David Stainton
Quick Facts
Biography
David Stainton is an American film and television executive. He is most noted for his tenure as president of Walt Disney Feature Animation from 2003 to 2006, a period during which the studio converted from a traditional animation studio to a computer animation production company. The films Chicken Little (2005) and Meet the Robinsons (2007) were produced during Stainton's tenure at the studio.
Career
Stainton was hired in 1989 by Walt Disney Pictures and Television as a manager of special projects. He transferred to Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1991 as vice president of creative affairs. He was promoted to senior vice president of creative affairs and given supervision of Walt Disney Feature Animation France in January 1998. Returning to Burbank in January 2000, he was moved to Walt Disney Television Animation as executive vice president. In February 2002, Stainton was promoted to president.
In January 2003, he moved back to Walt Disney Feature Animation as president taking Disney MovieToons with him. In January 2006, he was replaced by Pixar Animation Studios co-founder Edwin Catmull, when Disney acquired Pixar. It also made Catmull and Pixar's chief creative officer, John Lasseter, heads of both studios.
After leaving Disney, he found Henry's World Media, a family entertainment production company in 2007. Stainton was hired by Paramount as president of Paramount Animation in October 2011 only to resign for personal reason in February 2012.