Kirk Wise
Born	August 24, 1963 San Francisco, California

Kirk Wise (born August 24, 1963) is an American animator, director, screenwriter, storyboard artist and producer at Walt Disney Animation Studios. He is well known for directing films like Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Atlantis: The Lost Empire and Spirited Away. He was also Sequence Director on Cranium Command.

[edit] Life and career

Wise was born in San Francisco, California. He started out as assistant animator on The Great Mouse Detective, Family Dog and Amazing Stories. He then worked on The Brave Little Toaster and Oliver & Company as animator, he also worked as storyboard artist on The Rescuers Down Under and The Prince and the Pauper. He was also one of the writer on the 1994 feature, The Lion King. Becoming a Disney animator would appear to have been the fulfillment of a childhood dream for ace animation director Kirk Wise. With co-director Gary Trousdale, he was responsible for helming the celebrated "Beauty and the Beast" (1991), the first animated feature to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. Wise began laying the groundwork for his adult successes as a youngster, earning his first paycheck for drawing at age seven after his mother submitted his sketch of a garbage man and his truck to the San Francisco Chronicle's "Junior Art Champion" Contest. Winning praise, a check and a commendation from the local sanitation department spurred his creativity. He also worked on Open Season but appered under Special Thanks. He is currently working as director on 2013 feature film, The Snow Queen.

[edit] External links

• Kirk Wise at the Internet Movie Database

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