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
Kerri is a senior manager with NBC Universal managing major theme park attractions. She has almost 30 years in themed entertainment, which includes award-winning attractions for Universal Studios, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros., and Disney Studios/Pixar.
David Sieden – Board Member
David Sieden is vice president of cinema partnerships at the Walt Disney Studios and has almost 30 years of experience leading the strategy and execution of in-theater marketing. He oversees the development and implementation of creative content, promotion, and social media in partnership with studio marketing.
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.
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.