Kartoon Studios Taps DreamWorks Animation Alum

Former DreamWorks Animation, Cartoon Network and MTV creative executive Gregg Goldin has been appointed senior VP of development and production at Kartoon Studios.

Goldin joins Kartoon Studios with over 20 years of experience in animation and live-action content development and production, overseeing successful movies and series across multiple genres, including DreamWorks Animation’s blockbuster franchises How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda and Fast & Furious. In this new role, Goldin will be responsible for heading up development and production for both new and original IP to deliver to the marketplace.

Goldin will report jointly to Andy Heyward, Kartoon Studios’ chairman and CEO, and COO Michael Jaffa.

Kartoon Studios has also planned a significant increase in content production and development for 2024 for Kartoon Channel!, Frederator Networks, Mainframe Studios and major broadcasters and streamers. A roster of properties are in production and/or development, including Stan Lee’s Cosmic Crusaders and three series for Frederator Networks: Land of Boggs; Chikn’ Nuggit, in partnership with BuzzFeed Animation Lab; and an adult animated comedy series in partnership with Wheelhouse DNA, starring internet personality Adam W.

Brian Parisi, chief financial officer, commented, “We have significantly streamlined our operations and have built a highly scalable infrastructure. With the increase in content production and other initiatives to be announced in early 2024 to drive revenue, we are well on our way to achieving our goal of sustained profitability. It should be noted that our streaming service Kartoon Channel! achieved break-even in 2023, only three years after launch, and is expected to move to profitability in 2024, alongside Netflix. Kartoon Channel! continues to dominate the user rankings in the Apple app store among all services delivering kids’ content.”

Heyward noted, “As we enter a significant phase of growth in our development and production pipeline this year, with productions in the works for our Kartoon Channel! and Frederator Networks, we are thrilled to welcome a creative executive with Gregg’s pedigree to drive our content business. He has managed the development of some of the industry’s most successful franchises while at DreamWorks and Cartoon Network, and he will be an invaluable asset as we continue to build our IP catalog for global distribution. As Kartoon Channel! achieved break-even this last year and drives to enhance profitability in 2024, Gregg will be pivotal in fueling the service with top-tier content, as he did so successfully for DreamWorks Animation at Netflix.”

Goldin added, “Andy has made enormous contributions to the animation industry over the years, and I’m thrilled to work with him and the team at Kartoon Studios as we significantly ramp up over the next couple of years with new IP coming to market.”