Warner Bros. Pictures Animation Unveils Ambitious Theatrical Slate Ahead of Annecy

On Tuesday, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation (WBPA) hosted an open-house at its Burbank lot. The session was led by WBPA President and Chief Creative Officer Bill Damaschke, with Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-chair and CEO Pam Abdy delivering opening remarks. The gathering preceded WBPA’s presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival the following month. Abdy highlighted several in-development titles, including the Dr. Seuss adaptation The Cat in the Hat starring Bill Hader (scheduled for a November theatrical release), the Looney Tunes short Daffy Season (directed by Todd Wilderman and Hamish Grieve) slated for its Annecy debut, and a slate of additional projects such as the musical Bad Fairies (starring Cynthia Erivo), Margie Claus (headlined by Melissa McCarthy), and an adaptation of Marissa Meyer’s The Lunar Chronicles. Other titles mentioned were *Dynamic Duo*, *Tom and Jerry*, *Meerkat Manor*, *Hello Kitty*, and *Oh, the Places You’ll Go!*.

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WBPA’s current slate follows a rebranding effort that began with the hiring of Bill Damaschke in 2023. The Cat in the Hat marks the studio’s first feature released under the new brand identity, reflecting a strategic pivot toward filmmaker-driven, visually ambitious productions intended for theatrical exhibition.

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• Bill Damaschke – President and Chief Creative Officer, WBPA.

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• Pam Abdy – Co-chair and CEO, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group.

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• Mike De Luca – Co-chief of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, cited for his support of Damaschke’s plan.

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• Todd Wilderman & Hamish Grieve – Directors of *Daffy Season*.

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• Jorge R. Gutiérrez – Director attached to a Speedy Gonzales feature in development.

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• Ketchup Entertainment – Acquirer of the *Coyote vs Acme* project for a summer release.

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• Tuesday (event) – Open-house presentation.

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• Next month – WBPA’s Annecy showcase, featuring *Daffy Season*.

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• November – Planned theatrical release of *The Cat in the Hat*.

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• Next year – Release of *Bad Fairies*.

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• Summer 2024 – Scheduled release of *Coyote vs Acme* by Ketchup Entertainment.

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• WBPA plans to release seven animated features over the next three years.

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• *Space Jam: A New Legacy* (2021) generated $163 million worldwide, the most recent Looney Tunes theatrical entry.

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The announced slate underscores Warner Bros.’ intent to re-establish Looney Tunes characters as regular theatrical attractions and to diversify its animated portfolio with original stories and adaptations. Emphasizing a “filmmaker-first” approach aligns the studio with broader industry trends favoring high-budget, cinema-oriented animation.

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Pam Abdy described *The Cat in the Hat* as setting the tone for WBPA’s renewed identity, emphasizing a filmmaker-driven, visually ambitious model designed for theatrical events. She also highlighted *Daffy Season* as a reaffirmation of the studio’s commitment to bring Looney Tunes back to the big screen. Bill Damaschke outlined a slate featuring varied looks, styles, and tones, aiming to deliver heart, hope, humor, and a scale suitable for theatrical presentation while maintaining an artists-first community.

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The source material does not contain reported criticism or opposition to the announced slate.

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• “sets the tone for what WBPA represents today: filmmaker-driven, visually ambitious and designed as a true theatrical event.” — Pam Abdy, President and CEO, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group

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• “We’re also thrilled to be unveiling at Annecy Daffy Season, a Looney Tunes theatrical short that reestablishes our commitment to bring Looney Tunes back to the big screen,” — Pam Abdy, President and CEO, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group

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• “Different looks, different styles, different tones — connected with what I hope will be heart, hope, humor and a scale that earns the big screen and remaining an artists-first community.” — Bill Damaschke, President and Chief Creative Officer, WBPA

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WBPA will present *Daffy Season* at Annecy, followed by the November release of *The Cat in the Hat*. Additional titles such as *Bad Fairies*, *Margie Claus*, and *The Lunar Chronicles* are slated for future theatrical releases, with further details expected in upcoming studio communications.

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