Michael Peraza

Last updated
Michael Peraza
Born
Michael Arthur Peraza Jr.

(1955-11-15) November 15, 1955 (age 68)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
EducationCalifornia Institute of the Arts
Known forAnimation & fine art
Notable work The Little Mermaid, [1] Goof Troop, DuckTales, Anastasia
SpousePatty Peraza
AwardsFriz Freleng Lifetime Achievement Award, Disneyana Fan Club Legend Award, 2018 [2]
Website michaelperaza.blogspot.com

Michael Arthur Peraza Jr. (born November 15, 1955) is a Cuban-American animator, art director, conceptual artist and historian of animation, who has worked for The Walt Disney Company, Fox Feature Animation, and Warner Bros. [3] As a Disney Master Artist, [4] he speaks at special events as a panelist with his wife and fellow Disney Master Artist, Patty Peraza, [5] about experiences in the entertainment field. He received the Friz Freleng Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Family Film Festival in 2014, [6] and the Disneyana Fan Club Legend Award in 2018. [2] Currently, he continues his work with Warner Bros and Disney Television Animation.

Contents

Early life

Peraza was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He became interested in Disney animation after watching Sleeping Beauty , Pinocchio and Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color . As a young man, he experimented with various types of mediums and styles, getting the attention of local filmmakers. His first job was working for Max Goodman in local television station WKRG, where he learned how to work behind the camera, animated special effects and use paper cutouts for characters to create station breaks. [7] After graduating high school, he continued his education at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), an art college that was established by Walt Disney.

Peraza was accepted at CalArts in 1973 before Disney had begun their Character Animation program. He later became one of the first people to join the program once it was started. [8] His peers include the animators Tim Burton, John Lasseter and John Musker. [9] Once an established student at CalArts, he studied under the guidance of Disney Legends including Jack Hannah (the Dean of the Disney program) and Ken O’Conner. As a teacher's assistant (TA), Peraza was given a full scholarship offered by the Disney Family, making it possible for him to continue his study. [5]

Animation

Directly after CalArts, Peraza accepted a full-time career in Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he worked alongside Disney's Nine Old Men, including Marc Davis, Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball, Eric Larson, John Lounsbery, Wolfgang Reitherman and Frank Thomas. While working for Disney Features, he became known for his advanced integration of computer animation. [10] and designing multilane shots for The Fox and the Hound . [3] Afterward, he went on to contribute to animated Disney films, [3] including The Little Mermaid , [11] The Great Mouse Detective , [12] Beauty and the Beast , Mickey's Christmas Carol , Aladdin and Who Framed Roger Rabbit as well as visual development for live-action movies such as Watcher in the Woods , Tron and Return to Oz . When approached by Ken Anderson, Peraza helped start the new Disney Television Animation unit. There he started the CGI animation department while developing Disney afternoon shows, including DuckTales , Darkwing Duck and TaleSpin , as well as creating the character Max Goof, and the series Goof Troop , which were adapted for the animated films A Goofy Movie and An Extremely Goofy Movie . During the pre-production of DuckTales, Carl Barks called Peraza "the Fourth Duckman." [4] After transferring to Disney Direct to Video, Peraza worked as art director and conceptual artist for the production of sequels, including Jungle Book 2 , Tarzan 2 and Return to Never Land .

Peraza has also worked on projects for Miramax, [13] Fox Features and Don Bluth Entertainment, where he worked as art director for Anastasia . [14] The movie about the Russian princess was praised for the execution of advanced computer graphics of the time. [15] During its premiere, Disney re-released The Little Mermaid in theaters, making Peraza one of few art directors who had two films out in theaters at the same time. [16] [17]

Awards and recognition

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Goof Troop</i> American animated television series and sitcom

Goof Troop is an American animated television series and sitcom produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. The series focuses on the relationship between single father Goofy and his son, Max, as well as their neighbors Pete and his family. Created by Robert Taylor and Michael Peraza Jr., the main series of 65 episodes aired in first-run syndication from 1992 to 1993 on The Disney Afternoon programming block, while an additional thirteen episodes aired on Saturday Mornings on ABC. A Christmas special was also produced, airing in syndication in late 1992.

<i>A Goofy Movie</i> 1995 US animated film by Kevin Lima

A Goofy Movie is a 1995 American animated musical comedy-adventure film produced by Disney MovieToons and Walt Disney Television Animation. Directed by Kevin Lima, the film is based on The Disney Afternoon television series Goof Troop created by Robert Taylor and Michael Peraza Jr., and serves as a standalone follow-up to the show. It features the voices of Bill Farmer, Jason Marsden, Jim Cummings, Kellie Martin, Rob Paulsen, Pauly Shore, Jenna von Oÿ, and Wallace Shawn. Taking place three years after the events of Goof Troop, the film follows Goofy and his son, Max, who is now in high school, and revolves around the father-son relationship between the two as Goofy embarks on a misguided mission to bond with his son by taking him on a cross-country fishing trip around the United States. This movie explores the themes of adolescent angst and crude humor that are more diverse over Goof Troop.

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References

  1. ↑ Nash, Jay Robert (2008). The Motion Picture Guide 1990 Annual: The Films of 1989. Cinebooks, 1990. p. 417. ISBN   9780933997295 . Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Tuttle, Brittani (24 August 2018). "Disneyana Fan Club to host two special events at Disneyland Hotel on Oct. 6". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Beck, Jerry (2005). The Animated Movie Guide . Chicago Review Press. pp.  21, 87, 99 and 286. ISBN   9781569762226. peraza.
  4. 1 2 "Mike and Patty Peraza". SacAnime. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  5. 1 2 Miller, Eric (2 February 2018). "Animation Spotlight: Patty Peraza". Miller Animation. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  6. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (4 November 2014). "Mike Peraza to Receive Friz Freleng Award". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  7. ↑ Bouchard, Kimberley (2017). Positively Disney: More Heartwarming Stories about Disney's Impact on People's Lives. Kimberly Bouchard. ISBN   9780692892350 . Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  8. ↑ Preston, Greg (2017). The Artist Within: Book 2. Sampsel Preston Photography. p. 188. ISBN   9780692917565.
  9. ↑ Bancroft, Tony (2013). Directing for animation : everything you didn't learn in art school. UK: Focal Press. p. 24. ISBN   978-0-240-81802-3 . Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  10. ↑ Sito, Tom (2013). Moving innovation : a history of computer animation. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. pp. 217–238. ISBN   978-0-262-01909-5 . Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  11. ↑ Monaco, James (1992). The Movie Guide: a Comprehensive Alphabetical Listing of the Most Important Films Ever Made. Perigee Books. p. 480. ISBN   0-399-51780-4 . Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  12. ↑ Mattias, Boström (2017). From Holmes to Sherlock: the Story of the Men and Women Who Created an Icon. Chapters 89-90: Grove Press. ISBN   9780802189165 . Retrieved 23 January 2019.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  13. ↑ Willis, John (1995). Screen World 1994. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2000. p. 199. ISBN   9781557832016 . Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  14. ↑ Holden, Stephen (1997-11-14). "Film Review: A Feeling We're Not in Russia Anymore". The New York Times. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  15. ↑ Crane, David R. (4 April 1998). "Mike Peraza: The Visualizer" (PDF). New Tekniques. 2 (2): 18–20. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  16. ↑ Variety Staff (January 1989). "The Little Mermaid". Variety. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  17. ↑ Wahlgren, Eric. "IT'S A DRAW; ANIMATOR HAS TWO FAVORITES IN THEATERS. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Daily News. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  18. ↑ Wolfe, Jennifer. "Mike Peraza to Receive Friz Freleng Lifetime Achievement Award". Animation World Network. Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
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