While they are primarily known for the fan-favorite characters, memorable moments and imaginative worlds they bring to the screen, it is always a joy to get to know the names, faces and personalities of top toon creators! A new feature-length documentary, Pencils vs. Pixels, will provide an opportunity to do just when it arrives on VOD on November 7.
From Strikeback Studios and Hideout Pictures, the film is described as: “A celebration of 2D hand-drawn animation and the transformative journey from the Disney Renaissance to the computer animation revolution … and the inspiring future yet to come.”
2023 Hollywood Walk of Fame honoree Ming-Na Wen (the voice of Disney’s Mulan), the film features notable animators including:
- Seth McFarlane (creator and Emmy-winning voice star of Family Guy, American Dad! and The Cleveland Show, another Walk of Famer)
- Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch (producer, Inside Job; writer/story, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, The Mitchells vs. the Machines)
- Disney Legend Floyd Norman (Sleeping Beauty, Robin Hood, Toy Story 2, Mulan)
- Oscar-winning filmmaker and acclaimed Disney animator Glen Keane (Dear Basketball)
- The Proud Family creator and former Disney supervising animator Bruce W. Smith
- Jorge Gutierrez, creator of the Annie & Emmy-winning Maya and the Three limited series and Golden Globe-nominated feature The Book of Life
- multi-Oscar & Annie Award winning director and Chief Creative Officer of Pixar, Pete Docter (Soul; Inside Out; Up; Monsters, Inc.)
- acclaimed Disney filmmaker John Musker (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, The Princess and the Frog, Moana)
- …and more!
The 72-minute documentary is directed by Bay Dariz and Phil Earnest; Dariz also served as writer and produced the film with Disney animation veteran Tom Bancroft. Executive producers are Shannon Houchins, Noor Ahmed and Christopher Joe.
