Paramount Animation President Ramsey Naito Departs Amid Corporate Restructuring

Hollywood, CA — In a major shakeup at Paramount, Ramsey Naito, the president of Paramount Animation, has announced her departure from the studio. This move comes as part of a broader restructuring initiative under new CEO David Ellison, who is seeking to streamline operations and achieve significant cost savings across the company.

Naito’s exit marks the end of an influential era at Paramount Animation. She took on the role of President in September 2021, after previously heading Nickelodeon Animation, where she oversaw the launch of the network’s largest animation slate in its history. During her time at Nickelodeon, Naito was responsible for several high-profile projects, including the PAW Patrol movies, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, and the expansion of the SpongeBob SquarePants universe.

Her promotion to President of Paramount Animation came as the studio sought to revive its animation division with a fresh approach and leadership. Under her watch, Paramount Animation gained new life, notably with the release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which performed well at the box office, grossing nearly $182 million worldwide. The film also marked a resurgence for the iconic turtle franchise, helmed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

A Mixed Legacy: Successes and Challenges

While Naito’s tenure at Paramount Animation saw the successful revival of some beloved franchises, her time at the studio wasn’t without its challenges. One such challenge was the studio’s attempt to expand the Transformers brand into the animated feature space with Transformers One. The film, which targeted a younger demographic, fell short of expectations, grossing just $129 million globally—far below the typical earnings of the Transformers live-action films.

On the other hand, the PAW Patrol movies, which Naito had a hand in, were a financial success, raking in close to $350 million globally across two releases. With a third movie, PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, slated for release in 2024, the PAW Patrol franchise continues to be a reliable revenue stream for the studio.

Naito also worked on the upcoming The Last Airbender: Legend of Aang, set for a 2026 release, and the Angry Birds Movie 3, which will arrive in December 2026. Additionally, a second Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated film is scheduled for September 2027, signaling the continued strength of the TMNT brand under Paramount’s animation umbrella.

Despite these successes, her departure aligns with a larger corporate restructuring under David Ellison’s leadership. The studio is reportedly making cuts in various departments to achieve $2 billion in savings as part of a wider cost-cutting initiative. This includes several high-profile exits from the motion picture division, including the departure of key executives like Marc Weinstock, President of Global Marketing & Distribution, and Domestic Distribution President, all part of Ellison’s push to restructure the company.

Naito’s Departure and Personal Message

In a heartfelt message to her team, Naito expressed her pride in the work accomplished during her tenure. She highlighted the “collaboration, creativity, and kindness” that defined her time at Paramount Animation, emphasizing the bond she shared with her colleagues.

Her note read:

“I want to share with you that I am leaving the company and closing this very special chapter with all of you. Leading this incredible team of talented storytellers, artists, and dreamers has been one of the great joys of my career. I am endlessly proud of what we’ve built—especially the spirit behind it.”

She went on to express her gratitude for the leadership team and offered her ongoing support as the animation division continues its journey under new leadership.

A New Era at Paramount Animation

Naito’s departure marks another shift in a series of leadership changes at Paramount. While she was initially expected to remain with the studio after the merger with Skydance Animation, it seems that under Ellison’s new vision for the company, a fresh executive team is being put in place. Notably, Skydance Animation, under John Lasseter and Holly Edwards, remains a separate entity, not merging with Paramount Animation, in part due to an existing output deal with Netflix.

As the restructuring continues, all eyes will be on who Ellison taps to lead the studio’s animation division moving forward. The changes also coincide with an increased focus on the profitability of major franchises such as Top Gun: Maverick, which earned over $1.49 billion globally—cementing the importance of strong leadership in navigating both creative and financial challenges.

In the meantime, Naito’s departure leaves a significant void in the animation world, particularly given her pivotal role in shaping some of the most successful and beloved animated properties of the past decade.