Chris Sanders: director, producer, screenwriter

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

It seemed that all the films and animated cartoons he took on were doomed to success. Having tried himself in various areas of cinema, he did not stop at one profession, but gradually began to act in different roles. We are talking about Chris Sanders - an American actor, also known as a director, producer and screenwriter of many cartoons. Why did he not stop at one role and improve in one activity all his life? For which cartoons is he known to many viewers?

The life of a dreamer

Chris is from Colorado, USA. He was born on March 12, 1962. At this time, short films produced by Disney were popular. The boy really liked them, and by the age of 10 he already dreamed of learning how to draw in the same way as the creators of these cartoons can. Chris started redrawing some scenes from The Amazing World of Disney and more. When his grandmother told him about the possibilities of the animation program, which is in their school, the future actor was eager to participate in it. This program infurther helped to enter the California Institute of the Arts.

Institute Chris Sanders graduated in 1984, still not losing his thirst to draw and create cartoon animation. So he got into Marvel Comics.

Dream Job

Having got into such a large company, he has established himself as a good employee, who is not a hindrance to lack of experience in some matters. More often, the main task of the young specialist was to help develop characters for children's shows. So far, no one trusted Chris Sanders in cartoons, and the company itself focused on comics, and not on their adaptation. Soon he got another chance.

They became the Disney company. Chris ended up in the "visual department", the purpose of which was to develop the image served to the viewer. Work on The Rescuers Down Under provided for him for a long time, but did not bring public recognition. The turning point was the work on Beauty and the Beast. However, when he took on the project in 1991, he had no idea how much things would turn upside down.

Two cartoons that brought fame

"Beauty and the Beast" is a very bright adaptation of a fairy tale about a beautiful and kind girl who, by chance, was imprisoned by an ugly Beast. The idea itself was charming, and the task of Chris Sanders and other writers of the script was to detail those moments and interior items that would attract the attention of a small viewer, holding him. The cartoon became the first animatedan Oscar-nominated piece.

Following this, Chris was assigned another project - "The Lion King". The story of the lion cub still brings tears to many adults, and it took Chris and the team many hours and even days to convey such emotions! As a result, only the first part won two Oscars, three Grammys and a Golden Globe. Further success led Disney to continue this cartoon and create a series based on it.

Wave of "hit" cartoons

In 1998, many companies had to realize that Chris Sanders would not do films: he was assigned a new cartoon. The Mulan tape no longer had a fairy-tale land and princes, but it told about a girl more brave than many young men. Being an experienced screenwriter, he already knew which dialogues and character actions would win and get the most attention. It was the success of Mulan that opened the way for him to a new project, which gave Chris the respect of the employees.

We are talking about "Lilo and Stitch" (2002). Very peculiar drawing contrasts with vivid emotions, passion for Elvis Presley and the idea of "family". The kindness that permeates the film is mixed with humor, thanks to which many people are not averse to watching the film again. Chris Sanders did an excellent job and was nominated for an Oscar for the first time. Later, the continuation of the picture was approved - then the world saw the next few parts and the series.

Chris Sanders and American Dog

By 2006, Chris already had some developments on a new project, which was tentatively called "American Dog", or "American Dog". Due to the departure of the producer, John Lasseter began to apply for his role. With this man, Chris was not on warm friendly terms, and John, frankly, did not like him. As a result, when John was appointed producer, Sanders left the project. Why? The new producer removed an unpleasant person from the position of leader and appointed someone who would impress him. The cartoon was released under the name "Volt".

So instead of one animated picture, an almost completely different one was released, since the new leaders could not save the original idea. And since then, Chris has become more selective and responsible approach to the work of the director and to look closely at his team.

New horizons open

When Chris joined DreamWorks Animation in 2007, he was back in the same position he was in after college: the team didn't know his strengths, and the new employee didn't understand what details to focus on. It wasn't until 2008 that Sanders was assigned the How to Train Your Dragon project, where he directed with Dean Deblois (they worked together on Lilo & Stitch).

So, in 2012, Chris Sanders, whose photo pleases with a promising smile, attended Comic-Con in San Diego. He communicated with Stitch fans and very vividly described the emotions from his voice acting. Interesting isthe fact that Sanders voiced the little villain wherever he appeared, and those few words that make adults and children smile were thought out and written by a person they have known for a long time from his other creations.