Sam Register Departs Warner Bros. Animation After 18 Years

Warner Bros. Television Group chair Channing Dungey announced in a staff memo that Sam Register will leave his role as president of Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe when his contract expires next week. The departure was described as a mutual decision not to renew the agreement.

Hollywood Reporter

Register began his animation career at Cartoon Network in 1994, helping launch the network’s website in the late 1990s and producing series such as *Ben 10*, *The Looney Tunes Show*, *Teen Titans* and *Teen Titans Go!*. He joined Warner Bros. Animation in 2007 as a producer, became executive vice-president of creative affairs in 2008, and was promoted to president in 2008. Over his 18-year tenure he added Cartoon Network Studios to his portfolio in 2020 and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe in 2021. Projects overseen include *Looney Tunes Cartoons*, the *Animaniacs* revival, *Harley Quinn*, *Young Justice*, *Teen Titans Go! to the Movies* and the live-action/animated *Tom and Jerry* film.

Variety Magazine

Dungey’s memo acknowledged that the news “comes as a surprise” and urged staff to stay focused during the transition. She confirmed that Matt Matzkin will continue to lead business operations while existing creative department heads—Jay Bastian, Jason DeMarco, Audrey Diehl, Sarah Fell, Peter Girardi and Sammy Perlmutter—will maintain oversight of their respective divisions. Dungey expressed confidence that the team will emerge “stronger than ever.”

Hollywood Reporter

• “It’s time for me to move on to the next chapter in my life, and I’m grateful to have Channing’s support as I exit Warner Bros Animation,” — Sam Register

Variety Magazine

• “It’s time for me to move onto the next chapter in my life, and I’m grateful to have Channing’s support as I exit Warner Bros Animation,” — Sam Register

Hollywood Reporter