Atomic recruits Nick exec

Atomic Cartoons, the kids and family division of Vancouver-based Thunderbird Entertainment, has appointed a former Nickelodeon executive to lead its studio in Ottawa.

David Gerhard

Animation director David Gerhard has joined Atomic as creative director of the Ottawa studio, which will see him relocate to the Canadian capital from LA. In his new role, he will oversee teams working on projects for NBCUniversal.

Gerhard was most recently creative director of alternative media for Nickelodeon Animation, where he helped develop the VR experience for Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and directed Nickelodeon’s first live 2D animation stream for Facebook, Loudhouse Live.

Prior to this, Gerhard was animation director at Nickelodeon, before which he held roles at Titmouse, Cartoon Network and Warner Bros Entertainment.

Atomic Cartoons’ Ottawa production hub opened in December 2018. The studio anticipates employing 150 people by June 2020 and also has teams in Vancouver and LA.

Titles in Atomic Cartoons’ catalogue include forthcoming Disney+ series 101 Dalmatian Street and Netflix’s The Last Kids on Earth.