Cynthia Wells

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Cynthia Wells is an American animated film maker, artist and triathlete.

Contents

Early life and education

Wells, born 1956or1957, was raised in California. In the 1980s, she studied at the California Institute of Arts (CalArts). [1]

Work

Wells has worked as a character animator, initially at Disney, and later at Warner Bros. and other studios. She was the first woman to be nominated for an Annie Award for her own 1994 animated short film Interview with Tallulah, Queen of the Universe. [1] [2] [3] Wells was nominated for "Best Individual Achievement for Animation", and the film was also nominated for "Best Animated Short Subject". [4] A follow-up, The Shadow of Doubt, which she produced with her husband, was made in 2001. [5] [3] Both films feature the same main character, the jazz singer Talullah. [6] Their company, The Digital Theater Group, recruited more than a hundred people to work on the film. [5] The Phoenix called it a "dreary psychedelic pastiche about a Paris cabaret singer that recalls Ralph Bakshi." [7]

Her work includes the films The Fox and the Hound (1981), Space Jam (1996), Anastasia (1997) and Quest for Camelot (1998). [1] [8] She also worked on Ziggy's Gift (1982) and David Macaulay: Roman City (1994), both of which won Emmy-awards. [9] She has worked with commercials and taught at CalArts. [10]

As of 2023, she is an independent illustrator and artist. [1]

Triathlon

Wells started running in her 50s, and competed in the New York City Marathon and New York City Half Marathon. She then switched to triathlon, and completed her first at North Fork of Long Island in 2017. She has continued to participate in the event, the Jamesport Triathlon, and has finished second in her age-group. [1]

Triathlon has inspired her artwork, and she finds that the training helps reduce tension from painting in neck and back. She says that "After all the preparation and the energy is spent, there is space in my head that allows the creativity in." [1]

Personal life

As of 2023, she lives in New York. [1] As of 2025, she is married to Geoffrey Wells, author and former IT manager. [11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 West, Jessica (7 April 2023). "How One Age-Grouper Finds Inspiration in the Art of Triathlon". Triathlete . Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  2. "1995 Official Selection, film index". Annecy International Animation Film Festival. 1995. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  3. 1 2 "The Shadow of Doubt". Brooklyn Film Festival. 2001. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  4. "23rd Annual Annie Awards Legacy". Annie Awards . Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  5. 1 2 Champagne, Jennifer A. (2 February 2000). "The Make of The Shadow of Doubt". DV . Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  6. Singer, Gregory (30 April 2002). "Re:vitalizing Animation Through Virtual Studios". Animation World Network . Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  7. Miliard, Mike (2001). "Can we count on them?". The Phoenix . Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  8. Ocasio, Victor (24 March 2023). "Will AI-generated art steal LI artists' jobs?". Newsday . Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  9. Furniss, Maureen (20 July 2001). "Fresh from the Festivals: July 2001's Film Reviews". Animation World Network . Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  10. Versh, Bonita (1 May 1997). "Making the Cel: A Profile of Women in Commercials". Animation World Network . Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  11. "Meet the writers". North Fork Writers Group. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2025.