Joyce Miller and Rob Doherty board project as Executive Producers
Cloud 10 Studios, a full-service animation studio that specializes in creating original stories and characters, is launching a brand new 22’ 3D animated family Christmas Special The Greatest Gift: The Wrong Hat at MIP JUNIOR and MIPCOM.
Headed by US feature production executive Tracey Dispensa (ex DreamWorks, Disney/ILM), Cloud 10 Studios has attracted a stellar, award-winning team of executives for the project, which is already fully funded and will be ready for delivery at the end of 2025. Produced by Tracey Dispensa (Shrek, Madagascar, How to Train Your Dragon), The Greatest Gift is directed by Gary Trousdale whose directing credits include: Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Atlantis. Floyd Norman (Mulan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame) is Character Designer and Creative Consultant on the film.
Industry veterans Joyce Miller and Rob Doherty have boarded the project as Executive Producers and will work with Tracey Dispensa to bring the project to a wider audience, looking for distribution partners and help build the franchise.
Joyce Miller has overseen over 150 animated productions in the USA, Europe and Asia as an Executive and Producer. Joyce is the founder of Linden Animation Consulting and has previously held many senior positions including Senior Manager Animation Production, Television Series Netflix, Senior Director of Production at Spin Master Entertainment and Vice President, Production at DisneyToon Studios.
Rob Doherty is a Kids Content Specialist with over 30 years of experience in children’s television and animation, with a career spanning all formats of animation and international markets. He has held senior roles across both production and broadcasting with organizations including Aardman Animations, Disney, M2 Films, ITV, Endemol, Initial Productions, TVC Cartoons, and Cake Entertainment.
What if every Christmas tree wasn’t just decoration, but a hidden, magical world? In this enchanting family holiday special, the ornaments come alive with Christmas Spirit, bustling with life among twinkling lights, candy canes, and shimmering garlands. To the outside world, though, it’s just a tree—at least that’s what Lexi (5), a Christmas-obsessed little girl, and her family believe. They have no idea the ornaments are busy behind the scenes, keeping the magic glowing bright. These ornaments aren’t just pretty, they’re the Guardians of Christmas joy, keeping the magic shining bright for the big day.
When a small mishap threatens to dim the holiday sparkle, a crisis inside the tree puts Christmas morning at risk. Enter Chris, a brand-new dinosaur ornament with a hero’s heart and a tendency to panic like a tangled string of lights. On a quest to find his missing hat and prove himself among a quirky, chaotic squad of ornaments, Chris discovers that true Christmas magic isn’t about perfection, it’s about courage, friendship, and the spirit that holds it all together.
The Greatest Gift: The Wrong Hat is just the start of the franchise. A feature film and TV series are already in funded development along with more holiday specials and Cloud 10 is also rolling out a licensing and merchandising program for the brand. The first deal is with Lionel Trains and the two companies are working together to bring the film’s unique Cloud 10-themed train to life. An immersive show and live event are also being developed.
Tracey Dispensa says: “Ever since myself and Gary met and worked together at DreamWorks, it has been our dream to create and produce our own original film. Floyd’s imagination and vision has helped bring it to life. We believe The Greatest Gift has all the ingredients to become an evergreen franchise and we could not be prouder of our first holiday special. We are genuinely delighted to bring Joyce and Rob on board to augment the Cloud 10 team. Their caliber, contacts, knowledge and track record in the international TV and film industry will enable us to take our film to a wider global audience.
“We’re excited to announce that the train featured in our new animated film is none other than a classic Lionel toy train. A timeless symbol of imagination and adventure, the Lionel train brings a special kind of magic to our story. We believe its rich history and iconic design will spark a sense of wonder in audiences of all ages.”
