Nickelodeon Announces Animation Studio Promotions

Burbank, CA—Dec. 13, 2010—Nickelodeon today announced a round of promotions at the network’s Animation Studio in Burbank, CA. Dina Buteyn has been named Vice President of Animation Production; Dean Hoff is now Vice President of CG Production and Jason Stiff has been promoted to Vice President of Post Production. The announcement was made today by Mark Taylor, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Nickelodeon Animation Studio.

“Dina, Dean and Jason represent the heart and soul of the studio,” said Taylor. “They have outstanding track records for producing successful shows and have shown strong leadership that has helped build Nickelodeon Animation Studio into the top-notch producer of the most popular 2D and CG animated for TV series with kids around the world.”

Dina Buteyn is now Vice President of Animation Production. In this role, she will be responsible for oversight of all production and development production for Nickelodeon’s 2D animated shows, including SpongeBob SquarePants and T.U.F.F. Puppy.

A 13-year veteran of Nick’s Animation Studio, Buteyn has held several positions, serving as producer for several Nicktoons productions, including Making Fiends, The Penguins of Madagascar and SpongeBob SquarePants. She has also served as production manager for several pilots, including The X’s and Catscratch.

Dean Hoff is now Vice President of CG Production. Hoff will oversee all the CG shows and the CG core animation team. A force in pioneering CG production at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio, over the last five years he has helped produce several of Nickelodeon’s hit CG series, including The Penguins of Madagascar, Fanboy and Chum Chum, Planet Sheen and the upcoming new series Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness.

Hoff previously was the Director of CG Production and Producer, overseeing all CG production for the Nickelodeon Animation Studio. Hoff worked on traditionally animated series Chalkzone and the Holly Hobbie direct to video series before helping to build the CG Department at Nickelodeon. He began his career as a cinematographer and camera assistant in live action film, transitioning to traditional animation in 2001.

Jason Stiff is now Vice President of Post Production and will be responsible for the management and oversight of the entire post production process. He will work in conjunction with external vendors, the editorial, sound, production and CG teams to ensure successful delivery of all current animation series, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Fanboy and Chum Chum, Dora the Explorer and the upcoming series Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, among others.

Previously, Stiff served as Senior Director, overseeing post production for Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. animated series, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Fairly Odd Parents, ,and Ni Hao Kai-lan. In 2001, he was the Post Production Supervisor for Invader Zim and then took on the role of Director and eventually the Senior Director, overseeing all of Post Production in September of 2002. In addition to his work on Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Nicktoons, Stiff has also worked on animation projects for Nick at Nite, TV Land and Spike.

Prior to joining Nickelodeon, Stiff worked on FOX’s King of the Hill as a Post Production assistant, coordinator and then supervisor from 1997 — 2001. Stiff began his career in animation in 1996 as a freelance animatic scanner on various projects at Sony.