LOS ANGELES – March 23, 2005: Paul Babb has joined Rhythm + Hues to head its Live Action Commercial Division. He will focus on the marketing and sales of Rhythm + Hues’ live action directors. Babb was previously Executive Producer at ka-chew!, a division of Klasky Csupo Animation. He was instrumental in its launch and development: recruiting the directors, developing the sales and marketing plans and supervising staffing, advertising and production.

Babb brings to Rhythm + Hues his extensive wealth of knowledge and experience from his associations with both production companies and advertising agencies. He has gained in-depth experience in virtually every type of modern production and special effects such as: aerial, underwater, pyrotechnics, motion control, blue screen/matte, time lapse, food, table-top, miniatures, front and rear projection, stop motion and high speed photography, cars, animals, puppets/Muppets, CGI, cell animation, and children.

“I am extremely excited about being part of a company that encourages its directors and artists to create outstanding work within an extremely supportive environment,” says Babb. “Over the years I have been a fan of Rhythm + Hues and now I have the opportunity to bring in new directors allowing us to take advantage of our long-term relationships with agencies and their clients.”

John Hughes welcomes Paul as an Executive Producer with a new vision for R+H's commercial live action division. "I feel that Paul's experience and working philosophy will be a perfect fit for our company. He will focus both on expanding the division and nurturing our in-house creative talent pool.”

Paul Babb has earned a reputation for nurturing long-term relationships between directors, production companies and their clients and has produced award-winning commercials for major advertisers including: American Express, Chrysler, Carnation, State Farm Insurance, Hunt-Wesson, Mercedes-Benz, Sunkist, Keebler, Milk Advisory Board, Sea World, Ford, McDonald’s, Mazda, Disneyland, Fisher Price, Farmer’s Insurance, Minute Made, Nissan, Microsoft, Joy, Oldsmobile, 3M, Pacific Care Insurance, Winchells, Sprite, Atari, Maalox, Home Savings, Kal-Kan, Mattel Toys, Post Cereals, The US Marines, GM, PacBell, Kraft Foods, and Coca-Cola.

Babb’s awards include: silver and bronze Cannes Lions, IBA-Beldings and CLIOs. He considers his greatest award his two children and his wife Pat.

ABOUT RHYTHM & HUES STUDIOS

Rhythm & Hues Studios is one of the largest producers of character animation and visual effects for entertainment and advertising. With a 70,000 sq. ft. facility housing hundreds of digital artists and staff, Rhythm & Hues’ three production divisions - Film, Commercials and Design - are industry leaders in their fields. Recent films include “The Ring 2,” “Elektra” and “Friday Night Lights” with “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,” “The Interpreter,” and “The Longest Yard” currently in production. Recent commercials include “Trophies” for The Hartford Financial Services Group, Activision’s “Mean and Tricky (Lemony Snicket),” and a campaign for Target.