Thunderbird Entertainment
Jennifer Twiner McCarron, CEO
Accessibility Leadership
Jennifer Twiner McCarron is the CEO and Chair of Thunderbird Entertainment Group and its kids and family division, Atomic Cartoons. Under her leadership, the company has grown into a global content producer, creating award-winning programming for Netflix, Disney+, PBS Kids, and other leading digital platforms, as well as Canadian and international broadcasters.
Jennifer joined Atomic in 2011 and oversaw its expansion from a 25-person studio to an industry leader in kids and family content. She has executive produced hit series such as the Emmy Award-winning The Last Kids on Earth (Netflix), Dogs in Space (Netflix), and Molly of Denali (PBS Kids), which was also recognized with a Daytime Emmy and a Peabody award.
Jennifer subscribes to the mantra “if you can see it, you can be it,” which drives her leadership in creating authentic, inclusive content. She believes that everyone deserves to see themselves reflected on screen, and she champions storytelling that represents diverse voices and experiences.
Named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s Most Powerful Women in Canadian Entertainment (2025), Jennifer has also been recognized by Business in Vancouver, WXN, BC Business, and Playback Magazine for her leadership in content creation, innovation, and equity. She serves on several boards, including the Vancouver Board of Trade and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s BIPOC Council, and holds degrees from Carleton University and the Vancouver Film School.
Our Organization
Who we are
Thunderbird Entertainment is a global, award-winning production, distribution, and rights-management company headquartered in Vancouver, with a team in Los Angeles. Through our divisions – Atomic Cartoons (Kids & Family), Great Pacific Media (Unscripted), and Thunderbird Scripted – we create acclaimed animated, scripted, and unscripted content for leading platforms and broadcasters around the world. Productions under the Thunderbird umbrella include Mermicorno: Starfall, Super Team Canada, Molly of Denali, Highway Thru Hell, Kim’s Convenience, Boot Camp, and Sidelined: The QB and Me. Thunderbird Distribution and Thunderbird Brands manage global media and consumer products rights for the Company and select third parties.
Dedicated to growing responsibly and making a positive impact, Thunderbird has been recognized with the following awards: 2024 Environmental Media Association Green Seal Award (Gold) for Reginald the Vampire, 2022 BC Reconciliation Award (Atomic Cartoons in partnership with GBH) for Molly of Denali, 2021 Kidscreen Award for Best Inclusivity for Molly of Denali, 2020 Kidscreen Award for Kids Production Company of the Year, Report on Business Women Lead Here List (multiple years), and Report on Business Canada’s Top Growing Companies list (multiple years). In addition, Thunderbird projects have received numerous industry awards.
Why we are involved
At Thunderbird, we put people first so they can do their best work. We are committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels welcome, included, and valued, and we prioritize employee wellbeing, work-life balance, and meaningful representation on- and off-screen.
From DEI and anti-bias training for our teams to partnerships with female- and Indigenous-led production companies, and supporting community groups chosen by our employees, we actively work to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion across our industry and within the communities we serve.
Accessibility initiatives
We partner with the YWCA and WorkBC to support senior job seekers and individuals with mental or physical challenges, offering mentorship, guidance, and accessible pathways into careers in art and animation.
Our studio is mostly wheelchair accessible, but we also offer hybrid and fully remote work options to ensure that employees with physical challenges can continue to thrive in their roles.
