On the heels of the debut success of Nimona, Annapurna Animation is ramping up its creative leadership team and feature slate, bringing on the film’s director Nick Bruno and producer Julie Zackary on board. The division is set to expand its feature development slate with an adaptation of the acclaimed video game Stray. Also in development is Foo, the next project from renowned director Chris Wedge.
Nick Bruno is already on tap to develop and direct an untitled original feature film, and he is actively developing several new original ideas under Annapurna Animation. He made his feature film directorial debut as a Director on Spies in Disguise. A few of Bruno’s additional credits include Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!, Rio, The Peanuts Movie and the Oscar nominated short, No Time for Nuts.
Annapurna Animation’s development slate will also include a feature adaptation of Annapurna Interactive’s multi-million unit selling, award winning video game, Stray, developed by BlueTwelve Studio. The award-winning title casts the player as a stray cat as it seeks to untangle an ancient mystery and escape from a decaying, forgotten cybercity with the help of a small flying drone. Annapurna plans to adapt more titles from their extensive Annapurna Interactive library.
Chris Wedge is an Oscar-winning film director, producer and co-founder of Blue Sky Animation Studios. Wedge wrote and directed Blue Sky Animation’s first film, Bunny, garnering an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. He went on to direct the highly touted and Oscar-nominated feature film, Ice Age. Wedge is currently developing his next animated feature film, Foo, for Annapurna Animation.
Former Blue Sky Studios executive Julie Zackary is joining Annapurna Animation as Head of Animation Production. Zackary will oversee all aspects of production throughout Annapurna Animation’s division. Zackary served as VP of Production Management at Sony Pictures Imageworks before joining Blue Sky Studios as Vice President of Production.
Also joining the division is Erica Pulcini as Creative Executive. In her new role, she will help curate, develop and further define Annapurna Animation’s feature film slate.
In December 2022, Annapurna announced the launch of its Animation division being led by former Disney Animation Executives Robert Baird and Andrew Millstein. Annapurna Animation’s debut project, Nimona, premiered on June 14 at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and released globally on Netflix June 30.
