Jinko Gotoh Takes Over as WIA President

WIA, formerly Women In Animation, was formed in 1995 with the aim of furthering, promoting and supporting the work of female animators in the art, science and business of the animation industry. In the years since, the non-profit has grown exponentially. It has grown to an international organisation with local chapters in Canada, the UK, Ireland, India and elsewhere, as well as the United States. It now has nearly 18,000 members and has expanded its mission to include non-binary and underrepresented gender identities and workers in VFX and gaming. Last weekend, WIA held a special presentation at the Animation Is Film Festival in Los Angeles and made a major announcement.

Marge Dean, WIA President for the past 13 years, is stepping down from her role. Jinko Gotoh, who has served as Vice President under Dean for over a decade, will be taking over as President. Dean is Head of Skybound Animation Studio and an executive producer on Invincible. Previously, she has led Crunchyroll Studios, Stoopid Buddy Studios and has produced series including Robot Chicken, The Batman, Monster High, Teen Titans and The Ricky Gervais Show. Gotoh is a BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated producer whose credits include Klaus, The LEGO Movie 2, The Little Prince and Finding Nemo. She is currently producing the eagerly anticipated third part in the Spider-Verse trilogy: Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse. Dean's tenure has been defined by extraordinary growth within the organisation, international expansion and sector-wide initiatives that have reshaped industry standards for equity and representation.

Dean will continue her association with WIA, even after leaving her role. She is being named President Emerita, an honorary title, in recognition of her 13 years of service and her impact on the organisation. In this capacity, she will remain a trusted advisor on global programming going forward.

“Leading WIA for the past thirteen years has been one of the greatest privileges of my career," said Dean. "When I stepped into the role, we were a small group with a big idea about what this industry could be. Today, WIA is a global community with almost 18,000 members, and representation of women and nonbinary people in the industry has grown from 20% to 33%. We’re not at parity yet, but we’re closer than we’ve ever been.

What we’ve achieved never came down to one person. It happened because thousands of underrepresented creatives and the allies who stood with us believed change was possible and made it happen.

But there is still work to be done, and that’s why this is the moment for new leadership. I’m so happy to pass the baton to Jinko, who has been beside me for the past decade. I can’t think of anyone better to lead the organisation into its next chapter. I’m proud of what we’ve built together and excited to see what comes next.”

Gotoh takes over the role as one of the most respected figures in animation. Starting out as a CGI Producer on Space Jam, her career has since spanned both major studios and independent features. She has worked with Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Warner Bros and Sony Pictures Animation. Beyond her work as a producer, she is a prominent industry advocate, serving on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, PGA board member, and championing inclusive creative pipelines through her long‑standing leadership at WIA.

“Marge’s leadership has shaped WIA into the global organisation it is today, and I am deeply grateful for her partnership and vision over so many years." Jinko Gotoh added. "Stepping into the role of President is an honour, and I look forward to working alongside our Board to continue expanding WIA’s reach - from North America to Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa, and beyond. 

As our industry navigates profound change, WIA’s commitment remains clear: to advance gender equity in animation, VFX, and gaming, and to provide meaningful programming, mentorship, and resources to every creative who needs it. I’m also deeply appreciative of the Global Fund Sponsors who have supported this work since 2019 and helped us extend our impact worldwide. I’m excited for what we will build together in this next chapter.” 

Alongside Gotoh, other key staff will be changing roles. Julie Ann Crommett, founder and CEO of Collective Moxie and current WIA secretary, will be stepping into the role of Vice President. Tracy Campbell, Director, Production Training and Development at Walt Disney Animation Studios. will become secretary. Sharon Taylor, Animation Executive, takes over the role of Treasurer.

The board now brings together expertise and international representation that spans studio leadership, global operations, education, production strategies, and more. Current directors include:

    • Amy Smith - Global Director, Recruitment & Outreach at Framestore - UK

    • Barbara Stephen - President/CEO, Flying Bark Productions - Australia 

    • Brendan Burch - President, Six Point Harness; COO, Mondo Media - NYC, USA

    • Christine Chang - Head of Global Operations, Airbnb - LA, USA

    • Craig Hunter - Chief Content Officer, Minno - LA, USA

    • Deepa Joshi - Co‑CEO, Incessant Rain Studios; Founder, WIA Nepal - LA, USA

    • Hsiang Chin Moe - Chair, BFA Animation, School of Visual Arts - NYC, USA

    • Jinko Gotoh - Oscar nominated Producer - LA, USA

    • Julie Ann Crommet - Founder & CEO of Collective Moxie, Colorado, USA

    • Maya Penn - Artist, animator, founder of Upenndo! Productions and Maya’s Ideas; Goodwill Ambassador (FAO); global speaker and mentor - Georgia, USA

    • Rozanna Tesler Fried - Principal Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs, Film at Netflix - LA, USA

    • Sharon Taylor, Animation Executive  - Australia 

    • Tracy Campbell, Director - Production Training & Development at Walt Disney Animation Studios - LA, USA

WIA's continued growth reinforces its growing global footprint and its impact on the industry. Over the past year alone, nearly 800 new members joined, taking the global total to close to 18,000. The number of WIA collectives and communities has grown to 58, holding 761 events- a nearly 50% year-on-year increase.  The organisation welcomed new Executive Director Hayley Porter, celebrated the sixth year of its Mentor Circles Programme, and held a 650-attendee 10th edition of the WIA World Summit at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

WIA's transformations underline its commitment to growth and to working together to try to reach its stated goal of complete gender equity in the animation, VFX and games industries. It's a testament to Marge Dean's leadership that they have got so far. There's still a lot of work to be done- 33% is a long way from 50%- but WIA has proven they can make a difference. And it's hard to think of a better person than Jinko Gotoh to lead them into the future.

For more information on WIA, see their official website.