Canada's Rainmaker Entertainment Hires Michael Hefferon as Executive Producer

TORONTO - The reset at Rainmaker Entertainment has seen Michael Hefferon hired as president and executive producer of the Vancouver-based CGI animation production studio.

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The appointment was announced by newly appointed chairman and CEO Craig Graham, and follows Rainmaker abandoning a takeover by Chinese cartoon maker Xing Xing Digital in September 2012.

Catherine Winder left Rainmaker as president and executive producer just before the acquisition by Xing Xing Digital was unveiled earlier in June 2012.

Hefferon joins Rainmaker Entertainment from rival animation producer Bardel Entertainment, where he was vp of business development and executive producer.

He completed earlier executive stints at Australian CGI animation producer Flying Bark Productions and German animation studio BFC Berliner Film Companie Productions.

Under new management, Rainmaker is continuing to specialize in CGI animation, including completing the feature film Escape From Planet Earth, to be distributed by The Weinstein Company.

The Canadian digital studio is also producing DVD films for Mattel and developing its own properties.