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Who is Sarah Maizes?

 

I am a veteran producer and senior creative executive in the kids and family space (Ex-Amazon, Jim Henson Company, and Mattel), and a former literary agent (William Morris Endeavor). I have over 25 years experience creating, developing and representing compelling and award-winning content across the media landscape (TV/Streaming, AI-enabled devices, audio, video, video games and books).

 

I am also the President & Founder of Cheeky Squirrel Productions, a 360° media and consulting company specializing in brand & content strategies, production pipeline efficiencies, acquisitions, and the development, production, and launch of innovative, diverse and high-quality series (animated and live-action), specials, features, videogames, podcasts, NextGen technologies, and AI-enabled content for audiences ranging from preschool to primetime. As a 25+ year veteran of the kids, family, and comedy industry I have created, produced, programmed and marketed award-winning content across platforms, genres and demographics, I bring a unique end-to-end perspective to every project I touch. I have led development, owned and balanced day-to-day production of multiple productions, and worked cross-functionally with partners to create franchises, extend brands, and build engaged audiences across platforms.

 

As Senior Creative Executive of Original Content at Amazon Kids+, I helped shape and lead the creative vision for our "Virtual Playground" which includes over 20,000 kid-friendly & parent-approved shows, movies, games, Alexa skills, books, audio, and more. As Vice President of Television at the Jim Henson Company, I led day-to-day and end-to-end (E2E) development and production (including owning and maintaining budgets and schedules) of our live-action and animated primetime, family, kids, and preschool series.

 

As a producer, development executive, and former literary agent at top-tier companies like Mattel, Nelvana, KingWorld and William Morris Endeavor I created, developed, produced, and represented, compelling, innovative, and award-winning content across the kids and family landscape for TV, streaming, books, video games, digital, and AI-enabled devices including Bad Kitty (Boatrocker); Hello Kitty: Super Style (Amazon Kids+); Merry Little Batman (Amazon Kids+); Dino Dex (Amazon Kids+) Harriet the Spy (Apple TV+); Dinosaur Train: Adventure Island (PBSkids/ NBCUniversal); Duff Goldman’s Duff’s Happy Fun Bake Time (Discovery+), Dino Dana (Amazon Prime), Tumbleleaf (Amazon), Barbie in The Nutcracker (Mattel/NBCUniversal): Barbie as Rapunzel (Mattel/NBCUniversal); Max Steel, and Captain Underpants (Scholastic).

 

I am also an award-winning humor writer, parenting expert, and children’s book author whose work has been featured in The New York Times, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Magazine, NPR, and on The Today Show. I am a fearless, innovative and out-of-the-box creative leader with deep industry relationships, heart-fueled vision, and tenacious focus that yields compelling, inclusive, and relevant content for my clients and their audiences.

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In short, I am a tenacious, passionate, experienced, out-of-the-box problem solver who loves a good laugh. I live in Los Angeles with my husband and 3 kids. The kids are grown and in college so we have 2 cats, and in the evenings, my husband and I take walks around the neighborhood hoping the cat distribution system will deliver more. It hasn't. Yet.