Gary Trousdale
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
An animation veteran while still relatively young, Trousdale took a slightly less direct route to glory in the Disney animation department than some of his contemporaries. Nonetheless, he would go on to co-direct "Beauty and the Beast" (1991), a landmark in the history of the medium. A product of the innovative character animation program at the Disney-sponsored California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Trousdale found full-time work as an animator while in his third year. However, unlike such fellow alumni as John Lasseter ("Toy Story") and Henry Selick ("James and the Giant Peach"), he did not go directly to Disney. Instead, Trousdale spent a year at Carter/Mendez Productions where he animated, designed and storyboarded various TV projects including "Stanley, The Ugly Duckling" (ABC, 1982), a presentation of the "ABC Weekend Specials." Trousdale next worked for Grand American Fare, doing illustrations and paste-ups for restaurant menus, special event flyers and tee shirts. Trousdale's fortunes began to change when he was hired by Disney.
Trousdale debuted at Disney working in animated special effects. He was an "in-between effects artist" on the unsuccessful animated feature "The Black Cauldron" and an assistant and clean-up effects animator on the live-action teen film "My Science Project" (both 1985). Trousdale gained attention around the studio with a series of "bad attitude" gag cartoons. This led to him being transferred to the feature animation division's story development department. Trousdale received his first feature credit as a storyboard artist on the breakthrough musical animated hit "The Little Mermaid" (1989).
Trousdale segued to cartoon direction with "Cranium Control" (1989), a four-minute animated pre-show for the "Wonders of Life" exhibit at Disney's Epcot Center in Florida. This short was also notable as his first directing collaboration with Kirk Wise. (The pair had worked together previously on story development for a Roger Rabbit cartoon.) They also received story credits on the innovative computer animated short "Oilspot and Lipstick" and the features "Oliver & Company" (1988) and "The Lion King" (1994). Trousdale and Wise also shared storyboard credits on the Mickey Mouse short "The Prince and the Pauper" and the feature sequel "The Rescuers Down Under" (both 1990). Their shared background in story served them well in their directing efforts. With complementary abilities in animation--Trousdale's forte being special effects and layout and Wise's being character animation and acting--the pair proved a formidable team. Together they made their feature directing debut on "Beauty and the Beast," a critical and commercial success which became the first animated feature to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture.
Not only did "Beauty and the Beast" gain new respect for animated features in Hollywood, but it also demonstrated that the musical could still be a viable commercial genre. (It even generated a hit Broadway musical spin-off.) That each of the six musical numbers either revealed character or advanced the plot certainly contributed to the film's success. Just as important were the vibrant, well-defined characters and the artful use of developing CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) technology. Trousdale and Wise displayed similar strengths in their next directing collaboration, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1996), a kinder, gentler, musical take on Victor Hugo's oft-adapted 1931 novel.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Animation (Feature Film)
Art Department (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Misc. Crew (Special)
Animation (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1982
Hired by Carter/Mendez Productions; worked for one year animating, designing and storyboarding various TV projects
1982
First TV credit, animator on "Stanley, The Ugly Duckling", a presentation of the "ABC Weekend Specials"
1983
Worked for Grand American Fare, doing illustrations and paste-ups for restaurant menus, special event flyers and T-shirts
1984
Hired by Disney in May
1985
First Disney credits, effects assistant (or "in-between effects artist") on the animated feature "The Black Cauldron" and worked as an ("assistant and clean-up") effects animator on the live-action teen film "My Science Project"
1989
Credited as a storyboard artist for the breakthrough Disney animated feature "The Little Mermaid"
1989
First directing collaboration with Kirk Wise on "Cranium Command", the four-minute animated pre-show for the "Wonders of Life" exhibit at Disney's Epcot Center
1991
Feature directing debut (with Wise) on the acclaimed Disney animated feature "Beauty and the Beast"
1992
Credited for pre-production story development (Computer Generated Imagery) for the popular Disney animated feature "Aladdin"
1993
Was collaborating with Wise in preproduction on "A Song of the Sea", a proposed Disney animated feature about humpbacked whales, when the opportunity came to switch projects; began preproduction on "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (date approximate)
1994
Worked as a storyboarder on the blockbuster Disney animated feature "The Lion King"
1996
Reteamed with directing partner Wise for "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", Disney's 34th full-length animated feature
1996
Entered a long-term exclusive commitment to Walt Disney Feature Animation, reteaming him with Wise on several more projects
2001
With Wise, co-directed the animated feature "Atlantis: The Lost Empire"
Family
Companions
