Alpha Group Co. Ltd. announces that Bob Bacon will serve as Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Animation — a new division based in Los Angeles and dedicated to developing and producing high-quality animated feature content for a worldwide audience. The announcement was made by Alpha Interactive Ent. Division CEO Chen De Rong.
Alpha Animation will draw on the Group’s various properties as well as create original concepts, with the goal of releasing its first feature in 2020 and producing one film per year thereafter. In his new role as CEO, Bacon will oversee all aspects of development, production and operations as he leads Alpha’s efforts to build a global animation powerhouse.
“I am thrilled to join Alpha Animation and thank Alpha Group Founder and Chairman, Mr. Cai, and Mr. Chen for the opportunity to build an artist-friendly, world-class animation business here in Los Angeles. It’s an exciting time for the animation industry, and I’m looking forward to working with the best and brightest talent to create great stories and characters to entertain an international audience. Alpha has impressively grown into a fully-integrated entertainment company over the years with a strong leadership position in the creation, distribution, and consumer products licensing of its properties which are some of the most recognized brands in China, and I’m excited to be a part of further growing the business.”
Bacon most recently held the post of EVP of Production for Paramount Animation, where he oversaw the production and launch of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water (2015), and helped develop a full slate of films for the studio to release through 2019. Prior to this, Bacon was a production executive for Disney’s Touchstone Pictures on the 2011 animated feature, Gnomeo and Juliet.
Bacon started his career in animation at Disney in 1991 working on classics like Beauty & the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Tarzan and Lilo & Stitch. In 2001 he was named SVP of Production, just as the studio made the transition from traditional 2D to a focus on computer animation. He was later promoted to Executive Vice President of Walt Disney Animation Studios, overseeing production, finance and technology and running the day-to-day operations of a crew of over 600 artists, technicians and production staff.
In addition to Alpha Animation, the Group recently set up L.A.-based live-action feature development company Alpha Pictures. The Alpha Group is the largest animation group and a leading pan-entertainment platform in China. Beginning as a toy-focused business, Alpha now comprises publishing, film, games, consumer products and and more, and owns over 10 animation studios.
