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EXCLUSIVE: Sycamore Studios, the recently launched kids and family animation studio from former Participant exec Christian McGuigan and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Timothy Reckart, has made Cooper Waterman a Partner and appointed him to the role of Head of Production and Distribution.
“Cooper brings a wealth of experience in both production and distribution, having guided a number of beloved family films to incredible success,” observed CEO McGuigan, to whom Waterman reports. “His ability to merge creative vision with business acumen is unmatched, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him on board as we build Sycamore Studios into a leader in family entertainment.”
A widely respected industry executive, Waterman was formerly a principal at Waterman Entertainment, which has stewarded such iconic, family-friendly projects as Casper the Ghost and Stuart Little, as well as the Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise, which grossed over $2 billion at the worldwide box office.
Over the last 10 years, Waterman has been involved in the acquisition, development, production, and distribution of content across all genres. As an executive producer for the creative agency Los York, he worked on the documentary Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1, in partnership with Air Jordan, which was acquired by Hulu. Through his personal production company Riven Rock Projects, he developed and sold an adaptation of Richard Newsome’s bestselling book series, The Billionaire’s Curse, to Disney+. Additionally, through his partnership with Belgian animation studio Nwave Pictures, he has produced a slate of five animated features that have collectively grossed over $150 million at the worldwide box office, some of which hit #1 upon their Netflix debuts.
In a statement on his appointment at Sycamore Studios, Waterman told Deadline, “This is a pivotal time in the feature animation industry. Technological advancements are happening daily, and they’re already allowing us the ability to work with teams around the world in real-time to create beautiful films at a fraction of the cost. What excites me most about joining Sycamore Studios is that we know there is a demand in the market for timeless stories and beautiful animation. This summer’s box office success is proof of that, but the past 10 years of studio consolidations and restructurings have killed great films and shrunk the competition exponentially.”
Continued Waterman, “There is no better time than now for a company like Sycamore Studios to bring a new voice to this genre that I love. I believe we are primed for success with great IP, world-class talent, and an understanding of what today’s audiences truly want.”
Up first on the docket for Sycamore Studios, following its launch last month, is an animated feature adaptation of Hugh Lofting’s children’s classic Doctor Dolittle, scripted by Cal Brunker and Bob Barlen (Paw Patrol films). Reckart acts as Chief Creative Officer of the company, whose slate includes both existing IP storytelling and originals.
