CalArts alums have long shaped the future of the animation industry. This year, CalArtians have earned recognition for their contributions, securing spots on two prestigious industry rankings: Cartoon Brew’s 2024 US Animation Power List and The Hollywood Reporter’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Players in Kids Entertainment.
CalArtians on Cartoon Brew’s 2024 US Animation Power List
Cartoon Brew‘s roll highlights the top influencers in American animation, celebrating those at the forefront of box office successes, streaming dominance, and artistic evolution. Among the 60 power players, nine CalArts alums made the list:
- Pete Docter (Film/Video BFA 90) – Chief creative officer at Pixar, responsible for some of the studio’s most beloved works.
- Ramsey Naito (Art MFA 95) – Leading the animation arm at Paramount Global and Nickelodeon.
- John Lasseter (Film/Video BFA 79) – Known for his influential work at Pixar and now at Skydance Animation.
- Chris Sanders (Film/Video 84) – Writer-director of The Wild Robot, Lilo & Stitch, and How to Train Your Dragon.
- Genndy Tartakovsky (Film/Video 92) – Acclaimed for his innovative series, including Samurai Jack and Primal.
- Sean Buckelew (Film/Video MFA 14) – Rising star in independent animation.
- Bruce W. Smith (Film/Video BFA 83)– Creator of The Proud Family, known for advancing Black representation in animation.
- Mike Mitchell (Film/Video BFA 97)– Director of Shrek Forever After and The Lego Movie 2.
- Carrie Hobson (Film/Video BFA 10) – Emerging talent behind notable animated projects at Pixar.
The Hollywood Reporter’s 50 Most Powerful Players in Kids Entertainment
In The Hollywood Reporter’s annual roundup, CalArts graduates continue to make waves in kids’ entertainment. Docter and Naito once again appear, noted for their impact on the next generation of media consumers.
Docter, as Pixar’s chief creative officer, continues to lead the studio’s major projects, including the massively successful Inside Out 2 and upcoming releases like Elio and Toy Story 5. His visionary work has solidified Pixar’s role as a dominant force in both children’s and family entertainment.
Naito, president of Animation at Paramount and Nickelodeon, is overseeing key projects, including new SpongeBob films, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboots, and an animated Fairly OddParents series. Her leadership has positioned Nickelodeon and Paramount as trailblazers in both franchise revitalization and original content creation.
