Mumbai: WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks has appointed Carlene Tan as its new director of original production and development for its Kids division in the Asia Pacific. As a departmental lead, she is responsible for identifying new IP and producing original series for Cartoon Network, Boomerang, and POGO.
Based in Singapore, she will immediately get involved with the current slate of Asia Pacific originals including the International Emmy-nominated Lamput, the just-launched Monster Beach. She will also help steer the long-running Roll No. 21 series in India, and both Titoo and Lambuji Tinguji, which will launch on POGO later this year.
“Carlene combines strategic business experience with her love of storytelling to connect with audiences. Her relationships with studios and talent in the regional and global animation ecosystem will be instrumental in bringing new stories to life,” says Leslie Lee, Head of Kids for WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks in the Asia Pacific.
Prior to WarnerMedia, Tan developed original animation with The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia) and was studio head at One Animation where she produced Oddbods and Insectibles. Prior to that, with the founder of Dreamworks Animation, she managed the Singapore arm of Cloudpic Global and produced various digital projects for mobile apps launched across Asia. She was also one of the founding members of Singapore’s first animation studio, Peach Blossom Media. Tan will be based out of the Singapore office.
Also in Lee’s team is Hoyoung Jung, who has recently been promoted as Director of Acquisitions and Co-productions, APAC Kids. Based in Japan, Jung is now tasked with the discovery and negotiation of third-party programming for WarnerMedia’s Kids platforms in the region and will be the face of the networks at key international markets and trade shows.
Jung is a former Mattel employee and worked in the strategic IP partnerships team responsible for APAC content distribution in Hong Kong. He also worked at Daewon Media, which represented iconic Japanese IP, in Korea, such as Power Rangers, Doraemon, and One Piece.