Kelowna, B.C.-based animation studio Yeti Farm Creative has restructured its management team and expanded its operations facility.

Partner Jay Surridge (pictured right), who first joined Yeti Farm in 2016 as director and executive in charge of development, is now chief content officer. He is responsible for shepherding a new production and development slate.

Meanwhile, Stephanie Marcott (pictured left) has been hired as international recruiter to manage talent acquisition. Marcott was previously at Method Studios, Framestore, and DNEG.

Their appointments are timed with the studio’s move to downtown Kelowna in a state-of-the-art facility equipped with the latest technology to better support its growing production needs, including a slew of new shows and partnerships.

Recently, the studio entered into two development agreements with executive producer Irene Weibel — who is most notably known for her work in Hotel Transylvania, Moon and Me, and Bravest Warriors — for two CG projects. One of the projects will be from illustrator Michael Bruza (Outlandish, SciGirls) and the other with California-based prodco The Mother Company (Ruby’s Studio).

Summer Memories, a 2D animated comedy that follows an 11-year-old’s pivotal summer, debuts this summer. It’s produced by A&N Productions, which was founded by animator and producer Adam Yaniv (Alvinnn!!! And The Chipmunks, Night at the Museum), as well as Aircraft Pictures (The Breadwinner, Holly Hobbie) and Weibel. The 20 x 30-minute series is developed by Yeti Farm Creative, commissioned by WildBrain Television’s Family Channel and distributed internationally by WildBrain.

Another series that is currently in production at the animation studio is Alpha Betas, about four elite virtual gamers. Produced by 3BLACKDOT, it is a collaboration between YouTube creators Evan Fong, Marcel Cunningham, Tyler Wine and Brian Hanby. It is created by showrunners Chris Bruno and David Howard Lee.

Yeti Farm Creative animated the series pilot, which premiered on YouTube in 2021. The studio will continue production on the series with L.A.-based studio Octopie. Alpha Betas is set to premiere in the fall 2022/winter 2023.

Images courtesy of Yeti Farm Creative.