MUMBAI: Sam Register, the veteran animation executive behind the development of animated series as Ben 10 and Teen Titans, and creator of Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, has entered into a multi-property development and production deal with Warner Bros. Animation.
Register will also continue to work with sister company Cartoon Network through a first-look development deal that was announced last fall.
Warner Bros. Animation president Lisa Judson said, “Sam has made his mark in both the business and creative ends of animation, and we believe he will provide an unique perspective for Warner Bros. Animation as we expand our horizons in the on-air and broadband arenas. We expect to take full advantage of Sam’s animation and online experience, and we are excited to work with him.”
In nearly 10 years as a top executive at Cartoon Network, Register has overseen numerous successful program launches, reinvigorated the DC Comics animated universe, established powerful relationships with such companies as Lucasfilm, and helped grow the company from a small marketing portal to an exciting kids’ entertainment destination.
He joined Turner Broadcasting in 1995 as Creative Director for San Francisco-based Turner New Media, guiding Turner’s earliest explorations of online marketing and content opportunities. He took a similar role with Nickelodeon in 1996, then joined Colossal Pictures as Creative Director, where he strategized multi-platform marketing concepts for such clients as Coca-Cola, The Disney Channel, Microsoft and WebTV.
Register returned to Cartoon Network in 1997 as Senior Vice President/Creative Director of Cartoon Network Online, where he strategized and mobilized a creative plan for the network’s Internet presence that immediately quadrupled traffic. During his tenure with Cartoon Network Online, Register creatively integrated classic characters into digital-age entertainment – populating the site with beloved animated individuals from throughout the TimeWarner library.
In 2001, Register was named Senior Vice President of Development for Cartoon Network, where he built the West Coast development department from the ground up while deepening the network’s relationships with key partners including DC Comics, Hasbro, Lucasfilm and Mattel. Under his leadership, Cartoon Network re-established its renowned shorts program, a creator-driven slate of 40 seven-minute pilots. In 2003, he was named Senior Vice President of Original Animation.
Register worked closely with Lucasfilm to create two seasons of the Cartoon network’s hit micro-series Star Wars: Clone Wars. He oversaw three seasons of Duck Dodgers, two seasons of Justice League Unlimited, and four seasons of the multiple-Emmy Award-winning The Batman, a stylish new take on the Dark Knight. Building on the success of Teen Titans, which ran for six successful seasons and launched a massive wave of profitable tie-in merchandise, Register created his own Cartoon Network show with Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi.
He then delivered Cartoon Network’s first original action show for kids, Ben 10, of which he is the executive producer. Premiering in January 2006, the show is in production on its third season, and production was just completed on a live-action television feature adaptation, Ben 10: Race Against Time, airing in November.
