena, and the production of its own animated product. "We are very interested in forging relationships within the creative community," Forbes continued. "With the full resources necessary to see a project through from script all the way to the final stages of post-production, we are looking to develop alliances and to acquiring and developing original material that lends itself to television programming, direct-to-video movies, Webisodic programming, as well as theatrical features. With our extensive facilities, our creative and technical wherewithal, and a development fund in place, we are aggressively seeking partners with whom to develop, produce and distribute a wide range of product." From 1993 until joining Global Animation Holdings, Forbes had his own consulting firm, The David Forbes Company, serving such entertainment industry clients as IMAX Corp., Lucasfilm, Danjaq, Edward Pressman Films (THE CROW), Pacific Theatres, AMC Theatres, the Gallup Organization, Market Cast, Robson Entertainment and ESPN. From 1990 to 1992, he was president of Orion Pictures Distribution Company, with full responsibility for all domestic theatrical marketing and distribution. During this time, he oversaw the company's rise from tenth position in the industry to a market share ranked third in 1991, the year in which he personally planned the distribution and marketing of DANCES WITH WOLVES and SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. From 1987 to 1990, Forbes was president of MGM/UA Distribution Company, where he was responsible for all domestic theatrical and non-theatrical distribution and marketing, with such major hits as RAINMAN, MOONSTRUCK and A FISH CALLED WANDA.
Dan Sarto(link sends e-mail) is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
