With the appointment of Chris Moujaes to the position of Director of Original Entertainment, FUNimation Entertainment adds an extra focus to the company’s already extensive anime-related business. Moujaes will be concentrating on acquiring and developing original anime titles that are based on major intellectual properties. This will all be a part of FUNimation’s new co-production initiative.

Moujaes has already had considerable experience developing international co-productions, creating and marketing original entertainment properties, and managing overseas production teams. He comes to FUNimation from his previous position as President and Chief Creative Officer of the Austin, Texas-based animation studio, Boomstar, Inc. Moujaes had originally founded that company in order to negotiate international television co-productions, and Boomstar provided animation services through its studio facilities in both the United States and India.

Moujaes is a native Texan, having been born in Beaumont. He went on to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas at Austin. Before setting up Boomstar, Inc., he had previously founded the branding agency, Spoonbend. As he describes himself, "my background covers negotiating and arranging international co-productions, securing production investment, creating and managing production budgets, building and leading overseas animation teams, directing animated series, and developing and marketing new intellectual property for kids." Much of that property development was done for AOL Kids.

Chris Moujaes has an impressive array of credentials and experience. FUNimation is obviously planning to make their co-production initiative into something big. Fans of anime will be watching with avid curiosity to see what FUNimation, and Chris Moujaes, have in store for them in the future.

Source: FUNimation press release, November 23, 2009; LinkedIn profile of Chris Moujaes