Passion Pictures Hires for Animation

Passion Pictures has tapped Academy Award-winning director Alan Barillaro as a creative director for its animation division.

Barillaro is the Oscar-winning writer and director behind the animated short film Piper (2016). He spent nearly 25 years at Pixar Animation Studios, animating feature films from A Bug’s Life (1998) to Lightyear (2022).

Barillaro further expands the team following the hire of fellow Pixar veteran David Park as head of production and executive producer last year, and Nicki Cortese as head of development earlier this year.

Founder of Passion Pictures, Andrew Ruhemann, said: “Alan is a true pioneer in the animation world and an inspiration to many, so we are delighted to welcome him to the Passion Pictures family. A creative powerhouse, Alan will bring invaluable experience and creativity to the studio, and we are excited to be a part of the stories he’s going to tell. As well as crafting his own work, Alan will act as a creative consultant on new and existing projects and will be instrumental in developing our ambitious slate within animated features and TV series.”

Barillaro added: “I’m thrilled to be at Passion Pictures as they embark on such an exciting chapter in their already celebrated history. Passion’s move into feature animation is what I and the industry has been waiting for, as Passion has long been a creative hub for some of the most talented and celebrated artists in the industry. I’m honored to join this global studio as they continue to expand their creative and storytelling reach.”