Alpha Group Co. Ltd. forms LA-based Alpha Animation with industry veteran Bob Bacon appointed Chief Executive Officer
Skwigly
Alpha Group Co. Ltd. is pleased to announce that Bob Bacon will serve as Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Animation, a new division dedicated to the development and production of high-quality animated feature content for a worldwide audience, it was announced today by Alpha Interactive Entertainment Division Chief Executive Officer, Chen De Rong.
On Bacon’s appointment, Mr. Chen said:
Bob is one of the most respected and accomplished animation executives in the industry, and we are excited for him to helm Alpha Animation as our company continues to expand its foothold in the animation industry. Animation has always been at the core of our company’s focus, and producing world-class animation is a key step of Alpha’s globalization strategy. We are looking forward to working with some of the most talented people in the business through this new venture.
In his new role as CEO, Bacon will oversee all aspects of development, production and operations as he leads Alpha’s efforts to build a global animation powerhouse. Added Bacon:
I am thrilled to join Alpha Animation and thank Alpha Group Founder and Chairman, Mr. Cai, and Mr. Chen for the opportunity to build an artist-friendly, world-class animation business here in Los Angeles. It’s an exciting time for the animation industry, and I’m looking forward to working with the best and brightest talent to create great stories and characters to entertain an international audience. Alpha has impressively grown into a fully-integrated entertainment company over the years with a strong leadership position in the creation, distribution, and consumer products licensing of its properties which are some of the most recognized brands in China, and I’m excited to be a part of further growing the business.
Alpha Animation will look to leverage Alpha Group’s various properties as well as create original fare with the goal of releasing their first feature in 2020 and to produce a film per year thereafter for the global market.
Besides the new formation of Alpha Animation, Alpha Group also recently established an LA-based live-action feature film development company called Alpha Pictures. Alpha Pictures is focused on developing U.S.-China co-productions based on the properties from U17.com, the largest online comic book platform in China, which was acquired by Alpha Group last year. Additionally, Alpha Group is uniquely positioned with exciting properties and multiple distribution channels, which also includes the number one kids TV network in Southern China, Jiajia Cartoon.
Bacon most recently held the post of Executive Vice President of Production for Paramount Animation, where he served as head of the animation division. While at Paramount, Bacon oversaw the production and launch of the 2015 hit film, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water, and helped develop a full slate of films for the studio to release through 2019. Prior to his work at Paramount, he served as a production executive for Disney’s Touchstone Pictures on the 2011 animated feature release, Gnomeo and Juliet. Bacon started his career in animation at Disney in 1991 working on such classic films as Beauty & the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Tarzan and Lilo & Stitch. In 2001 he was named Senior Vice President of Production, during a pivotal time in the studio’s history as they made the transition from a traditional, 2D studio to one focusing on computer animation. He was later promoted to Executive Vice President of Walt Disney Animation Studios, overseeing production, finance and technology and running the day-to-day operations of a crew of over 600 artists, technicians and production staff.