‘Rick And Morty’ Studio Bardel Entertainment Taps Naomi Stopa To Oversee Animation And Launch VFX Division

Vancouver- and Montreal-based Bardel Entertainment has appointed Naomi Stopa as its new VP of production as the studio expands further into visual effects.

Stopa brings more than 25 years of experience in the VFX and animation industries, having held senior leadership roles at world-class studios including Framestore, Digital Domain, ILM, Method Studios, and Rainmaker. Most recently, she served as head of studio for Framestore Vancouver, where she guided creative and production teams to deliver award-winning work on projects such as Morbius, Guardians of the Galaxy, Aladdin, and Bong Joon-ho’s Okja.

In her new role, Stopa will oversee Bardel’s animation production and spearhead the company’s newly launched VFX division, “an exciting expansion that positions Bardel for continued growth across both animation and visual effects,” the studio said in its announcement.

Bardel CEO Tina Chow praised the hire, saying: “Naomi’s deep industry knowledge, strategic leadership, and creative vision make her an exceptional addition to our team. Her career reflects not only a passion for storytelling and innovation but also a commitment to building high-performing teams and nurturing talent. We’re excited to welcome her as we enter this next chapter.”

Bardel is best known for its work on hit animated series, including Rick and Morty, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The addition of a dedicated VFX arm reflects a growing industry trend toward integrated animation and visual effects pipelines, positioning the studio to expand its creative footprint and compete for a wider range of high-profile projects in both film and television.