Nickelodeon development and production veteran Eric Coleman has been hired to serve as senior VP of development at Walt Disney Television Animation. After overseeing such top Nick series as SpongeBob SquarePants and Avatar: The Last Airbender, Coleman is charged with leading Disney’s animated television efforts into a new phase of growth by spearheading development of short-form and long-form animated series for Disney Channel, Toon Disney and Jetix platforms. He will begin work on Feb. 4, reporting to Disney Channels Worldwide entertainment president Gary Marsh.
‘Bringing Eric to Disney is an absolute coup,’ Marsh remarks ‘There is no executive in the entire television animation space who has the creative vision, the credibility and the track record that Eric does. As one of the driving forces in animation, his reputation with, and connection to, the creative community is unparalleled.’
Coleman adds, ‘I am thrilled to be joining the Disney team that is revolutionizing the business of television for kids and families, and I look forward to contributing to an even more dynamic and successful growth period. What impresses me the most is the enormous commitment and support they are willing to give me to build a world-class slate of animated content for the kids’ global TV platforms.’
Coleman will also oversee Walt Disney Television Animation’s casting and music departments, while providing development guidance and leadership for global Disney Channel and Walt Disney Television Animation partners.
Disney Channel’s animated series development was previously managed by Meredith Roberts, Walt Disney TV Animation’s senior VP of creative affairs, who will transition to the newly created position of senior VP and general manager of DisneyToon Studios. Reporting to Walt Disney Animation Studios exec VP of production Andrew Millstein, she will oversee the company’s daily operations.
