Film production company Participant Media alum Christian McGuigan and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Timothy Reckart (Head Over Heels, Anomalisa) have launched a new animation banner Sycamore Studios. The studio is set to primarily produce CG-animated kids and family content.
The studio is based in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. It will primarily focus on movies, and working with A-list writers/directors and foreign production partners to produce films at a competitive price. The studio is also open to making TV series.
The newly established studio has announced its first project, a theatrical adaptation of Doctor Dolittle, a character created by author Hugh Lofting. The character by Lofting is now a public-domain IP. Canadian animator Cal Brunker and Canadian screenwriter Bob Barlen, who have previously worked together on Paw Patrol: The Movie will be penning the script for the studio’s upcoming Dolittle film. The studio is also in talks with overseas animation studios and is exploring multi-film partnerships.
McGuigan will look over business operations and strategy as the studio’s CEO. He has previously worked with Participant Media from 2012 to 2017 in roles that included director and VP of integrated content strategy. McGuigan is also an Emmy-nominated producer (Sarah’s Story). Reckart will be responsible for creative director and project development as the studio’s chief creative officer.
McGuigan and Reckart have been setting up the studio for more than a year, as they onboarded Bigfoot Family producer Cooper Waterman as head of production and recruited former Netflix virtual production head Christina Lee Storm to join the studio’s advisory board.
The studio is currently recruiting to fill out more key executive positions.
