Paramount Animation Chief Ramsey Naito Impacted by Layoffs
As Paramount undergoes significant changes under new CEO David Ellison, Ramsey Naito, President of Paramount Animation, has announced her departure. This move is part of a broader strategy to streamline the organization, which includes about 1,000 layoffs across various departments.
Ramsey Naito’s Career Highlights
Naito previously served as the head of Nickelodeon Animation, where she oversaw the largest animation slate in the network’s history. Under her leadership, over 70 projects emerged from the Nickelodeon Animation Studio. In September 2021, she transitioned to Paramount Animation, taking over the role from Mireille Soria.
- Key Achievements at Nickelodeon:
- Directed successful franchises including PAW Patrol: The Movie and additional SpongeBob SquarePants projects.
- Launched new shows like Baby Shark and The Loud House Movie.
- Success at Paramount Animation:
- Revitalized the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which earned approximately $182 million globally.
- Contributed to the Paw Patrol franchise, which collectively grossed around $350 million from films released in 2021 and 2023.
Future Projects and Developments
Under Naito’s leadership, several highly anticipated projects were slated for release. Upcoming films include:
- The Last Airbender: Legend of Aang on October 9, 2026
- The Angry Birds Movie 3 on December 23, 2026
- A new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated feature on September 17, 2027
Despite her departure, Naito expressed pride in her work with the animation teams, citing the creativity and collaboration that characterized their efforts. She highlighted the impact of beloved characters and stories, such as SpongeBob and PAW Patrol, and acknowledged the future potential of the animation projects.
Organizational Changes at Paramount
The restructuring also affected other high-level executives, including the departure of Randy Spendlove, Bryan Oh, and Geoff Stier. New leadership in the marketing division aims to enhance the studio’s operational efficiency and overall performance.
In her farewell message, Naito reflected on her time with the company and thanked her team for their dedication. As the new era for Paramount Animation begins, the industry watches closely to see how these changes will shape future productions.
