The ‘Nimona’ director joins the animation division along with Julie Zackary as head of animation production and Erica Pulcini as creative executive; next animated feature, ‘Foo’ to be helmed by the Oscar-winning Blue Sky co-founder.
Annapurna Animation has announced the addition of Nimona director Nick Bruno and industry veteran and Nimona producer Julie Zackary to its expanding roster. Zackary, a former Blue Sky Studios executive, has been named head of animation production, with Erica Pulcini also joining as a creative executive.
The division is also expanding its feature development slate with the adaptation of its popular video game, Stray. Also in development is Foo, the next project from director Chris Wedge.
Bruno will develop and direct an untitled original feature film and is developing several new ideas under the Annapurna Animation banner. Bruno’s feature directorial debut was Spies in Disguise – his additional credits include Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who, Rio, The Peanuts Movie, and the Oscar-nominated short No Time For Nuts.
Award-winning director, producer, and Blu Sky Animation Studios co-founder Wedge wrote and directed the Oscar-winning animated short Bunny. He went on to direct the Oscar-nominated animated feature Ice Age.
Zackary will oversee all aspects of production throughout Annapurna Animation’s division. She served as VP of Production Management at Sony Pictures Imageworks before joining Blue Sky Studios as VP of Production. Pulcini will help curate, develop, and further define Annapurna Animation’s feature film slate.
Annapurna Animation’s debut project, Nimona, premiered June 14 at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and released June 30 globally on Netflix.
Source: Annapurna Animation
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
