Nearing two years since its acquisition of the Australian animation and visual effects studio, Netflix will be integrating Animal Logic into its global animation studio structure. As part of this streamlining, Animal Logic CEO Sharon Taylor has resigned, and her duties will be assumed by VP and leader of Netflix Animation Film, Karen Toliver.
Taylor was promoted to the top job just last June from her previous post of Chief Operating Officer after 20 years with Animal Logic. Toliver herself was announced as the Netflix division’s head immediately after the acquisition announcement in 2022. Toliver had joined from Sony Pictures Animation, where she produced the Oscar-winning short Hair Love and worked on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. She previously held production executive posts at Blue Sky/Fox Animation and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Founded by Zareh Nalbandian and Chris Godfrey in 1991, Sydney-based Animal Logic has delivered VFX for hit live-action films such as Babe, Face/Off, The Matrix, Planet of the Apes, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and two Harry Potter films and the Peter Rabbit movies, as well working on animated features including Oscar winner Happy Feet, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, The LEGO Movie franchise and DC League of Super-Pets.
Since announcing the acquisition, Netflix has debuted two animated features brought to life by Animal Logic: Wendy Rogers’ adaptation of the Kate DiCamillo fantasy The Magician’s Elephant and reptile bucket list adventure Leo, starring Adam Sandler (also one of the film’s writers and producers). The studio is now working on Ron Howard’s animated feature directorial debut The Shrinking of Treehorn, based on the book by Florence Parry Heide, which was picked up by Netflix in 2022.
Animal Logic is also working with Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment on the Australian Aboriginal culture-inspired Rainbow Serpent.
