SCVNews.com | CalArtians earn spots on animation and children’s entertainment power lists

California Institute of the Arts graduates have long shaped the future of the animation industry. This year, CalArtians received recognition for their contributions, securing spots in two prestigious industry rankings: Cartoon Brew’s 2024 US Animation Power List and The Hollywood Reporter’s list of the 50 Most Influential Actors in Children’s Entertainment.

CalArtians on Cartoon Brew’s 2024 US Animation Achievement List

Cartoon Brew’s role highlights the top influencers in American animation, recognizing those at the forefront of box office success, streaming dominance and artistic development. Among the 60 power players, nine CalArts graduates made the list:

Pete Docter (Film/Video BFA 1990) – Chief Creative Officer at Pixar, responsible for some of the studio’s most popular works.

Ramsey Naito (Art MFA 1995) – Head of Animation at Paramount Global and Nickelodeon.

John Lasseter (Film/Video BFA 1979) – Known for his influential work at Pixar and now Skydance Animation.

Chris Sanders (Film/Video 1984) – Writer and director of The Wild Robot, Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon.

Genndy Tartakovsky (Film/Video 1992) – Praised for his innovative series, including Samurai Jack and Primal.

Sean Buckelew (Film/Video MFA 2014) – Rising star in independent animation.

Bruce W. Smith (Film/Video BFA 1983) – Creator of The Proud Family, known for promoting Black representation in animation.

Mike Mitchell (Film/Video BFA 1997) – Director of Shrek Forever After and The Lego Movie 2.

Carrie Hobson (Film/Video BFA 2010) – Rising talent behind notable animation projects at Pixar.

The Hollywood Reporter’s 50 Most Influential Actors in Children’s Entertainment

In The Hollywood Reporter’s annual roundup, CalArts graduates continue to make a splash in children’s entertainment. Returning are Docter and Naito, known for their influence on the next generation of media consumers.

As Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer, Docter continues to lead the studio’s major projects, including the highly successful “Inside Out 2” and upcoming releases such as “Elio” and “Toy Story 5.” His visionary work has cemented Pixar’s role as a dominant force in both children’s and family entertainment.

Naito, president of animation at Paramount and Nickelodeon, oversees key projects including new “SpongeBob” films, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” reboots and an animated series “Fairly OddParents.” Her leadership has positioned Nickelodeon and Paramount as leaders in both revitalizing franchises and creating original content.

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