Karen Toliver has been tapped as the new vice president of animated film at Netflix.
Toliver history when she became the first Black woman to win an Oscar for animation, for her work as lead producer on Matthew Cherry’s “Hair Love.”
According to Variety, Toliver will be responsible for two to three animated features annually and work alongside fellow animation VP Gregg Taylor.
“It has been an absolute dream working with Kristine Belson and her game-changing team at Sony Pictures Animation. The experience has been instrumental in shaping how I approach producing. Storytelling in animation continues to evolve and expand, and I am excited to join the team at Netflix to continue to break new ground,” Toliver told Variety.
Toliver kicked off her career at Disney, where her credits include Brother Bear, “Chicken Little,” and “Meet the Robinsons.” She also spent a decade working for Fox Animation before moving on to the Blue Sky Studios animation house, which churned out popular family-friendly animations including “Ferdinand,” “Ice Age,” and “Rio.” She also served as executive vice president at Sony Pictures Animation (SPA), where she worked on the Oscar-nominated film “The Mitchells vs. the Machines.”
Netflix’s 2022 animation line-up includes “Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood,” which will premiere at SXSW next month, “My Father’s Dragon,” Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio,” “The Sea Beast,” and “Wendell and Wild.”
The streaming giant is planning to roll out six animation movies a year.
“Karen Toliver has been so impactful at Sony Pictures Animation since she joined our team in 2017. She is also a dear friend,” SPA President Kristine Belson said of Toliver’s next move. “It’s been a joy working with her on our slate of films and series, and I know that she will bring her unique ability to inspire storytellers to her new job. We are excited for Karen, and the opportunity to partner with her on movies at Netflix in the future.”
