Veteran Animation Executive Linda Simensky Joins Duolingo

Rhea-AI Summary

Duolingo has appointed Linda Simensky as the new Head of Animation and Scripted Content, aiming to enhance its storytelling capabilities. Simensky, a seasoned television executive from PBS Kids, will lead the development of character-driven content for Duolingo’s apps, including the popular Duolingo Stories and Duolingo ABC. Reporting to Timothy Shey, VP of Studios + Content, Simensky's expertise in animation is expected to benefit millions of users globally as Duolingo continues its mission to make education universally accessible.

Positive

• Appointment of Linda Simensky, a seasoned animation executive, enhances Duolingo's content strategy.
• Expansion of character-driven stories aims to engage a wider audience and improve user experience.

Negative

• None.

Former Head of Content at PBS Kids Takes New Role as Head of Animation and Scripted Content at Duolingo

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Duolingo (NASDAQ: DUOL) today announced that veteran children’s television executive Linda Simensky has joined the company as Head of Animation and Scripted Content. In the newly created position, Simensky will lead the company’s efforts to create scripted and character-driven stories featuring Duolingo’s original cast of characters, from original animation to the writing efforts for Duolingo’s hit Stories product and its childhood literacy app, Duolingo ABC. At Duolingo, Simensky will report to VP of Studios + Content, former YouTube executive Timothy Shey.

“There are few people, if any, who know more about animation than Linda, and who have spent their careers thinking about what makes stories funny, and how people learn through them,” noted Tim Shey, VP of Studios + Content at Duolingo. “We’re so excited to have Linda’s expertise and talent on board as we pursue our mission to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available.”

“Over the past few years, Duolingo has been busy adding a whole cast of characters and hundreds of stories to their app, and it’s astonishing how many millions of people in countries all over the world are engaging with them every day,” said Linda Simensky, Duolingo’s new Head of Animation and Scripted Content. “I’m excited by the storytelling opportunities that are possible as Duolingo creates stories for learners of all ages around the world.”

Projects from Duolingo’s Studios + Content team include their popular Duolingo Stories, original short fiction for learners of all levels featuring Duolingo’s cast of characters; a number of hit podcasts in Spanish, French, and English that have reached #1 in the podcast charts in over 20 countries; handsfree audio lessons in Spanish and French, teaching speaking and listening skills; and original stories in the award-winning Duolingo ABC app, aimed at teaching kids ages 2-8 to read in English, and soon, Spanish.

Simensky joins Duolingo from PBS Kids, where she oversaw the development of a diverse lineup of shows like “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” “Wild Kratts,” “Molly of Denali,” and “Alma’s Way.” Before joining PBS, Linda was Senior Vice President of Original Animation for Cartoon Network, where she oversaw development and series production of "The Powerpuff Girls," among others. She began her career working for nine years at Nickelodeon, where she helped build the animation department and launch the popular series "Rugrats," "Doug," and "The Ren & Stimpy Show." 

About Duolingo
Duolingo is the most popular language-learning platform and the most downloaded education app worldwide. The app makes learning new languages fun with bite-sized lessons that feel like playing a game. The company's mission is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available. Duolingo offers over 100 total courses across 40 distinct languages, from Spanish, French, German and Japanese, to High Valyrian and Klingon. www.duolingo.com.

Media Contact:
Sam Dalsimer
Global Head of Communications
press@duolingo.com

Investor Contact:
Deborah Belevan, IRC, CPA
VP of Investor Relations
ir@duolingo.com

FAQ

Who is Linda Simensky and what is her role at Duolingo?

Linda Simensky has been appointed as the Head of Animation and Scripted Content at Duolingo, where she will focus on creating scripted stories for the company’s educational apps.

What content will Linda Simensky develop at Duolingo?

Simensky will lead the development of character-driven stories for Duolingo's applications, including Duolingo Stories and Duolingo ABC.

How does Linda Simensky's experience benefit Duolingo?

Simensky brings extensive experience from PBS Kids and Cartoon Network, which will enhance Duolingo’s storytelling capabilities and user engagement.

What is Duolingo's mission?

Duolingo's mission is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available.

What are Duolingo Stories and Duolingo ABC?

Duolingo Stories is a feature that provides original short fiction for language learners, while Duolingo ABC is aimed at teaching early literacy skills to children ages 2-8.