Former MGA Entertainment VP and executive producer Sadaf Cohen Muncy will helm new independent animation production company and creative incubator; company will guide IP development while enabling artists to maintain financial and creative control.
Stampede Ventures and UTA have announced the launch of HappyNest, an independent animation production company focused on helping artists and creators launch their next kids and family animated projects. The new company will work with artists to incubate their ideas through artistic and financial support, and shepherd the concepts through the entire content-building process – including development, production, and sales, while helping them maintain creative and financial control of their IP.
Funded by Stampede Ventures and UTA, Happy Nest’s launch was led by Stampede’s founder and CEO Greg Silverman and president, Chris Bosco, alongside UTA partner Gregory McKnight, and motion picture literary agent Anna Berthold-Zuk. Silverman’s experience includes an almost two-decade tenure at Warner Bros. that saw him rise to president of creative development and Worldwide Production before launching Stampede in 2018.
“The concept for HappyNest came together out of an incredible partnership with UTA,” commented Silverman. “At Stampede, our mission has always been to connect us all through our favorite stories. To know that, through HappyNest, we will launch content aimed at inspiring and fostering the next generation of stories that connect us, is super gratifying.”
Sadaf Cohen Muncy, a veteran of the kids and family animation space, has been tapped to lead HappyNest as head of development and production. She will be tasked with helping creators through the development and production process as they build their passion projects from concept to completion.
“I am thrilled to be joining the incredible teams at Stampede Ventures and UTA to allow creators and artists a unique opportunity to bring their passion projects to life,” noted Muncy.
Most recently Muncy served as MGA entertainment vice president of entertainment and executive producer. There she built the company’s entertainment division from the ground up, developing and producing live-action, animation, and stop motion content for all MGA brands including L.O.L. Surprise!, Rainbow High, Bratz, Project Mc2, Little Tikes, and Lalaloopsy.
“My objective is to nurture, develop and collaborate with creators, from ideation to final production,” continued Muncy. “As an incubator, we want artists to entrust us with their IP, as we guide and grow their ideas, while allowing them the unconventional ability to maintain creative control and benefit from the financial upside of their brainchild.”
The deal for HappyNest was negotiated by UTA and Chris Bosco from Stampede Ventures. Outside counsel for UTA was led by David Eisman at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates, and Kenneth Deutsch and David Zaheer at Latham & Watkins LLP for Stampede Ventures.
Source: Stampeded Ventures
