Ralph Zondag
Encyclopedia
Ralph Zondag is an animation director
of Russia
n origin. He is best known for directing We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story
for Universal Pictures
and Dinosaur
for Disney
. He has a brother named Dick Zondag who is also an animator.
, Ontario
, Canada
with his brother from 1983 to 1984.
He started his career at the famed Nelvana
studio in Toronto
working on projects like Strawberry Shortcake Meets the Berrykins
, The Care Bears Movie
, Ewoks and Droids
He later joined Sullivan Bluth Studios
in Ireland
and worked on An American Tail
, The Land Before Time
, All Dogs Go To Heaven
and Rock-A-Doodle
. He also directed television commercials while working at Sullivan-Bluth.
In 1993 he made his directorial debut on the animated adaptation of We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story
alongside his brother.
Zondag joined Walt Disney Feature Animation
during the early 90s; he was head of storyboards on Pocahontas
. In 2000, he and San Diego native Eric Leighton directed Dinosaur
as a part of the Disney Computer Graphics Unit.
He then worked on projects like Rugrats Go Wild, Home on the Range, Balto 3: Wings of Change, Valiant and Curious George
.
Zondag worked as storyboard artist on Ultimate Avengers 2
, Flushed Away
, The Golden Compass, Kung Fu Panda
and King of the Elves. He recently worked on 3-D animated features like Meet the Robinsons
and Bolt, he also made concept art during the pre-production of Tangled.
Ralph and his brother Dick have started their own production studio and are currently directing The Monkey King and Hereos & Monsters.
Animation director
An animation director is the director in charge of all aspects of the animation process during the production of an animated film or animated segment for a live-action film...
of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n origin. He is best known for directing We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story
We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (film)
We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story is a 1993 American animated film, produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblimation animation studio, distributed by Universal Pictures, and originally released to theaters on November 24, 1993 for the United States. It was rated G by the MPAA...
for Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
and Dinosaur
Dinosaur (film)
Dinosaur is a 2000 American computer-animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures on May 19, 2000, and is the 39th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
for Disney
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
. He has a brother named Dick Zondag who is also an animator.
Background
Zondag studied animation at Sheridan CollegeSheridan College
Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is a diploma and degree granting Canadian polytechnic institute with approximately 15,000 full time students and 35,000 continuing education students...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with his brother from 1983 to 1984.
He started his career at the famed Nelvana
Nelvana
Nelvana Limited is a Canadian entertainment company founded in 1971 known for its work in children's animation. It was named by founders Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith after a Canadian comic book superheroine created by Adrian Dingle in the 1940s...
studio in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
working on projects like Strawberry Shortcake Meets the Berrykins
Strawberry Shortcake Meets the Berrykins
Strawberry Shortcake Meets the Berrykins is a 1985 animated television special from Canada's Nelvana Limited, and the last one until DiC's recent revival to feature the American Greetings character, Strawberry Shortcake on Fox Kids.-Synopsis:...
, The Care Bears Movie
The Care Bears Movie
The Care Bears Movie is a 1985 Canadian animated film, the second feature production from the Toronto animation studio Nelvana. One of the first films based directly on a toy line, it introduced the Care Bears characters and their companions, the Care Bear Cousins. In the film, orphanage owners...
, Ewoks and Droids
He later joined Sullivan Bluth Studios
Sullivan Bluth Studios
Sullivan Bluth Studios was an American animated film production company established in 1985 by animator Don Bluth. Bluth and several colleagues, all of whom were former Disney animators, left Disney in 1979 to form Don Bluth Productions, later known as the Bluth Group...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and worked on An American Tail
An American Tail
An American Tail is a 1986 American animated adventure film directed by Don Bluth and produced by Sullivan Bluth Studios and Amblin Entertainment. The film tells the story of Fievel Mouskewitz and his family as they immigrate from Russia to America for freedom. However, Fievel gets lost and must...
, The Land Before Time
The Land Before Time
The Land Before Time is a 1988 American animated adventure film directed and co-produced by Don Bluth , and executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall....
, All Dogs Go To Heaven
All Dogs Go to Heaven
All Dogs Go to Heaven is a 1989 Irish-English animated film directed and produced by Don Bluth and released by United Artists. The film tells the story of two dogs, Charlie B. Barkin and his loyal best friend Itchy Itchiford...
and Rock-A-Doodle
Rock-A-Doodle
Rock-a-Doodle is a 1992 American animated re-telling of Edmond Rostand's comedy, Chantecler. This film was directed by Don Bluth, produced by Goldcrest Films for The Samuel Goldwyn Company, and originally released in the United States on April 3, 1992.-Plot:Chanticleer is a proud rooster whose...
. He also directed television commercials while working at Sullivan-Bluth.
In 1993 he made his directorial debut on the animated adaptation of We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story
We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story
We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story is a 1987 children's book drawn and written by Hudson Talbott, and published by Dragonfly Books. A Tyrannosaurus rex named Rex is the main character and narrator...
alongside his brother.
Zondag joined Walt Disney Feature Animation
Walt Disney Feature Animation
Walt Disney Animation Studios is an American animation studio headquartered in Burbank, California. The studio, founded in 1923 as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio by brothers Walt and Roy Disney, is the oldest subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
during the early 90s; he was head of storyboards on Pocahontas
Pocahontas (1995 film)
Pocahontas is the 33rd animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and was originally released to selected theaters on June 16, 1995 by Walt Disney Pictures...
. In 2000, he and San Diego native Eric Leighton directed Dinosaur
Dinosaur (film)
Dinosaur is a 2000 American computer-animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures on May 19, 2000, and is the 39th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
as a part of the Disney Computer Graphics Unit.
He then worked on projects like Rugrats Go Wild, Home on the Range, Balto 3: Wings of Change, Valiant and Curious George
Curious George (film)
Curious George is a 2006 traditionally animated film adaptation of the children's stories by H.A. and Margret Rey. Will Ferrell voices Ted. Matthew O'Callaghan directed...
.
Zondag worked as storyboard artist on Ultimate Avengers 2
Ultimate Avengers 2
Ultimate Avengers 2 is the sequel to Ultimate Avengers. The film was released on August 8, 2006...
, Flushed Away
Flushed Away
Flushed Away is a 2006 computer animated British film directed by David Bowers and Sam Fell. It is a partnership between Aardman Animations of Wallace and Gromit fame, and DreamWorks Animation, and is Aardman's first completely computer-animated feature as opposed to the usual stop-motion.The film...
, The Golden Compass, Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated action comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures...
and King of the Elves. He recently worked on 3-D animated features like Meet the Robinsons
Meet the Robinsons
Meet the Robinsons is a 2007 American computer-animated family film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures on March 30, 2007. The forty-seventh animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics, the film was released in both the United States and the...
and Bolt, he also made concept art during the pre-production of Tangled.
Ralph and his brother Dick have started their own production studio and are currently directing The Monkey King and Hereos & Monsters.
Director
- The Monkey King (2013)
- DinosaurDinosaur (film)Dinosaur is a 2000 American computer-animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures on May 19, 2000, and is the 39th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
(2000) - We're Back! A Dinosaur's StoryWe're Back! A Dinosaur's StoryWe're Back! A Dinosaur's Story is a 1987 children's book drawn and written by Hudson Talbott, and published by Dragonfly Books. A Tyrannosaurus rex named Rex is the main character and narrator...
(1993) - Rock-A-DoodleRock-A-DoodleRock-a-Doodle is a 1992 American animated re-telling of Edmond Rostand's comedy, Chantecler. This film was directed by Don Bluth, produced by Goldcrest Films for The Samuel Goldwyn Company, and originally released in the United States on April 3, 1992.-Plot:Chanticleer is a proud rooster whose...
(1992) (sequence director)
Animation Department
- Bolt (2008) (3D Animator)
- Meet the RobinsonsMeet the RobinsonsMeet the Robinsons is a 2007 American computer-animated family film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures on March 30, 2007. The forty-seventh animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics, the film was released in both the United States and the...
(2007) (3D Animator) - Curious GeorgeCurious George (film)Curious George is a 2006 traditionally animated film adaptation of the children's stories by H.A. and Margret Rey. Will Ferrell voices Ted. Matthew O'Callaghan directed...
(2006) (Animator: July Films) - Valiant (2005) (Character Developer)
- Rugrats Go Wild (2003) (Additional Animator)
- Treasure of the Hidden Planet (1997) (Character Posting)
- The Pirates and the Prince (1997) (Character Posting)
- All Dogs Go to HeavenAll Dogs Go to HeavenAll Dogs Go to Heaven is a 1989 Irish-English animated film directed and produced by Don Bluth and released by United Artists. The film tells the story of two dogs, Charlie B. Barkin and his loyal best friend Itchy Itchiford...
(1989) (Directing Animator) - The Land Before TimeThe Land Before TimeThe Land Before Time is a 1988 American animated adventure film directed and co-produced by Don Bluth , and executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall....
(1988) (Directing Animator: Sharptooth, Animator: Petrie) - An American TailAn American TailAn American Tail is a 1986 American animated adventure film directed by Don Bluth and produced by Sullivan Bluth Studios and Amblin Entertainment. The film tells the story of Fievel Mouskewitz and his family as they immigrate from Russia to America for freedom. However, Fievel gets lost and must...
(1986) (Animator) - The Care Bears MovieThe Care Bears MovieThe Care Bears Movie is a 1985 Canadian animated film, the second feature production from the Toronto animation studio Nelvana. One of the first films based directly on a toy line, it introduced the Care Bears characters and their companions, the Care Bear Cousins. In the film, orphanage owners...
(1985) (Animator) (as Ralf Zondag) - Strawberry Shortcake Meets the BerrykinsStrawberry Shortcake Meets the BerrykinsStrawberry Shortcake Meets the Berrykins is a 1985 animated television special from Canada's Nelvana Limited, and the last one until DiC's recent revival to feature the American Greetings character, Strawberry Shortcake on Fox Kids.-Synopsis:...
(1985) (Animator)