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Paramount and Nickelodeon Animation’s Ramsey Naito Explains Why Animation Is the Hot Medium Right Now: ‘There’s Never Been a Better Time to Be a Creator’
Ramsey Naito, president of Paramount and Nickelodeon Animation, discusses the future of animation and balancing original and franchise titles.
It will be followed by a string of originals in development, including the Bad Bunny and Will Ferrell-produced “Dropz,” which Naito describes as “our ‘E.T.,’ about real kids in a super extraordinary situation.” Among the studio’s franchise titles, “The Smurfs Movie,” directed by “Puss in Boots” helmer Chris Miller, comes to theaters in early 2025 with a voice cast led by James Corden and Rihanna; the latter will provide the voice of Smurfette in addition to writing, producing and performing original songs. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the beloved Stephen Hillenburg-created “SpongeBob SquarePants” franchise, which revolves around the eponymous yellow sea sponge and his friends at Bikini Bottom. “We want to reach the audience to participate in the celebration,” Naito says, promising that the studio will “synergize our entire ecosystem” leading up to a 2025 return to theaters with “SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.”
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