Ramsey Ann Naito is the woman behind some of your favorite animated films
Paramount's president of animation talks the "Transformers One" and how the industry has evolved to become more inclusive
Paramount Animation President Ramsey Ann Naito & Optimus Prime from Transformers One
Paramount
Words by Daniel Anderson
Ramsey Ann Naito has always been a part of your childhood, even if you didn’t realize it. From The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and The Rugrats Movie, to The Wild Thornberrys Movie, Hey Arnold! The Movie, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, and Boss Baby, Naito’s creative influence has shaped some of the most beloved animated films of the past few decades. Now, as president of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, she’s continuing to revitalize cherished franchises for a new generation of fans.
Her latest project, Transformers One—which will be released Friday—marks the franchise’s first animated theatrical release since The Transformers: The Movie (1986). Directed by Josh Cooley, Transformers One takes audiences back to the origins of the Transformers’ home planet of Cybertron, exploring the early friendship and eventual rivalry between Optimus Prime and Megatron, voiced by Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry, respectively. The animation is stunning, and the metallic world feels alive and lived in. An all-star cast including Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne, and Jon Hamm, help transform (pun intended) the iconic mythos into a story that feels fresh, fun and way more than what meets the eye.
Naito spoke with JoySauce ahead of the film’s release to chat about her inspiring career in animation and what advice she has for creatives.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Daniel Anderson: What inspired you to get into animation?
Ramsey Ann Naito: I was born and raised in New York. My father’s from Japan, my mother’s from New Orleans, and they’re both artists. I grew up in a very artist-friendly household and went to art school my entire life. Long story short, I ended up at Cal Arts for grad school, which was where I first met animators. That led to my first job as a PA on Duckman in the mid-90s. I was so taken aback by this office full of artists working together. While they were focused on one commercial project, their personal styles and what they created outside of work were so different and inspiring. I fell in love with that community, and the rest is history. I’ve since worked at several studios, produced Boss Baby, and have now been at Paramount Nickelodeon for almost eight years—it’s incredible.
DA: Could you give me a brief overview of the concept behind Transformers One? What is it about animation, in particular, that helped bring new life to the Transformers IP? While the live-action films have been successful, this project feels fresh and like something that could only be achieved through animation.
RN: I love Transformers. I was first introduced to it in the '80s in Japan, so working on this project was a real delight. The producers, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian, have been with the franchise for 20 years, creating the live-action films that I loved. They’d always been thinking about an origin story, and the timing aligned perfectly for us to bring that vision to life together.
Animation was the ideal medium for this because the origin story is set on Cybertron, the Transformers' home planet. Fans have always wondered, “What did it look like in its full glory?” Through animation, we were able to finally deliver that vision. The director, Josh Cooley, who’s a superfan himself, had a clear idea of how to execute it, and I think the movie is truly a game changer. It presents a stunning, sensational world we’ve never seen before—a planet made entirely of metal. It also explores the relationship between two characters we’ve only known as iconic adversaries, starting from when they were friends, even brothers. The film takes them on a journey of self-discovery, where they realize there’s so much more to life than they ever imagined. It also shows how their ideologies formed and what ultimately drove them apart, which makes their conflict even more compelling. In the end, it really delivers on the story that shapes them into the iconic characters we know today, and it reminds us of that fine line between love and hate.
DA: Has the mindset around the prestige and reception of animated projects shifted, especially when compared to live-action titles?
RN: I think we’ve seen animated features deliver on quality and meaning in a way that shapes our culture. They offer something different for both adults and kids—reminding parents of certain values, while teaching children new lessons. That depth of meaning is so important. The heart and soul of these films matter.
In Transformers, for example, the themes revolve around acceptance, sacrifice for the greater good, and choosing good over evil. It’s also about believing in your dreams. At the start of the film, you have these two characters who are miners—small, not yet powerful. But over the course of the film, they embrace the power of transformation, both literally and conceptually, and by the end, they become the iconic characters we know.
So, to answer your question—I think those emotional beats, those themes, really resonate. When I produced Boss Baby, the theme was about whether there’s enough love to go around when a new sibling arrives. That’s a real, relatable conversation families have. There’s an expectation now that animated films should touch on these meaningful subjects. If they don’t, they’re not contributing to our culture in the way they should.
DA: What are some initiatives, either at Paramount or that you've seen throughout your career, that are helping make the animation industry more inclusive—from the animators and storytellers behind the scenes to the representation we see on screen?
RN: Representation in family films is also crucial today. I know from my own experience growing up that there was very little representation in animation or storytelling. Now we know that 55 percent of kids under 12 are from blended or non-white families. They want to see themselves in stories, to see their cultures represented. Inclusivity in front of the camera is critical, but it’s just as important behind the camera, to bring authenticity and make these stories feel real.
As for initiatives, those come from leadership. Leadership has both the power and the opportunity to build teams that reflect the diversity of the people they serve. These teams are the ones selecting projects and hiring the people who bring them to life. So, leadership and team composition are really important in driving change. There's also a fascinating fact: 70 percent of students in animation schools are women. This means a significant number of women are entering the animation workforce, which is fantastic for promoting change, evolution, and inclusivity in an industry that has traditionally been male dominated. It's a really exciting shift.
DA: When you were starting out, were there any initial obstacles—whether internal or external—that you faced in transitioning from an animator to an executive? How did you step into leadership roles and find your own voice in those settings?
RN: Finding your people and practicing how to articulate your opinions is really important. That’s something art school gave me—I found my people, and art empowered me to confidently speak about things. What I do is very artistic, from giving notes on story to production design, music, and beyond. You have to be willing to enter a conversation, even if it means daring to be wrong or learning along the way. It’s about finding a way to participate in creative discussions to move forward, and that can be terrifying at first. But with practice, you start to find strength in it.
DA: And a final fun question for you. You’ve helped create so many fantastical worlds in animation, if you could live in one of those, what would you choose?
RN: I'm very focused on the here and now, but I’d love to visit Cybertron. I think it would be incredible to actually sit in the middle of that world. One of the great things about Transformers is how acoustic it is—you can hear the metal on metal during the transformations. The film really delivers on that. You feel the transformations in your gut, the power and the action. If I were there, I think it would be an amazing experience. I also have to mention (Teenage Mutant Ninja) Turtles—that world is incredible too. It's inspired by the doodles of 15-year-olds, a time when you thought you knew how to draw something because you didn’t yet know that you couldn’t. There’s something so fun and gestural about it, capturing a specific moment in time. Walking through that world would be just as tantalizing. Plus, standing next to a mutant would be pretty great too.
L-R, Brian Tyree Henry (Megatron), Keegan-Michael Key (Bumblebee), Scarlett Johansson (Elita-1) and Chris Hemsworth (Optimus Prime)
Paramount
Published on September 19, 2024
Words by Daniel Anderson
Daniel Anderson is a disabled Chinese American adoptee based in Seattle. His freelance writing specialties include K-pop, entertainment, and food. He believes that any restaurant can be a buffet, and the key to success is to take a nap each day. Follow his adventures on Instagram @danzstan.