About Us
The National Animation Museum is a California-based, nonprofit museum with generous support in grant funding from the state of California. A three-year planning initiative began in 2023 and will provide a path forward for the development of a virtual and physical museum based in Southern California.
The museum planning team, board members, and advisors include award-winning animators, innovators, and pioneers with deep experience in delivering world-class experiences. As the development of the National Animation Museum progresses, the planners, architects, and designers will access a wealth of research and information and then apply their knowledge and creativity to design this new cultural destination.
Executive Planning Team
Eddie Newquist – Museum Founder, CEO, & Board Member
Eddie is a distinguished designer, filmmaker, and innovator with three patents. He has an extensive 30-year career in creating and producing award-winning museum experiences and successful visitor attractions with collaborators such as NASA, The Walt Disney Company, BBC, Warner Bros., Smithsonian Institution, HBO, National Geographic, Discovery Cube, Museum of Science & Industry and Universal Studios.
Robin Stapley – Creative Director & Board Member
Robin is an accomplished creative designer with over 30 years of global experience. He is celebrated for his mastery in designing award-winning attractions, exhibitions and experiences. Among his notable achievements are the Game of Thrones Studio Tour, the blockbuster Harry Potter touring exhibition, and groundbreaking AVATAR: Discover Pandora experience.
Kerri Balabas – Board Member
David Sieden – Board Member
Christine Farris – Planning Director
Christine has an extensive 20-year career developing and producing immersive cultural experiences for museums and corporate settings. Her impressive portfolio includes collaborations with major Hollywood studios and with museums such as the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the California Science Center. Christine was named a blooloop Top 50 Museum Influencer in 2025.
Wyatt Bland – Content Developer
Wyatt has expertise in designing, creating, and marketing digital learning experiences and content with world-leading talent. With a background in virtual education and interactive storytelling, Wyatt has developed hit courses in artistic fields from music to magic.
Advisory Board
Our Advisory Board is made up of extraordinary individuals, each with a substantial list of remarkable personal and professional achievements, whether in the animation industry, museum, or education fields. Their combined insight, experience, and vision provide essential strategic guidance for the museum to carry out its mission and expand its outreach and impact.
Chris Buck – Advisory Board Member
Chris is a celebrated film director known for directing films such as Wish, Frozen, Frozen II, Tarzan, and Surf’s Up. Garnering multiple nominations, he proudly holds an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and an Annie Award.
Chris deFaria – Advisory Board Member
Chris is a Hollywood-based producer whose credits include How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, The LEGO Movie, and Happy Feet. Prior to establishing Keylight and before serving as the president of DreamWorks Animation, he founded Warner Animation Group and oversaw VFX strategies for films such as Harry Potter and The Matrix.
Stan Kinsey – Advisory Board Member
For over 30 years, Stan has enjoyed a media-centric “new technologies” career that included being CEO of four companies. He is highlighted in several books for bringing computer animation to The Walt Disney Company as then Disney’s youngest VP. Stan co-founded film and virtual reality leader Iwerks Entertainment with Disney legend and Academy Award winner Don Iwerks.
Jennifer Pace Robinson – Advisory Board Member
President and CEO of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Jennifer is a global leader in the museum sector. She previously led exhibit development, creating immersive experiences in arts, sciences, and humanities. She has made significant contributions to the field through her published works and international consultations on family-focused museums.
Collaborators & Partners
Our Institutional Collaborators and Partners include leading museums, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions from around the world that share our commitment to building our museum and celebrating the art and science of animation. Through their expertise, resources, and collaborative spirit, these valued partnerships strengthen our programs, broaden our impact and reach, and help advance the museum’s mission to educate, inspire, and engage audiences of all ages.
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (TCM) is a nonprofit organization based in Indiana with a mission to ignite joy, wonder, and curiosity by creating powerful learning experiences for children and adults. In addition being an Official Collaborator since 2024, TCM is the world’s largest children’s museum.
IndieCade
IndieCade is an organization dedicated to supporting independent game development and showcasing innovation in interactive media. Through its international events and initiatives and co-development of experiences with NAM, IndieCade connects creators, celebrates emerging work, and advances games as an artistic, educational, and culturally significant medium.
Param Science Experience Centre
The Param Science Experience Centre is an initiative of the Param Foundation, inspiring curiosity through hands-on science experiences. With a flagship center in Bengaluru, India and a growing network of city and mobile science centers, Param brings interactive science learning to communities around the world and has been a partner with NAM across strategy, programming, and more.
MinaLima
MinaLima is a London-based design studio best known for its graphic design work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts film franchises. In collaboration with NAM, MinaLima developed the identity, branding, and logo for the museum’s proposed physical and virtual museum.
NASA and JPL's Museum and Informal Education (MIE) Alliance
Since 2024, NAM has proudly participated in NASA and JPL’s Museum and Informal Education (MIE) Alliance. The MIE Alliance connects more than 2,000 museums and informal education organizations with current science, technology, educational resources, materials, and expertise from NASA and JPL.
California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is a nonprofit institution of higher education, founded in 1961 by Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney and based in Santa Clarita, California. CalArts was the first institution in the US to offer residential undergraduate and graduate degrees in both the visual and performing arts, and today offers comprehensive programs across the arts.