سيرة
When Lynne Southerland arrived in Los Angeles, she didn’t see herself as a pioneer. She simply had a dream to craft stories like those that captivated her during childhood.
Her career began in Live-Action, contributing to notable films such as THROW MOMMA FROM THE TRAIN, THE NAKED GUN, and SISTER ACT 2. A chance encounter eventually led her into animation, where she worked as a producer, director, and content developer.
As Hollywood responded to the growing demand for diverse stories, Lynne collaborated with other trailblazers of color to bring fresh perspectives to projects like BEBE'S KIDS for Paramount Pictures, featuring a predominantly Black cast, and the acclaimed HBO series HAPPILY EVER AFTER: FAIRYTALES FOR EVERY CHILD, which offered multicultural retellings of Grimm’s fairy tales.
While producing direct-to-video films for Disney, Lynne’s storytelling skills earned her the opportunity to co-direct MULAN 2, making her the first African-American female director of an animated feature. This project, along with others, also allowed her to satisfy her passion for adventure and travel through collaborations with studios in Japan, Australia, Israel, and Hong Kong.
In development, Lynne has consulted for Disney’s Direct-To-DVD division and Animation Lab, an Israeli-based studio.
Recently, she served as showrunner for animated content on Mattel’s Monster High and Enchantimals franchises, bringing her distinctive vision to these brands.
In her free time, Lynne has written two fiction manuscripts targeting middle grade and young adult readers, which are currently being represented by her literary agent.
