UK-based animation studio Aardman has a new slate of kids and family IP coming through the pipeline, and leading the new projects as executive creative director is industry vet Sarah Cox.

Spanning linear and digital platforms, the new comedy-focused commissions will feature a variety of visual styles. They will join the studio’s key brands like Shaun the Sheep, Wallace & Gromit, Morph and Timmy Time. (Aardman’s 2015 movie Shaun the Sheep grossed US$106 million at the global box office, and pre-production for Shaun the Sheep Movie 2 began in January.)

Cox previously served as owner and creative director at ArthurCox, a film and animation prodco she launched with Sally Arthur in 2002. There, she collaborated with Aardman as a commercials and short-film director.

Among Cox’s credits are 2011’s The Itch of the Golden Nite, The Peculiar Adventures of Hector and the environmental stop-motion short film Don’t Let It All Unravel.

Most recently, Cox created and directed the Disney Junior preschool series Nina Needs to Go!

The announcement of Cox’s new role follows Aardman’s appointment of  Alison Taylor to head of of sales and acquisitions, as well as Ruth Preston joining as sales manager for Central and Eastern Europe, Benelux, Latin America and South Africa.