On the heels of Return to Never Land’s promising box office debut two weekends ago and the direct-to-video launch this week of Cinderella II: When Dreams Come True, David Stainton has been upped to president of Walt Disney Television Animation.

Stainton will oversee the day-to-day operations for the division’s animated TV series and specials, Disney Video Premieres and February theatrical features. Under his reign, 2001 was considered a landmark year by the studio, with noteworthy successes such as Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure on home video and Recess: School’s Out in theaters, as well as the rollout of three new animated TV series.

This year the division bows two more video premieres, The Hunchback of Notre Dame II (March 19) and 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure and three new series, Teamo Supremo and Fillmore (fall) on ABC and Kim Possible (June) on the Disney Channel.

Stainton joined Disney in 1989 as a manager of special projects for Walt Disney Pictures and Television. In 1991, he joined Feature Animation. He was named Sr. VP of creative affairs, where he oversaw the Disney animation studio in Paris. He helped guide The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Dinosaur and Tarzan. He returned to Burbank in January 2000 to head up Television Animation as Exec VP.