Christopher DeFaria

1969–1973: Early career

DeFaria began his Hollywood career in 1969 as a voice actor playing the part of Peppermint Patty in Peanuts TV specials from the same year until 1973. He also has a sister, Gabrielle "Gai" DeFaria Ritter, who was previously Peppermint Patty's voice before he took over.^[5]

1989–present: Later career

In 1989, DeFaria returned to the television industry as production manager, screenwriter and producer, beginning with his role as post-production supervisor for the television horror film Amityville 4: The Evil Escapes broadcast on NBC. He later co-wrote with Antonio M. Toro two Amityville Horror installments which were released direct-to-video: Amityville 1992: It's About Time and Amityville: A New Generation (1993), both of which he also served as producer.^[6][7]

By 1996, DeFaria joined Warner Bros. Pictures as vice president of physical production.^[8] His first full producer credit for a theatrical film was for the 2001 spy comedy Cats & Dogs, with DeFaria being involved in the attempt to convincingly blend CGI animal characters with live-action backgrounds and people alongside special effects artist Stan Winston.^[9][10] He later became president of Warner Bros.' animation and innovative technology division for four years beginning in 2013.^[8]

In January 2017, DeFaria was chosen to become the new president of DreamWorks Animation (by then under NBCUniversal), succeeding Jeffrey Katzenberg who stepped down as its CEO.^[11] As president, DeFaria ran the studio's feature animation business as a whole, "including slate strategy, development, production, innovation and technology, and business affairs", with him directly answering to Universal Pictures chairperson Donna Langley.^[11] After two years, DeFaria vacated his position as president in January 2019, being succeeded by DreamWorks Animation TV head Margie Cohn.^[12]

DeFaria produced the 2021 live-action animated film Tom and Jerry, and he also produced the film Coyote vs. Acme alongside James Gunn.^[13]

Prior to establishing Keylight, Chris served as President of DreamWorks Animation where he led the studio’s creative development and technological advancement. Before that he was president of Digital Production and Innovative Technology at Warner Bros. Pictures where he founded Warner Animation Group, the studio's animation division, developed VFX strategies for films like Harry Potter and The Matrix and oversaw initiatives in AI and VR.^{[citation needed]}