Longtime Warner Bros. animation boss Sam Register is departing the company next week as his contract expires, Warner Bros. TV Group chair Channing Dungey announced in a memo to staffers this afternoon. Dungey said she and Register “mutually agreed not to renew his contract,” and that he will be exiting his long-running role as president of Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe.

“It’s time for me to move on to the next chapter in my life, and I’m grateful to have Channing’s support as I exit Warner Bros Animation,” Register said in a statement shared by Dungey. “It’s been an amazing ride and I want to extend my sincere thanks to all the great people I’ve worked with — we’ve built some incredible things together. I wish you all the best moving forward, and I’m excited to explore all the possibilities in my future.”

In her memo, Dungey acknowledged that news of Register’s exit likely comes as a surprise, and that a search is now underway for his replacement. In the meantime, she added that Matt Matzkin will continue to lead business operations, while creative department heads — Jay Bastian (current series), Jason DeMarco (anime and action series), Audrey Diehl (kids and family), Sarah Fell (Hanna-Barbera Studios, U.K.), Peter Girardi (alternative programming/adult) and Sammy Perlmutter (long form and specials) — will lead their respective departments.

Register has run Warner Bros. Animation for 18 years, first joining the studio as a producer in 2007 and taking over (first as exec VP of creative affairs) in 2008. He added Cartoon Network Studios to his oversight in 2020. Prior to Warner Bros. Animation, Register spent 10 years at Cartoon Network — which means his tenure inside Warner Bros. Discovery actually spreads out over more than 30 years.

Register began his animation career with Cartoon Network in 1994, developing and producing animated series such as “Chowder,” “Flapjack,” “Clone Wars” and “Ben 10.” He also launched Cartoon Network’s first website in 1998. Under Warner Bros. Animation, shows produced under his watch have included “Looney Tunes Cartoons,” the “Animaniacs” revival, “Harley Quinn,” “Young Justice,” “Teen Titans Go!,” “Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal,” “Unikitty!” and more.

In film, Register executive produced “Teen Titans Go! to the Movies,” the feature adaptation of “Teen Titans Go!,” and the live-action/animated “Tom and Jerry” movie. Current Warner Bros. Animation/Cartoon Network Studios series include “Adventure Time: Side Quests,” “Bat-Fam,” “Batman: Caped Crusader,” “Creature Commandos,” “My Adventures With Superman,” “Primal,” “Regular Show: The Lost Tapes” and “The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball.”

Here’s a copy of Dungey’s memo to staff:

Dear WBA Team,

It’s with mixed emotions that I announce the studio and our head of animation, Sam Register, have mutually agreed not to renew his contract. Sam, our president of Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, is a great talent and we thank him for all the enormous contributions he’s made over his 18 years heading up our animation efforts. We wish him the best in all future endeavors. 

Sam asked me to share this with you: 

“It’s time for me to move on to the next chapter in my life, and I’m grateful to have Channing’s support as I exit Warner Bros Animation. It’s been an amazing ride and I want to extend my sincere thanks to all the great people I’ve worked with — we’ve built some incredible things together. I wish you all the best moving forward, and I’m excited to explore all the possibilities in my future.”

While we search for Sam’s replacement, Matt Matzkin will continue to lead Business Operations, and the current creative department heads — Jay Bastian (Current Series), Jason DeMarco (Anime & Action Series), Audrey Diehl (Kids & Family), Sarah Fell (Hanna-Barbera Studios, U.K.), Peter Girardi (Alternative Programming/Adult), and Sammy Perlmutter (Long Form & Specials) — will lead their respective departments.

Needless to say, this will be a time when we’ll need everyone to step up, stay focused and keep delivering the excellence for which our animation studios are so justifiably revered. I have every confidence our superb team will emerge from this transition stronger than ever.

I know this comes as a surprise and you have a lot to digest. Please reach out to your supervisor with any concerns, and remember my door is always open.