HIT Ent. has brought onboard Andi Copley as md/exec producer of its award-winning animation studio, HOT Animation. The Los Angeles-based studio exec will relocate to Manchester in the U.K. this month and will assume responsibility for the operational management of HOTs production slate, including PINGU and BOB THE BUILDER, as well as growing and expanding the studios third-party work.
Copley, a 25-year TV industry vet, has worked across a number of platforms, including live action, stop-motion and clay animation, TV specials, live shows and televised events. Copley has worked in senior management roles with many of the major U.S. film studios and networks, such as Warner Bros., The Disney Channel, SPROUT, Film Roman, Klasky Csupo, ABC, CBS and NBC.
Her producer credits include HOLIDAZE: THE CHRISTMAS THAT ALMOST DIDNT HAPPEN, a one-hour stop-motion animated special for U.S. television; CLAY for Playhouse Disney; Shelley Duvalls FAERIE TALE Theatre; PEE WEES PLAYHOUSE and THE MR. POTATO HEAD SHOW for FOX.
Andi brings a wealth of studio management and creative experience to HOT Animation," said Lenora Hume, evp, production and programming, to whom she reports. "We are thrilled she has joined us and, under her leadership, we look forward to refreshing the studios existing slate of productions whilst growing and expanding our new productions and third-party projects.
HOT Animation, a wholly owned subsidiary of HIT Ent., established in 1997, based in Altrincham, on the outskirts of Manchester. HOT Animation specializes in stop-frame model animation, boasts six fully equipped animation studios, as well as an art department, four prop workshops, set workshop, costume department, four offline edit suites, foley suite and sound suite. HOT Animation is Europes largest stopframe model animation studio and celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
Launched in 1989, HIT Ent. (www.hitentertainment.com) is one of the world's leading preschool children's entertainment producers and rights owners. Owned by private equity investment group Apax, the company's activities span television production and distribution, home entertainment, consumer products, publishing and live events. HIT's famous characters include classic global brands, such as BOB THE BUILDER, BARNEY, THOMAS & FRIENDS, PINGU, RUBBADUBBERS and ANGELINA BALLERINA. With a catalogue of more than 1,000 hours of young children's programming, HIT sells its shows to more than 240 territories globally and has operations in the U.K., U.S., Japan, Hong Kong and Canada. In 2005, the company joined Comcast Corp., PBS and Sesame Workshop to launch PBS KIDS Sprout, a 24-hour digital cable channel and VOD service for preschoolers.
