To super-serve its rapidly growing original IP business, Baboon Animation has appointed writer and story editor John Reynolds (pictured) as its first head of development.
Starting this week and based at the company’s New York headquarters, Reynolds will oversee the development of Baboon’s original properties for both the stateside studio and its new division in Africa. He will also spearhead development opportunities related to the company’s service work for international clients.
De Seve says the timing was right to bring in a head of development since Baboon currently has two original kids projects in the works for WarnerMedia—Taffy (season two) and Cartoon Network Africa series Garbage Boy and Trash Can. Reynolds has worked on both of them, and first teamed up with de Seve in 2006 on Fox Kids series Viva Piñata.
Created by emerging Nigerian animator Ridwan Moshood, Garbage Boy will serve as a model for bringing more African IPs into the global market, said Baboon principal Joe Vitale in a release. Baboon Animation Africa (BAA) recently partnered with the African Animation Network on a new joint-venture pitch competition called the Great Big African Animation Pitch. This initiative aims to support BAA’s plan to develop 20 to 25 pitches into animated shows over the next five years.
Reynolds’ credits include The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show (head writer) and The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (staff writer), both for DreamWorks Animation. He also won a Peabody Award for his work on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and was one of the first members of renowned improv and sketch comedy group The Upright Citizens Brigade.