Biografia
Robert Marianetti, together with business partner David Wachtenheim, is the creative force behind W/M Animation, a full-service animation studio based in New York. The company has produced and directed award-winning projects for clients such as Cartoon Network, HBO, Disney/ABC, Universal, ESPN, Fox TV, Comedy Central, NBC, Sesame Workshop, and Coca-Cola. Prior to founding W/M Animation, Robert and David worked independently as writers, directors, and producers at various animation studios in New York and Los Angeles, including contributing to the first season of Beavis and Butt-Head.
Founded in 1999, W/M Animation quickly became the leading animation production company for Saturday Night Live's TV Funhouse, created by Robert Smigel, producing work for over nine seasons. Their animations have earned numerous accolades, including First Place at the 2004 Ottawa International Film Festival for Saddam and Osama and in 2006 for Journey to The Disney Vault, which they also co-wrote. In 2001, W/M served as Animation Creative Directors and Producers on Comedy Central's cult hit TV Funhouse. Beginning in 2004, they directed and designed the pilot and 13 episodes of the Adult Swim series Stroker and Hoop. In 2008, they designed and directed the CG television pilot for Happy Madison/Fox TV's The Animals. For children's programming, W/M Animation produced content for Cartoon Network (over 24 interstitials), Sesame Street (notably the impactful letters 'K' and 'Q'), and Schoolhouse Rock.
In 2014, Robert completed production on the half-hour animated musical My Depression (The Up and Down and Up of It), adapted from a picture book by acclaimed writer and composer Elizabeth Swados. Robert and David directed and animated the film, co-wrote the script, and contributed several songs for Sheila Nevins' HBO Documentary unit. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2014, where it was nominated for Best Documentary Short, and had its broadcast debut on HBO in July 2015. The New York Times' July 2015 review hailed it as a "half-hour gem," praising its "charming and whimsical" treatment of a challenging subject.
By June 2015, Robert and David had transitioned into feature animation, serving as Heads of Story for Sony Pictures Animation on the animated feature Hotel Transylvania 2, executive produced and written by Adam Sandler and Robert Smigel.
