Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) is opening a new production facility in Vancouver as it ramps up its streaming offerings.
Focusing on long-form series like the upcoming musical revisiting of “Moana,” the studio will recruit new talent for its feature-quality slate and special projects meant exclusively for Disney Plus.
WDAS President Clark Spencer made the announcement today.
With the opening, Amir Nasrabadi becomes head of WDAS, Vancouver.
An animation veteran, Nasrabadi most recently served as executive vice president and general manager at WildBrain Studios. Previous roles include overseeing Pixar Canada as as well as senior leadership roles with Illumination and Paramount Animation. He previously served as WDAS’ fInance lead.
“I am so honored and excited to be joining the Disney family again,” says Nasrabadi. “I continue to be amazed at the high-level of artistry and technical advancements coming out of the animation industry here in Vancouver and I am so proud to be a part of this community. This is really a dream come true for me.”
Targeting a January 2022 opening, the Vancouver studio is recruiting for roles imminently. “Moana,” set for a 2024 debut, will be produced by Academy Award nominee Osnat Shurer, who worked on the feature film and “Raya and the Last Dragon.”
“With Burbank and Vancouver both home to some of the world’s most talented artists and technicians, we believe the storytelling and visual quality created within each location will meet the incredibly high standards we set for ourselves and audiences have come to expect from Disney Animation,” Spencer told Variety Magazine.
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