DreamWorks Ups Damaschke and Batter

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgDreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. today announced that senior team members Bill Damaschke and John Batter have been promoted to Co-Presidents of Production for Feature Animation, with Damaschke also being appointed to the newly created position of President of Live Theatrical.

In his new role, Damaschke will continue to oversee creative production and development for the studio and continue his involvement with the upcoming film slate, including KUNG FU PANDA, MONSTERS VS. ALIENS, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON and MADAGASCAR 2. As President of Live Theatrical, he will oversee all live theatrical production, beginning with SHREK THE MUSICAL, which is currently in pre-production and is slated to open on Broadway as early as 2008.

An animation industry veteran who joined DreamWorks Animation at its inception in 1995 as production coordinator on PRINCE OF EGYPT, Damaschke was named Head of Creative Production in 1999 and Head of Creative Production and Development in 2005. During his tenure at DreamWorks, Damaschke produced SHARK TALE, exec produced OVER THE HEDGE and worked on virtually all of DreamWorks Animation's feature productions.

As Co-President of Production for Feature Animation, Batter will oversee film production operations and animation technology, guiding the overall operation of the studio and its state-of-the-art animation tools and technology. He is also currently involved in managing the production efforts for the company's upcoming film slate, including its 3-D initiative on such films as MONSTERS VS. ALIENS and HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON.

Batter previously served as Head of Production Operations for DreamWorks Animation. In 1995, he joined the company as CFO of DreamWorks Interactive and later served as CFO for PDI/DreamWorks from 1997 to 2000. He left PDI/DreamWorks in 2000 to join Electronic Arts, where he held a number of management positions, including Group Studio GM and GM of EA Mobile, before returning to DreamWorks Animation in 2006.