Hannah Minghella becomes Netflix boss, animation and family film

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Bad Robot veteran Hannah Minghella has been hired as head of animated and live-action family films at Netflix, Deadline can confirm. We’ve learned that her departure from the JJ Abrams-led company was amicable.

Also announced today that Sharon Taylor, former CEO of Animal Logic Studios, is returning to Netflix to lead animation film production from Vancouver.

With this change, Karen Toliver and Traci Balthazor are leaving Netflix, we have been informed. Both have helped make the streamer’s animation division a heavyweight in the industry, launching hit films such as LionOscar winner Pinocchio by Guillermo Del Toro, The sea monster And Nimonawhile integrating Animal Logic Studios and expanding key creative partnerships.

During her four years at Bad Robot, Minghella served as President of Motion Pictures, working on all live-action, animation and documentary films. Prior to that, she spent nearly 15 years at Sony Pictures and Columbia, where she oversaw the launch of successful franchise films such as Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Hotel Transylvania, The Smurfs, The Incredible Spiderman, 21 Jump Street And Casino Royaleto name just a few.

Dan Lin, Netflix’s Chief Film Officer, said: “Hannah brings her unique skills and experience to this role, along with her strong relationships with the best filmmakers. As a studio head and producer, Hannah has overseen many franchises in both animation and live-action. I am confident that her expertise will support our efforts to bring variety and quality to family films in both our animation and live-action divisions.”

Lin continued, “I’m also excited to welcome Sharon Taylor back to Netflix, where she will lead production for our animated film slate. Having worked together before, I know firsthand that she brings a wealth of experience leading productions with a world-class team of animators, and I look forward to her building on that success.”

When Toliver and Balthazor left the company, Lin expressed his “great gratitude for everything they have done for the company.”

Minghella commented on her hiring: “I am thrilled to be joining Netflix and the incredibly talented team working on animated and live-action family films. In such a short time, the studio has already established itself as a home for bold and original voices within the animation community. I am so grateful to Bela and Dan for the opportunity to build on that foundation and work on a dynamic slate of animated and live-action films.”

Minghella added, “I loved my time at Bad Robot with JJ Abrams, Katie McGrath and my wonderful colleagues there. It’s hard to leave those people and those projects behind, but I return to my leadership role with an even deeper appreciation and respect for all the artists, storytellers, filmmakers and producers who bring so much of themselves to the creative process.”

Currently, Bad Robot is very focused on its creative endeavors with the current leadership of Katie McGrath as Co-CEO, Rachel Rusch Rich as President of TV and Grace Del Val as General Counsel & Head of Business Affairs. The company recently debuted the series From presumption of the innocent on Apple TV+, and production of the first season of the Max series will be completed Dust cloth and the film directed by David Robert Mitchell with Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor in the leading roles Flowervale Roadwhose theatrical release is scheduled for May 16, 2025. In addition, the Max documentary Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes just had its world premiere in Cannes, his podcast Dear Felicity simply liked, The Blue Angels The documentary has just been released in Imax format, and Bad Robot Lives Gutenberg! The Musical recently received a Tony nomination for Best Revival of a Musical.

Bad Robot is currently producing an animated musical adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ Oh the places you will go! for Warner Bros Animation with Jon Chu and Jill Culton directing from a screenplay by Rob Lieber. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul write the songs.

Variety was the first to report on Minghella’s hiring at Netflix.