Hannah Minghella was named head of Netflix Animation Studios in an effort by the streaming giant to streamline all things animated.
Minghella, who started at Netflix in 2024 as the head of feature animation and live-action family films, will focus her purview solely on animation. In her new role, she’ll lead a film slate that includes “Kpop Demon Hunters 2,” “Ray Gunn” and “The Mitchells vs the Machines 2,” as well as run the studio’s three animation facilities in Burbank, Vancouver and Sydney, which have over 1,000 employees. Minghella will also focus on building out franchises across businesses including live events and consumer products.
Amid the transition, Minghella will continue to oversee live-action family projects in process including Greta Gerwig’s “Narnia” and the “Eloise” adaptation. Otherwise, Netflix’s live-action family division will be run by film VP Kira Goldberg, working closely with the streamer’s chairman of film Dan Lin. Goldberg has worked at Netflix since 2018 and is currently in charge of thrillers, dramas and faith-based films, including “Apex,” “Remarkably Bright Creatures” and “The Life List.”
Netflix’s biggest success by far in the animation space has been “Kpop Demon Hunters,” a fantasy adventure about a fictional K-pop girl group who protect the world from demons with their music. It became a full-blown phenomenon and now ranks as the streamer’s most popular movie of all time. “KPop Demon Hunters” even became a box office hit when Netflix brought a sing-along version to theaters for fan events last fall. Naturally, a sequel is in the works, with filmmakers Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans returning to direct and write the musical follow-up.
