Program, which kicked off at Lightbox Expo, includes a month of in-person and virtual sessions; participants are paired with high-level animation industry mentors while developing and honing creative and leadership skills.
The non-profit organization CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) has revealed its selection of participants for the CAPE Animation Directors Accelerator (CADA) 2023 Class. In collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), the program returns for a second year to equip animation professionals on the cusp of leadership positions with the skills, mentorship, and professional network needed to break the ceiling in feature film and episodic animation.
The program, which started in person this past weekend during Lightbox Expo in Pasadena, includes a month of in-person and virtual sessions; selected participants can hone artistic and leadership skills through a series of panels, workshops, and masterclasses from high-level executives, producers, and creatives in the animation industry and receive one-on-one executive mentorship.
Kevin Noel (SVP, Creative, Sony Pictures Animation) chairs the program, taking the helm from Justinian Huang (VP, Creative, Sony Pictures Animation) and Michelle Wong (Producer, K-Pop: Demon Hunters), who both founded and co-chaired CADA in its inaugural year.
"We are beyond excited about the participants in this year's CADA program,” said Noel. “While this year's cohort comes from various areas of focus within the animation industry, they share the common distinction of being on the cusp of becoming the next leading voices of this medium. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to be a part of their journeys and to help guide them toward that goal."
The six participants include:
- Andy Cung - Freelance Animation & Live-Action Storyboard Artist; The Powerpuff Girls (Cartoon Network Studios), Quiz Lady (Hulu)
- Hyun Joo Song - Supervising Producer; Unannounced Nickelodeon Series
- Kim Le - Episodic Director; Bugs Bunny Builder (Warner Brothers Animation)
- Raj Brueggemann - Storyboard Artist & Writer; Big City Greens (Disney TVA)
- Rie Koga - Head of Story; Ultraman: Rising (Netflix)
- Stu Livingston - Director; Spider-Man: Freshman Year (Marvel Studios Animation)
“Although many animation projects include Asian (and to a lesser extent, Pacific Islander) creatives, there are still very few in the top leadership positions,” said CAPE executive director Michelle K. Sugihara. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen some movement on the feature film side, with Domee Shi directing Disney’s Turning Red, Peter Sohn directing Pixar’s Elemental, John Aoshima co-directing Netflix’s upcoming Ultraman: Rising, and Fawn Veerasunthorn co-directing Disney’s upcoming Wish. Through CADA, we aim to further accelerate this trajectory for this stellar cohort selected from an intensely competitive applicant pool.”
Speakers this year include Jude Weng (Director, Netflix's Finding 'Ohana); Peter McHugh (Manager, The Gotham Group); Kari Kim (VP, Original Development, Nickelodeon Animation); Jaena Sta. Ana (Line Producer, Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans); Tim Yoon (Producer, Maya and the Three); Maya Kambe (Director of Development, Illumination); Peilin Chou (Producer, Over The Moon); and Jason Caparaz (VP, Development, DreamWorks Animation TV).
The CAPE Animation Directors Accelerator joins other CAPE initiatives such as the CAPE New Writers Fellowship (currently accepting submissions); CAPE Leaders Fellowship; the Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge; and the CAPE Emerging Executives Committee for assistants and coordinators.
Source: CAPE
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
