ADVERTISEMENT

People on the Move: David Levy Joins Invisible Universe, Koltai Named CD of Nice Shoes & More

Invisible Universe (invisibleuniverse.com), an internet-first animation studio, today announced that David Levy has been named Chief Creative Officer.

Dan Levy
Dan Levy

Levy joins Invisible Universe with more than 20 years of experience in animation and development for several major entertainment corporations. As the CCO, Levy will focus on the creative aspects of the company’s content pipeline, working in partnership with CEO Tricia Biggio and the rest of the team, and supervise the development and execution of Invisible Universe’s IP to drive engagement across all platforms.

“Invisible Universe is leading the way in creating content for this next generation that spends most of their time on their phones,” said Levy. “The internet is primed for storytelling and meeting consumers where they already are. These characters are so engaging, inspiring, and indelible and will become the entertainment franchises of the future.”

Prior to Invisible Universe, Levy served as the Director of Animation at Disney+, where he spearheaded the creative and production for all animation content on social media. Levy helped guide multiple teams of artists, producers and writers on various projects and also led development on short form content for Lucas Film, Walt Disney Feature Animation, Pixar and others. His two decade career has also brought him through the doors of Viacom and Warner Bros.

John Koltai
John Koltai

Nice Shoes (niceshoes.com) has hired John Koltai as Creative Director with a focus on innovative motion-graphic design for film, television, advertising and other media. “I look forward to contributing to a lot of interesting projects,” Koltai commented. “I am well versed in 3D animation (Cinema 4D), 2D animation (After Effects) and designing styleframes and storyboards. At Nice Shoes, I hope to participate in all that. The scope and quality of the work they do here is the biggest attraction for me.”

Koltai is a multidisciplinary creative director, designer and animator with experience spanning virtually all forms of visual media. He is also a specialist in FUI (future user interfaces) and other future tech graphics for film, with credits including Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spies in Disguise, Thor: Ragnarok and Iron Man 2 & 3. Additionally, his design work has been featured in ads, branded content and broadcast media for IBM, Ford, CBS, NBC, The Daily Show and The Economist. In his most recent project, Koltai designed FUI graphics for the new HBO Max series Peacemaker.

A graduate of New York’s Parsons School of Design, Koltai began his career in broadcast motion graphic design, creating show opens, promos and similar media. His focus shifted in 2011 when as a designer at Perception, New York, he created graphic sequences for the film Iron Man 2, depicting technology used by Tony Stark in his superhero creation and his “Stark phone.” He followed that with design sequences for many other films, including holographic, smart glass and multi-touch user interfaces.

Susan Vargo
Susan Vargo

Moonbug Entertainment Ltd. (moonbug.com) announced the appointment of Susan Vargo as Head of Live Events, responsible for live events across all the Moonbug properties, including Blippi, CoComelon and Little Baby Bum. In the newly created role, Vargo will lead, oversee, manage and drive all of Moonbug’s brand and franchise specific live shows, branded areas, character events and experiences in locations such as theme parks, water parks, attractions and more. She will be based in the U.K. head offices, working closely with the Moonbug team in the U.S.

Vargo is the Tony Award nominated and Drama Desk Award winning executive producer of The SpongeBob Musical on stage and for TV. Before joining Moonbug, Vargo oversaw global creative development for Nickelodeon live entertainment, where she was also responsible for the strategic expansion of the live theatrical business from one domestic U.S. touring theatrical to multiple simultaneous domestic and international tours, including preschool megahit adaptations PAW Patrol Live! and Dora the Explorer Live!. Previously, Vargo managed licensing of stage adaptations for Paramount Pictures including Ghost the Musical and Clueless.

Earlier in her career, Vargo worked on Broadway in general management for shows including Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam, Beauty and the Beast and Chicago and more. She has also advised theatrical producers Fiery Angel, Limelight and Cinema Gypsy on creative development, global licensing expansion and property acquisition and continues to develop independent projects for the stage. She holds a theater management and business administration degree from The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago.

PlayMonster Execs
Gary Aigner | Scott Flynn | Rich Rooney

International toy and game company PlayMonster (playmonster.com) reached a new milestone, as recently promoted CEO Tim Kilpin announced a global organizational structure that will unify the company’s mission to use the power of play to make a positive impact around the world. PlayMonster’s Global Executive team will now include:

  • Gary Aigner, responsible for Global Design as PlayMonster’s Chief Design Officer
  • Rich Rooney, responsible for Global Operations as PlayMonster’s Chief Operations and Logistics Officer
  • Scott Flynn, responsible for Global Sales as PlayMonster’s Chief Commercial Officer

This news comes after PlayMonster announced a significant capital injection from global private equity firms Adams Street Partners and H.I.G Capital. “We are stronger than ever as a global company, and we’re pleased with the opportunities ahead of us as we prepare to roll out our 2022 initiatives around the world,” said Kilpin. “We have great unity as an organization, as demonstrated by the strength of our senior leadership team, who are respected authorities in their departments, and bring incredible strategic insights to our mandate as a global company.”

 

ADVERTISEMENT

NEWSLETTER

ADVERTISEMENT

MOST RECENT

CONTEST

ADVERTISEMENT