Sony Pictures Animation

There’s nothing better than finding your people. Happy #Pride Month!

Today, the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) hosted their annual Animation Day programming, including “The Spider Within: A Spider–Verse Story” panel with Jarelle Dampier(director) and Khaila Amazan (writer), moderated by Michelle Raimo Kouyate (LENS program creator and producer).

Tyree Dillihay is directing his dream sports movie with one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Stephen Curry, who is producing #GOATmovie. Read more on Variety. https://lnkd.in/gBj6b2Dh

Who is the GOAT? Find out exclusively in movie theaters 2026. #GOATmovie

We are elated to share our final employee spotlight in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Jay Thakur! Jay is a talented visual development artist at our studio who has contributed to films like Spider-Man: Across the #SpiderVerse. Read more about him, his working process, and his inspirations. Thank you for checking out our employee spotlights this month!

This month in 2002, Sony Pictures Animation was established! Proud to be a part of #ColumbiaPictures100 history.

Our employee spotlight this week in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is the one and only, RJ Palisoc! He is a line producer on an unannounced series here at the studio and has an amazing story and wise words to share: "After joining the Navy to fund college, I enrolled in the Art Institute of Los Angeles. From there, I applied for several internships and landed one at a major studio. I worked my way up the animation production ladder and was fortunate enough to work for other studios before coming to Sony Pictures Animation. Because of my interest in production, I've been able to work with it from beginning to end and enjoy improving upon the system as technology develops." His greatest inspiration comes from his mother, "From being raised in extreme poverty, to experiencing unimaginable tragedies in the loss of loved ones, to fighting cancer, she has been a shining beacon of light and my north star. It is her personality that I inherited and her legacy that I wish to fulfill." When asked what is one of the most valuable lessons he's learned in his career, he states, "Like everything in life, grit is what matters. There are lots of ups and downs in this industry. Know your value and keep striving forward. If you experience setbacks, learn what you can, but don't stop." Learn more about RJ and his insights below on what being at Sony Animation means to him and what he is most proud of!

We can't wait to meet you at our next stop: LightBox Expo 2024. See you there!

Our employee spotlight in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this week is Soorim Lee! She is the coordinator for the physical production team, which she describes "keeps the multifaceted gears of all of our various productions turning harmoniously together." Her most recent inspiration comes from playing the game, Dungeons and Dragons, with friends, including the ones she has from work. "It's been a great source of creative inspiration and joy. It's a form of collaborative storytelling that requires you to improvise with an open mind and trust which is really exciting. Being a part of Sony Animation means that I’m a part of a fun filmmaking sandbox full of people who kept their inner child—the special love for exploration and play—alive. And in that sandbox, we have the great honor of making movies and shows together." Read more about Soorim below!

Last week, the 11th annual Easterseals Disability Film Challenge (EDFC) Awards was held at the #SonyPics Culver City studio lot in the Cary Grant Theater. This event honored the best of this year's extraordinary creators, after receiving a record-breaking number of submissions globally. The ceremony kicked off with an exciting orange carpet featuring nominees, guests, and the night's presenters, and included introductory remarks from Kristine Belson (President, Features & Series, Sony Pictures Animation).     The EDFC “gives filmmakers—with and without disabilities—the opportunity to collaborate to tell unique stories that showcase disability in its many forms.” Each winner received a variety of premium prizes including a Sony Cinema Line Camera FX30 that came with a lens, microphone, and memory cards from Sony Electronics, along with invaluable access to entertainment leaders and resources, including a mentorship meeting with Steven O’Dell (President of International Releasing, Sony Pictures).      Congratulations to this year’s winners and nominees! Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gd9eDKZr