Netflix adds DreamWorks’ Cobb for kids

Netflix has hired the chief creative officer of DreamWorks Animation’s Chinese joint venture to lead its kids and family content team.

Melissa Cobb

Melissa Cobb has joined the US-based streaming giant as VP of kids and family to oversee the creation and acquisition of series and films for the demographic.

Based in Netflix’s LA office, Cobb reports to chief content officer Ted Sarandos.

The firm said Cobb’s team would have an “expanded focus” on high-quality series and event programming for kids and families, including both animation and live action, following her hire.

Cobb joins Netflix from DreamWorks, where she was chief creative officer and head of studio for Oriental DreamWorks, which is about to release its first feature, Everest.

Based in Shanghai, she oversaw all aspects of running the studio and US/China collaboration, including creative oversight of all projects in development and production.

Prior to joining Oriental DreamWorks in 2016, Cobb served as a producer at DreamWorks Animation, where she was responsible for producing animated feature films. Before that, she worked at 20th Century Fox Feature Animation.

“Melissa brings a wealth of experience creating and overseeing series and feature films that resonate with kids and families across the globe. No matter where they live, our members find tremendous enjoyment in our kids and family content, and I couldn’t be happier to have Melissa on board to continue expanding into new and exciting areas,” said Sarandos.

Cobb added: “Given the creative freedom offered here and the global audience, there’s a huge opportunity for talented creatives across the industry to create the world’s best kids and family series and features for Netflix.

“My goal for this team is to offer a diverse slate of great, powerful and timeless family entertainment with global appeal, and to be creator- and talent-friendly, while striving for the highest quality in everything we do.”

A spokeswoman for Netflix told C21 that the hire does not effect the role of Andy Yeatman, Netflix’s director of global kids content. Yeatman joined Netflix in 2011 and is responsible for its children’s and teen programming team.

The hires comes soon after Disney revealed it would be pulling its movies from Netflix in the US in 2019, and follows the streamer hiring Jess Richardson as director of global licensing and merchandising, as revealed by C21.