Chris Williams (director)

Last updated
Chris Williams
Chris Williams 2022.jpg
Williams in 2022
Born (1968-12-19) December 19, 1968 (age 55)
Missouri, U.S. [1]
Alma mater University of Waterloo
Sheridan College
Occupation(s)Animator, film director, screenwriter, voice actor
Years active1996–present
Employer(s) Walt Disney Animation Studios (1998–2018)
Netflix (2018–present)
Notable work Glago's Guest
Bolt
Big Hero 6
Moana
The Sea Beast

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.

Contents

Early life

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

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

Feature films

YearFilmCredited as
Director Writer Producer Story
Artist
Other Voice Notes
1998 Mulan NoNoNoYesNo
2000 The Emperor's New Groove NoStoryNoYesNo
2002 Lilo & Stitch NoNoNoYesNo
2003 Brother Bear NoNoNoNoYesAdditional Story
2005 Chicken Little NoNoNoYesNo
2007 Meet the Robinsons NoNoNoAdditionalNo
2008 Bolt YesScreenplayNoNoYesAdditional VoicesDisney Story Trust - uncredited
[10]
2009 The Princess and the Frog NoNoNoNoNo
2010 Tangled NoNoNoAdditionalNo
2011 Winnie the Pooh NoNoNoNoNo
2012 Wreck-It Ralph NoNoNoAdditionalNo
2013 Frozen NoNoNoYesYesOaken
2014 Big Hero 6 YesNoNoNoYesCreative Leadership
2016 Zootopia NoNoNoNoYesAdditional Story, Creative Leadership
Moana Co-DirectorStoryNoNoYesCreative Leadership
2018 Ralph Breaks the Internet NoNoExecutiveAdditionalYes
2019 Frozen II NoNoNoYesYesOaken (uncredited)
2021 Raya and the Last Dragon NoNoNoNoYesAdditional Story
2022 The Sea Beast YesYesYesNoNo Netflix Original Film

Shorts and TV

YearTitle Director Writer Executive
Producer
Other Voice Notes
2008 Glago's Guest YesYesNoNo
2009 Super Rhino NoNoYesNo
Prep & Landing NoNoYesNoTV special
2015 Frozen Fever NoNoNoYesOaken
2016LEGO Frozen: Northern LightsNoNoNoYesEpisode: "Journey to the Lights"
2017Gone Fishing [11] Co-DirectorNoNoNo
Olaf's Frozen Adventure NoNoNoYesOakenFeaturette
2020 Once Upon a Snowman NoNoNoYes Disney+ Original Short Film

Other credits

YearTitleRole
2012 Paperman Special Thanks
2020 The Willoughbys
2022 Strange World Very Special Thanks
2023 Nimona Special Thanks

See also

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References

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  2. "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.
  3. Fritz, Ben (February 8, 2007). "'Toy Story' sequel set". Variety . Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  4. 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.
  5. "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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.