Roger Allers
Encyclopedia
Roger Allers is an Oscar-nominated American film director, screenwriter, storyboard artist
, animator and Tony-nominated playwright
. He is most well-known for directing the highest-grossing 2D animated film of all time, The Lion King
, for Disney
, and for writing the Broadway adaptation, The Lion King
.
's classic feature film Peter Pan
. Deciding that he wanted to become a Disney artist and work with Walt Disney
himself, a few years later he sent away for a do-it-yourself Disney animation kit. However, in 1966, when he heard of Walt Disney's death, Allers, by then a high school student, grew discouraged about attaining his dream.
He went on to receive a degree in fine arts from Arizona State University
. But it was after auditing a class at Harvard that he found his interest in animation renewed. He landed a job with Lisberger Studios, where he worked on the animation end for projects such as Sesame Street
, The Electric Company
, Make a Wish, and various commercials.
In 1978, he relocated to Los Angeles with Lisberger to work on a feature project called Animalympics
, providing story work, character design and animation for the film. This was followed by a six-month stint as part of the storyboard team for the Disney/Lisberger co-production, Tron
, his first live action experience.
Allers moved to Toronto, Ontario in 1980, in order to work for the famed Nelvana
studios as an animator on a feature called Rock & Rule
. After two years in the frosty north he returned to Los Angeles to work on Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
. Another two-year stint, this time in Tokyo, followed, as one of the animation directors overseeing the Japanese artists.
Back in Los Angeles in 1985, Allers heard that Disney was looking for a storyboard person on Oliver & Company
and immediately applied for and was hired for the job. His dream had at long last come true. During his time there, he worked on every animated feature that Disney produced in the next few years, including The Little Mermaid
, The Prince and the Pauper
, The Rescuers Down Under
, Beauty and the Beast
, and Aladdin
.
He made his feature film directing debut with the multi-award winning The Lion King
, which was not only a hit film, but went on to become a Broadway musical
. Allers took time off before directing his next animated feature, Open Season
, featuring the voice talents of Martin Lawrence
and Ashton Kutcher
.
Allers was the original director of The Emperor's New Groove
back when the title was Kingdom of the Sun and the film was still Allers' original vision of an epic, mythic-based story, in the vein of Lion King. But several years into development, due to creative differences, Allers chose to leave the project. He was replaced with Mark Dindal
who then changed the title to The Emperor's New Groove, and drastically changed the tone of the film to a slapstick comedy.
He received several International Film Festival Awards, in 2006, for his Oscar-nominated short film, The Little Matchgirl
.
Co-wrote the book for the smash hit Broadway musical, The Lion King
for which he won a Tony award.
Allers, along with his Lion King Broadway writing partner, Irene Mecchi, have written a musical adaptation of the book, Beatrice's Goat, to benefit the work of global non-profit Heifer International.
, Arizona.
Storyboard artist
Storyboard artist is a profession specialized in creating storyboards for advertising agencies and film productions.A storyboard artist is able to visualize any stories using quick sketches on paper at any moment...
, animator and Tony-nominated playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
. He is most well-known for directing the highest-grossing 2D animated film of all time, The Lion King
The Lion King
The Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
, for Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
, and for writing the Broadway adaptation, The Lion King
The Lion King (musical)
The Lion King is a musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice along with the musical score created by Hans Zimmer with choral arrangements by Lebo M. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well...
.
Biography
Allers became hooked on animation at the age of five after seeing DisneyThe Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
's classic feature film Peter Pan
Peter Pan (1953 film)
Peter Pan is a 1953 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and based on the play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by J. M. Barrie. It is the fourteenth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and was originally released on February 5, 1953 by RKO Pictures...
. Deciding that he wanted to become a Disney artist and work with Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
himself, a few years later he sent away for a do-it-yourself Disney animation kit. However, in 1966, when he heard of Walt Disney's death, Allers, by then a high school student, grew discouraged about attaining his dream.
He went on to receive a degree in fine arts from Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
. But it was after auditing a class at Harvard that he found his interest in animation renewed. He landed a job with Lisberger Studios, where he worked on the animation end for projects such as Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
, The Electric Company
The Electric Company
The Electric Company is an educational American children's television series that was produced by the Children's Television Workshop for PBS in the United States. PBS broadcast 780 episodes over the course of its six seasons from October 25, 1971 to April 15, 1977...
, Make a Wish, and various commercials.
In 1978, he relocated to Los Angeles with Lisberger to work on a feature project called Animalympics
Animalympics
Animalympics is a 1980 animated film produced by Lisberger Studios and released by Warner Bros.. Originally commissioned by the NBC network as two separate specials, it spoofs the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, and features the voices of Billy Crystal, Gilda Radner, Harry Shearer and Michael...
, providing story work, character design and animation for the film. This was followed by a six-month stint as part of the storyboard team for the Disney/Lisberger co-production, Tron
Tron (film)
Tron is a 1982 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Lisberger, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Jeff Bridges as the protagonist Kevin Flynn; Bruce Boxleitner in a dual role as security program Tron and Tron's "User", computer programmer Alan Bradley; Cindy...
, his first live action experience.
Allers moved to Toronto, Ontario in 1980, in order to work for 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...
studios as an animator on a feature called Rock & Rule
Rock & Rule
Rock & Rule is a 1983 Canadian animated film from the animation studio Nelvana. It was produced and directed by the company's founders, Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert, and Clive A. Smith. The film features the voices of Greg Salata, Susan Roman, and Don Francks, with Catherine O'Hara, Chris...
. After two years in the frosty north he returned to Los Angeles to work on Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, known in Japan as simply Nemo, is a 1989 animated film directed by Masami Hata and William T. Hurtz. Loosely based on the comic strip Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay, the film went through a lengthy development process with a number of screenwriters...
. Another two-year stint, this time in Tokyo, followed, as one of the animation directors overseeing the Japanese artists.
Back in Los Angeles in 1985, Allers heard that Disney was looking for a storyboard person on Oliver & Company
Oliver & Company
Oliver & Company is a 1988 American animated film in which a homeless kitten named Oliver joins a gang of dogs to survive on the 1980s New York City streets. The film was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and became the twenty-seventh animated feature released in the Walt Disney Animated...
and immediately applied for and was hired for the job. His dream had at long last come true. During his time there, he worked on every animated feature that Disney produced in the next few years, including The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid (1989 film)
The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name. Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, the film was originally released to theaters on November 14, 1989 and is the twenty-eighth film in...
, The Prince and the Pauper
The Prince and the Pauper (film)
The Prince and the Pauper is a novel by Mark Twain with Edward VI of England as the central character. This fictional narrative has been adapted to film a number of times:...
, The Rescuers Down Under
The Rescuers Down Under
The Rescuers Down Under is a 1990 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures and Buena Vista Distribution on November 16, 1990...
, Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)
Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirtieth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and the third film of the Disney Renaissance period...
, and Aladdin
Aladdin (1992 film)
Aladdin is a 1992 American animated family film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Aladdin was the 31st animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, and was part of the Disney film era known as the Disney Renaissance...
.
He made his feature film directing debut with the multi-award winning The Lion King
The Lion King
The Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
, which was not only a hit film, but went on to become a Broadway musical
The Lion King (musical)
The Lion King is a musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice along with the musical score created by Hans Zimmer with choral arrangements by Lebo M. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well...
. Allers took time off before directing his next animated feature, Open Season
Open Season (film)
Open Season is a 2006 computer-animated comedy film, written by Steve Bencich and Ron J. Friedman and directed by Jill Culton, Roger Allers, and Anthony Stacchi, and production designed by Michael Humphries...
, featuring the voice talents of Martin Lawrence
Martin Lawrence
Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence is an American actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and stand up comedian. He came to fame during the 1990s, establishing a Hollywood career as a leading actor, most notably the films Bad Boys, Blue Streak, and Big Momma's House...
and Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher
Christopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
.
Allers was the original director of The Emperor's New Groove
The Emperor's New Groove
The Emperor's New Groove is a 2000 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures through Buena Vista Distribution on December 15, 2000. It is the 40th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics...
back when the title was Kingdom of the Sun and the film was still Allers' original vision of an epic, mythic-based story, in the vein of Lion King. But several years into development, due to creative differences, Allers chose to leave the project. He was replaced with Mark Dindal
Mark Dindal
Mark L. Dindal is an American effects animator and director, who created The Emperor's New Groove as well as Cats Don't Dance...
who then changed the title to The Emperor's New Groove, and drastically changed the tone of the film to a slapstick comedy.
He received several International Film Festival Awards, in 2006, for his Oscar-nominated short film, The Little Matchgirl
The Little Matchgirl (film)
The Little Matchgirl is a 2006 animated short film directed by Roger Allers and produced by Don Hahn, who previously were involved in classic Disney animated films such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King...
.
Co-wrote the book for the smash hit Broadway musical, The Lion King
The Lion King (musical)
The Lion King is a musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice along with the musical score created by Hans Zimmer with choral arrangements by Lebo M. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well...
for which he won a Tony award.
Allers, along with his Lion King Broadway writing partner, Irene Mecchi, have written a musical adaptation of the book, Beatrice's Goat, to benefit the work of global non-profit Heifer International.
Personal life
Allers and his wife, Leslee, live in Venice, California. They have a grown daughter and son. Allers was raised in ScottsdaleScottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, Arizona.
Filmography
- AnimalympicsAnimalympicsAnimalympics is a 1980 animated film produced by Lisberger Studios and released by Warner Bros.. Originally commissioned by the NBC network as two separate specials, it spoofs the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, and features the voices of Billy Crystal, Gilda Radner, Harry Shearer and Michael...
(1980) (co-writer and creator, art director, animator) - TronTron (film)Tron is a 1982 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Lisberger, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Jeff Bridges as the protagonist Kevin Flynn; Bruce Boxleitner in a dual role as security program Tron and Tron's "User", computer programmer Alan Bradley; Cindy...
(1982) (pre-production concepts) - Rock & RuleRock & RuleRock & Rule is a 1983 Canadian animated film from the animation studio Nelvana. It was produced and directed by the company's founders, Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert, and Clive A. Smith. The film features the voices of Greg Salata, Susan Roman, and Don Francks, with Catherine O'Hara, Chris...
(1983) (animator) - Oliver & CompanyOliver & CompanyOliver & Company is a 1988 American animated film in which a homeless kitten named Oliver joins a gang of dogs to survive on the 1980s New York City streets. The film was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and became the twenty-seventh animated feature released in the Walt Disney Animated...
(1988) (storyboard artist) - The Little MermaidThe Little Mermaid (1989 film)The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name. Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, the film was originally released to theaters on November 14, 1989 and is the twenty-eighth film in...
(1989) (story supervisor) - The Rescuers Down UnderThe Rescuers Down UnderThe Rescuers Down Under is a 1990 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures and Buena Vista Distribution on November 16, 1990...
(1990) (storyboard artist) - The Prince and the PauperThe Prince and the Pauper (1990 film)The Prince and the Pauper is an animated short film directed by George Scribner and starring Wayne Allwine as Mickey Mouse, inspired by the Mark Twain story of the same name. It was Disney's final use of the Xerox process, which the studio had used for three decades.The film was released on...
(1990) (storyboard artist) - Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast (1991 film)Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirtieth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and the third film of the Disney Renaissance period...
(1991) (head of story) - Aladdin (1992) (story)
- The Lion KingThe Lion KingThe Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
(1994) (co-director) - The Emperor's New GrooveThe Emperor's New GrooveThe Emperor's New Groove is a 2000 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures through Buena Vista Distribution on December 15, 2000. It is the 40th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics...
(2000) (original story: Kingdom of the Sun) - Return to Neverland (2002) (storyboard artist)
- The Lion King 1½The Lion King 1½The Lion King 1½ is a 2004 American direct-to-video animated film released by Buena Vista Home Entertainment on February 10, 2004. The film is the third installment in the Lion King series. The DVD went to the Disney Vault in January 2005...
(2004) (additional screenplay material) - The Little MatchGirlThe Little Matchgirl (film)The Little Matchgirl is a 2006 animated short film directed by Roger Allers and produced by Don Hahn, who previously were involved in classic Disney animated films such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King...
(2006) (director, story adaptation) - Open SeasonOpen Season (film)Open Season is a 2006 computer-animated comedy film, written by Steve Bencich and Ron J. Friedman and directed by Jill Culton, Roger Allers, and Anthony Stacchi, and production designed by Michael Humphries...
(2006) (director) - Surf's UpSurf's Up (film)Surf's Up is a 2007 American computer-animated mockumentary family comedy film directed by Ash Brannon and Chris Buck. It stars the voices of Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel and Jon Heder among others....
(2007) (special thanks) - Waking Sleeping BeautyWaking Sleeping BeautyWaking Sleeping Beauty is a 2009 American documentary film directed by Disney film producer Don Hahn and produced by Hahn and former Disney executive Peter Schneider, which documents the history of Walt Disney Feature Animation from the making of The Fox and the Hound in 1981 to the release of The...
(2010) (himself, caricaturist artist)