Disney's television animation chief Charles Hirschhorn has been given the
boot. The now former head of Walt Disney Television and Walt Disney
Television animation officially exited the position on Wednesday, December
8, 1999. It's speculated that Hirschhorn's responsibilities at WONDERFUL
WORLD OF DISNEY will most likely be taken over by ABC movies and
mini-series head Susan Lyne, while his duties for TV animation and
direct-to-video flicks will most likely be folded into the feature
animation unit at Disney. However, no offical word from Disney has been
issued. With the recent decline in ratings, Hirschhorn's departure marks an
overall strategy by ABC and Disney to streamline both divisions. However,
Hirschhorn isn't humming the blues with Eeyore quite yet, he's signed a
non-exclusive first-look deal with Disney involving features and first-run
TV flicks for WONDERFUL WORLD. Home base for the new productions will be
Hirschhorn's own company!