Bill Damash is circling Warner Animation’s flagship location – The Dish
Exclusive: We’ve been hearing for quite some time that former Skydance President of Animation and DreamWorks Animation Chief Creative Officer Bill Damaske is in talks for the top spot at Warner Bros. Animation Properties. It’s still not a done deal, and last we heard both sides were far apart. But it seems the discussion has heated up.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav wanted to fill the post, just as he did at DC Studios with James Gunn and Peter Safran, with the animation position reporting directly to Warner Bros. Motion Pictures vice presidents Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdi.
Damaschke had a two-decade run at DWA and oversaw franchise properties such as Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon And The Croods. He also oversaw all its live theater productions, including award-winning Shrek the Musical. In addition, he continues to produce theater projects through his production company Storykey Entertainment. He served as EP on the Broadway stage adaptation Moulin Rouge!Directed by Alex Timbers.
Damaschke visited Skydance in October 2017. Former Pixar and Disney animation vet John Lasseter was named head of Skydance Animation in January 2019. Damaschke, who held the position of president of animation and family entertainment at the studio, will later depart.
Among several Warner Animation executives who have left in the Zaslav era, Warner Animation Group EVP Alison Abbate left in August after a two-decade career at the studio. He has acted in several marquee films including the original space jam, Billion-dollar-plus lego franchise and last summer DC League of Super-Pets which grossed $207 million at the worldwide box office.
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