American-Canadian animator, film director and screenwriter
Chris Williams
(born December 19, 1968) is an American-Canadian animation film director, screenwriter and voice actor who is best known for directing the films
Bolt
(2008) and
Big Hero 6
(2014) and co-directing the film
Moana
(2016) for
Walt Disney Animation Studios
, and for directing the film
The Sea Beast
(2022) for
Netflix Animation
.
Early life
[
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]
Williams was born on December 19, 1968, in
Missouri
and spent the first 25 years of his life in
Kitchener, Ontario
, Canada, where his father was the director of Counselling Services at the
University of Waterloo
.
[1]
Williams graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in Fine Arts
[2]
and then enrolled in the animation program at
Sheridan College
, Oakville, Ontario. Upon graduation from Sheridan, he was recruited by Disney and moved to Los Angeles.
[1]
Career
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]
Williams previously worked in the story department for
Mulan
(1998),
The Emperor's New Groove
(2000) and
Frozen
(2013), in which he also voiced the character Oaken. In February 2007, it was announced he would direct
American Dog
,
[3]
which was re-titled
Bolt
(2008) and was later joined by
Byron Howard
, both of them replaced
Chris Sanders
who was the original director.
[4]
In July 2010, it was reported by various sources that Williams would direct
King of the Elves
based on the story by
Philip K. Dick
.
[5]
[6]
[7]
However, in 2012, it was revealed that Williams had joined another Walt Disney Animation film,
Big Hero 6
, as a co-director inspired by the
Marvel Comics
of the
same name
.
[8]
In November 2018, it was reported that Williams had left Disney and he would write and direct
The Sea Beast
for
Netflix
.
[9]
The Sea Beast
was released on Netflix on July 8, 2022.
Filmography
[
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]
Feature films
[
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]
Shorts and TV
[
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]
Other credits
[
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]
See also
[
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References
[
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]
- ^
a
b
c
Knelman, Martin (February 25, 2009).
"Bolt from blue took Canadian to Oscars"
.
The Star
.
Archived
from the original on December 25, 2013
. Retrieved
December 24,
2013
.
- ^
"University of Waterloo alumnus wins Oscar for Big Hero 6"
.
Waterloo Stories
. University of Waterloo. 23 February 2015.
Archived
from the original on 2015-02-23
. Retrieved
2015-02-23
.
- ^
Fritz, Ben (February 8, 2007).
"
'Toy Story' sequel set"
.
Variety
.
Archived
from the original on December 26, 2014
. Retrieved
December 9,
2014
.
- ^
Sciretta, Peter (June 20, 2008).
"Bolt Teaser Poster; A Look Back at American Dog"
.
/Film
.
Archived
from the original on December 13, 2014
. Retrieved
December 9,
2014
.
- ^
"King of the Elves being reworked; Disney plans far ahead"
.
Filmonic
. August 6, 2010.
Archived
from the original on January 4, 2012
. Retrieved
December 24,
2011
.
- ^
Graser, Marc; Sneider, Jeff (June 29, 2011).
"Disney revives 'King of the Elves' toon"
.
Variety
.
Archived
from the original on April 12, 2013
. Retrieved
June 30,
2011
.
- ^
Chitwood, Adam (June 29, 2011).
"Disney Sets HORRIBLE BOSSES Scribe to Pen KING OF THE ELVES"
.
Collider
.
Archived
from the original on July 26, 2015
. Retrieved
December 9,
2014
.
- ^
Giardina, Carolyn (December 31, 2013).
"Chris Williams To Co-Direct Disney Animation's 'Big Hero 6' With Don Hall"
.
The Hollywood Reporter
.
Archived
from the original on January 2, 2014
. Retrieved
December 31,
2013
.
- ^
Lang, Brent (November 5, 2018).
"Netflix Backs 'Jacob and the Sea Beast' From 'Big Hero 6' Director Chris Williams (EXCLUSIVE)"
.
Variety
.
Archived
from the original on November 5, 2018
. Retrieved
April 10,
2019
.
- ^
Goldman, Eric (February 18, 2016).
"How Disney's
Story Trust
Helped Change Big Hero 6, Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph and More"
.
IGN
. Retrieved
February 2,
2021
.
- ^
Wolfe, Jennifer (January 13, 2017).
"
'Moana' Sails Home on Digital HD February 21 and Blu-ray March 7"
. Animation World Network
. Retrieved
December 12,
2020
.
External links
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Written and directed
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Directed only
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Written only
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CD
As co-director
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