Sycamore Studios Appoints Cooper Waterman as Head of Production & Distribution

Sycamore Studios, the recently launched kids & family animation label working on a new Doctor Dolittle adaptation, today announced that Cooper Waterman has been made a partner and appointed as Head of Production & Distribution. The studio was introduced with former Participant executive Christian McGuigan and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Timothy Reckart acting as CEO & Chief Creative Officer, respectively. Waterman will report to McGuigan.

“Cooper brings a wealth of experience in both production and distribution, having guided a number of beloved family films to incredible success. His ability to merge creative vision with business acumen is unmatched, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him on board as we build Sycamore Studios into a leader in family entertainment,” said McGuigan.

A widely respected industry executive, Waterman was formerly a principal at Waterman Entertainment, which has a long history in developing and producing some of the most iconic brands and IP around the world. They have helped launch classic brands to the big screen such as Casper the Ghost, Stuart Little and, most recently, the Alvin & the Chipmunks film franchise, which grossed over $2 billion at the worldwide box office.

“This is a pivotal time in the feature animation industry. Technological advancements are happening daily, and they’re already allowing us the ability to work with teams around the world in real time to create beautiful films at a fraction of the cost,” Waterman noted.

“What excites me most about joining Sycamore Studios is that we know there is a demand in the market for timeless stories and beautiful animation. This summer’s box office success is proof of that, but the past 10 years of studio consolidations and restructurings have killed great films and shrunk the competition exponentially. There is no better time than now for a company like Sycamore Studios to bring a new voice to this genre that I love. I believe we are primed for success with great IP, world-class talent, and an understanding of what today’s audiences truly want.” 

Over the last 10 years, Waterman has been involved in the acquisition, development, production and distribution of content across all genres. As an Executive Producer for the creative Agency Los York, Cooper produced the documentary Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1 in partnership with Air Jordan, which was acquired by Hulu. Through his personal production company Riven Rock Projects, Waterman developed and sold an adaptation of Richard Newsome’s bestselling book series The Billionaire’s Curse to Disney+. And through his partnership with Belgian animation studio nWave Pictures, Waterman has produced a slate of five animated features that have collectively grossed over $150 million at the worldwide box office and had titles reach the #1 title spot on Netflix upon release on the streamer.

Sycamore Studios’ first project is an animated feature adaptation of Hugh Lofting’s children’s classic Doctor Dolittle. Writing partners Cal Brunker and Bob Barlen (PAW Patrol: The Movie, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie) are set to adapt the screenplay. The studio’s project slate includes both existing IP storytelling and originals.