EXCLUSIVE:Warner Animation Group EVP Allison Abbate is a 20-year-plus veteran of the studio and has worked on many marquee animation films, including their original. Space JamThe extra billion-dollar bonus Lego titles franchise and this summer’s hit,DC League of Super-Pets I am leaving. Abbate will move on to the many filmmaking opportunities available to her.
Warners was the first to bring Abbate’s animation to them in 1996. Space Jam which became a $230M-plus grossing global hit and yielded last year’s sequel, Space Jam: A New Legacy This made more than $163M WW, and drove subscribers to HBO Max. Her next project was the BAFTA-winning Iron Giant Looney Tunes back in Action before reuniting with Tim Burton, who she first worked with on Disney’sNightmare Before ChristmasNominated for the Oscar or BAFTA Corpse BrideShe established a stop-motion studio in the UK. She returned to the U.S. in 2012 to executive produce Phil Lord and Chris Miller’sThe Lego MovieThe film was a global hit that grossed nearly half a trillion dollars worldwide and spawned three other Warner Bros.Legomovies.
Abbate was named EVP WAG 2017 Oversaw the release and maintenance of WAG publications during her five-year tenure.Lego Ninjago, Scoob!, Smallfoot, Teen Titans Go! Movies: Lego Movie 2, Tom and Jerry and Space Jam, A New LegacyDwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart voiced DC League of Superpets.
“Taking this position in 2017 was a great opportunity for me,”Abbate explains Deadline “The potential of animation at Warner Bros is second to none and we are home to some of the most iconic IP in the history of animation.”
“I’ve learned so much and I’m proud of the movies we’ve been able to make, in spite of the pandemic and shifting marketplace,”She adds.
Abbate leaves WAG high-fivingDC League of Super-PetsOpening to No. Opening to No. grossing currently $110M WW with $23M in production costs. Regarding that film’S success, Abbate says, “It was such a labor of love, a perfect example of looking at IP and finding a comedic, original story in a big beautiful action movie. It truly showcased the potential of telling original stories within our iconic IP.”
Abbate cut her teeth in animation at Walt Disney Feature Animation toward the end of The Little Mermaid‘s production and worked on Rescuers Down Under and The Nightmare Before Christmas, which is where she met Burton. She was also a producer on Wes Anderson’sFantastic Mr. Foxwhich was nominated for an original score and Best Animation Feature Oscar, as well as Burton’s FrankenweenieIt was also nominated to win the Best Animation Feature Oscar.
Animation features, which were in development during her tenure, are available hereToto, Meet the Flintstones Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat.
Important execs at WAG are SVPs Chris Leahy & Paul Gerard and Susan Akinbola (creative executive).
Warner Bros. David Zaslav, Discovery CEO announced in June that Warner Bros. Feature Animation, Warner Bros. Pictures Group’s film segment, will be a distinct one alongside Warner Bros./New Line Pictures and DC Films.