Nick Bruno & Julie Zackary Join Annapurna Animation Leadership Team; Feature Take Of Videogame ‘Stray’ In The Works

Anthony D'Alessandro
·2 min read
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Annapurna Animation has ramped up the creative leadership of its team with the addition of Nimona director Nick Bruno and producer Julie Zackary. Zackary, a former Blue Sky Studios executive, will serve as Annapurna’s Head of Animation.

Also joining the division is Erica Pulcini as Creative Executive.

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First out of the gate for the division is a feature take of BlueTwelve videogame, Stray.

Zackary will oversee all aspects of production throughout Annapurna Animation’s division. Zackary served as VP of Production Management at Sony Pictures Imageworks before joining Blue Sky Studios as Vice President of Production.

In Pulcini’s role as Creative Executive, she will help curate, develop and further define Annapurna Animation’s feature film slate.

Also in development is Foo, the next project from renowned director Chris Wedge.

Bruno is already on tap to develop and direct an untitled original feature film, and he is actively developing several new original ideas under Annapurna Animation. He made his feature film directorial debut as a director on 20th Century Studios’ Spies in Disguise. His additional credits include Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who, Rio, The Peanuts Movie and the Oscar nominated short, No Time for Nuts.

Wedge is an Oscar winning film director, producer and co-founder of Blue Sky Animation Studios. Wedge wrote and directed Blue Sky Animation’s first film, Bunny, winning an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. He went on to direct the highly touted and Oscar nominated feature film, Ice Age, which spurred a massive franchise for 20th Century Fox.

In December 2022, Annapurna announced the launch of its Animation division being led by former Disney Animation Executives Robert Baird and Andrew Millstein. Annapurna Animation’s debut project, Nimona, premiered on June 14 at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and released globally on Netflix June 30.

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