EMERYVILLE, CA — Athena Studios (www.athenastudios.com) has signed Nate Hopper as co-producer of the company’s original, stop-motion animated feature Auntie Claus, which is in development. Hopper was previously the senior VP of creative affairs at Sony Pictures Animation.
The stop-motion, musical motion picture (www.auntieclausthemovie.com) will be based on “Auntie Claus,” the first book in the popular Christmas series by Elise Primavera and will run 90 minutes.
“Since the moment that I conceived of ‘Auntie Claus’ I hoped the book would be adapted into an animated musical,” notes Primavera. “The talented people at Athena Studios share this vision, and I couldn't be happier to hear that Nate Hopper, former SVP of creative for Sony Pictures Animation, will now be co-producer on the film.”
Hopper was the senior VP of creative affairs at Sony Pictures Animation from 2002 to 2011. He helped build the start-up studio and served as the lead creative executive on Open Season, Surf’s Up and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, as well as on the live action/animation hybrid The Smurfs movie. Hopper also created and developed the idea for Hotel Transylvania.