Brian Smith is an award-winning director, an Annie nominated screenwriter, and a frequent story consultant to production companies and major studios.
Brian studied fine art at the University of Cincinnati’s prestigious DAAP program and cinema at The Ohio State University film school. He joined independent animation studio Character Builders in its first year and quickly emerged as one of the company’s top animators, character designers and story artists, eventually becoming both a commercial director and vice-president of the company.
He storyboarded on such classic television shows as Ren & Stimpy, the Emmy-winning HBO series Happily Ever After and Steven Spielberg’s Invasion America. His early feature experience included character animation for Paramount’s cult-classic Bebe’s Kids, New Line’s Swan Princess, and Warner Bros.’ The Quest for Camelot. As a key contributor to Space Jam he created character designs, developed storyboards, and was a lead animator on Bugs Bunny.
Subsequently, Brian supervised the story team for Disney’s highly successful feature The Little Mermaid II. He then co-wrote and directed the critical hit 101 Dalmatians II, which earned him a Best Screenplay Annie nomination and for which he won a Best Director Video Premiere Award. He next co-wrote and directed Tarzan II , which also earned multiple Annie nominations. Brian’s had the pleasure of directing Jason Alexander, Brad Garrett, Ron Perlman, Barry Bostwick, George Carlin, Martin Short and Oscar nominee Glenn Close among many others.
Brian has been a story consultant on features for studios including 20th Century Fox/Hot Donut and Sprite Animation (Final Fantasy.) He’s completed the screenplay for an independent feature being produced by David Lovegren (Hoodwinked) as well as developed a feature concept for producer David Stainton (former Head of Disney Feature Animation.)
Brian was lead story artist as well as a script consultant on the independent feature Wish produced by Prana Studios (Tinkerbell and Planes franchises) and directed by Cory Edwards (Hoodwinked) He also wrote, boarded and edited several short teasers designed to promote the film.
Recently, Brian co-wrote the Chinese/Canadian feature Heroes of the Golden Mask with Jim Kammerud (Head of Story The Peanuts Movie ) starring the voices of Natasha Liu Bordizzo (Ahsoka), Patton Oswalt, Byron Mann, Osric Chau, Ron Perlman, and Christopher Plummer.
Currently, he’s writing and directing the development of Mission: Monsters, a feature based on his own concept being produced by Steve Pegram (Angry Birds, Chicken Run 2) and CGBros.
Features & Television:
Mission: Monsters! (2022-present) Co-wrote the screenplay and attached to direct this feature for CGBros and EP Steve Pegram (Angry Birds, Chicken Run 2)
Heroes of the Golden Mask (2017-2019) Co-wrote this Canadian/Chinese feature with Jim Kammerud (Head of Story The Peanuts Movie for Blue Sky/Fox)
Unproduced Film (2015-2017) Developed story and screenplay, attached to direct this feature project for a partnership of Chinese producers including Hong Kong based Enchanting Studio (Astroboy, Monster Hunt)
Wish (2014) Lead story artist for this feature produced by Prana Studios (Disney’s Tinkerbell and Planes franchises) and directed by Cory Edwards (Hoodwinked) Wrote, boarded and edited several short teasers designed to promote the film.
Yopadops (Adaptive Studios 2013) worked for director Cory Edwards (Hoodwinked) on conceptual character designs for this series in development
Tim and Space (2012) Drew beat boards and designs for this sci-fi/comedy series in development
Unproduced Film (2010) Feature development for producer David Stainton (former head Disney Feature Animation)
Oz (2008-2009) Co-wrote screenplay for producer David Lovegren (Hoodwinked)
Sprite Entertainment (2007) Story consultant on multiple feature projects including adaptations of the popular comic Gon and the classic folktale Journey to the West
Fishman (20th Century Fox/Hot Donut Prod. 2006) Story consultant on feature development for Chris Meledandri
Pigs Might Fly (Disney 2005, unproduced) Writer/director in development for what was to be Disneytoons first planned original feature, based on the book by Babe author Dick King-Smith
Tarzan II (Disney 2005) Co-wrote & directed. Film received multiple Annie Award nominations.
101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure (Disney 2003) Co-wrote & co-directed. Received Best Screenplay Annie Award nomination. Won Best Director Video Premiere Award.
Hunchback of Notre Dame II (Disney 2002) Story artist
Little Mermaid II (Disney 2000) Story supervisor and co-director
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (Universal Studios 1999) Story Artist and consultant for the popular 3D dark-ride at Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida
Invasion America (DreamWorks 1998) Story Artist
Pocahontas II (Disney 1998) Character animator
Space Jam (Warner Bros. 1996) Story artist, character designer and a lead character animator for Bugs Bunny.
The Ren and Stimpy Show (Nickelodeon 1995) Story artist
Happily Ever After (HBO 1995) Story artist
Beethoven (Universal 1994) Story Artist
The Swan Princess (New Line 1994) Character Animator
Bebe’s Kids (Paramount 1992) Character Animator
Commercials:
Directed many award-winning commercials for high profile clients including Moviefone, Warner Cable, White Castle, McDonald’s and Marsh Supermarkets.
Education:
The Ohio State University – studied animation/film
University of Cincinnati – studied fine art as part of the prestigious DAAP program
Recipient of a Kraft Academic Scholarship administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corp.
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0807531/
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