EXCLUSIVE: Oscar-winning Shrek, Shrek 2, and Shrek The Third producer Aron Warner will head a growing slate of original animated features as newly anointed President of Animation at Reel FX. Warner first segued into animation in 1998 as a producer on Antz after overseeing films like Independence Day, True Lies, and Titanic as VP Production at Fox. He’ll hit the ground running as the design, VFX, animation, and live-action studio aims to ramp up its original animation slate, which includes a lineup of features already in the works.
As part of his duties, Warner will oversee the CG animated adaptation of Dark Horse Comics’ Beasts Of Burden, a deal inked two years ago through Warner and Andrew Adamson‘s Strange Weather shingle. The pair last month partnered with Reel FX on the live-action young-adult novel Monument 14, which Brad Peyton will adapt and direct for Reel FX and Strange Weather. Warner most recently produced Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away with Reel FX and Adamson, who directed.
Focusing on mid-range budgeted animated fare with wide appeal, the Dallas- and Santa Monica-based Reel FX has a pair of additional name-fronted animated projects coming up including the Guillermo del Toro-produced Day of the Dead-themed Book Of Life (to be released by Fox Animation on October 10, 2014) and the Jimmy Hayward-directed Turkeys (coming November 14th, 2014 via Relativity Media).
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Hopefully now that Lorne Lanning Oddworld Inhabitants project will see the light of day!
Here’s to a very wise decision! Aron developed Shrek from the being the red-headed stepchild of Dreamworks to, well, being Shrek. ReelFX should be thanking their lucky stars he’s on board. Congratulations to all involved!
Wow. Could not have happened to a better leader. I’ve worked with Aron before and he’s an awesome leader, visionary creative, no BS style. They are lucky to have landed him.
They titled a movie “Turkeys” – nice that they are saving the critics all that time they’d spend coming up with a review heading.
Warner’s involvement brings another REAL place to take ideas to, very cool.