Coats began working for Disney animation as a production assistant in 1989. She was assigned to the story department as a production assistant for the 1990 film
The Rescuers Down Under. She produced the short films
Trail Mix-Up, a Roger Rabbit short film, and
Runaway Brain starring Mickey Mouse. In 1999 Coats was promoted to senior vice president of creative development, becoming the highest-ranking woman in the Walt Disney Animation Studios. As a Disney executive, she was involved in the English translation and adaptation of
Hayao Miyazaki's
Spirited Away. She maintained the position until 2004, when her contract was not renewed. Following her departure from Disney, Coats worked for
Miramax to facilitate between the animation and those with live-action experience for the 2011 film
Gnomeo & Juliet. Coats produced
Scoob!, a
Warner Animation Group feature film released in 2020. ==References==