BIRD, Brad

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Birth/Death

Born: September 11, 1957 Kalispell, Montana


Occupation/Title

Animator, Producer, Director, Writer, Actor


Bio Summary

Brad started his first animated cartoon at age eleven and finished it at thirteen. The film attracted the attention of Disney Studios which offered the young legend a chance to come be mentored by Milt Kahl, one of the Nine Old Men. After graduating from Cal Arts, Brad started a job at Disney but left shortly after working on The Fox and the Hound. From there, he assisted in developing The Simpsons from the one-minute shorts on The Tracy Ullman show into a regular series. Eventually, Brad was given the chance to make his first feature, The Iron Giant. Though it didn't do too well in the box office, it received much praise and acclaim from critics and artists alike. Bird was finally contacted by his fellow Cal Arts graduate and co-founder of Pixar, John Lasseter and offered the chance to make his second feature, The Incredibles.


Early Life/Family

Brad grew up in Corvallis, Oregon and he started his first animation at age eleven. Was offered the chance to work with Milt Kahl at Disney at age fourteen.


Education/Training

Was mentored by Milt Kahl, one of the Nine Old Men, and learned at Disney with the best until they gave him a full scholarship to the animation program at Cal Arts.


Career Outline

Brad began 'working' at Disney at the age of fourteen underneath the tutelage of Milt Kahl. After graduating from Cal Arts, Bird went back to Disney, this time to work on the feature, The Fox and the Hound. Once that film wrapped, Brad had some disagreements with some of the staff and left Disney to pursue other places of interest.

He ended up being hired by Klasky-Csupo to develop The Simpsons from a one-minute short on the Tracy Ullman Show to a thirty-mintue series on the Fox network. He stayed on there for about eight years as an 'Executive Consultant' before moving on to other television series, including The Critic, King of the Hill, and the Spielburg show, Amazing Stories. Brad was eventually hired by Warner Brothers to direct the animated film The Iron Giant. Unfortunately for Brad, WB was closing down that department, though they let him finish his film. Because they were closing down the animation department, the film was given little help and advertising from the company. Iron Giant was released and though it received critical acclaim, it didn't do well in the box office. After a few years, Brad was contacted by his fellow Cal Arts alumni and Pixar co-founder John Lasseter. John offered him the chance to come and direct his second feature, the Incredibles. Bird is also working on the upcoming Pixar film entitled Ratatouille.

Comments On Style

Influences

While at Disney at such a young age, Brad was mentored by Milt Kahl, one of the Nine Old Men. He also draws tremendous inspiration from cinema and his own life.


Personality

Anecdotes

Miscellaneous

Filmography

Director:

Jack-Jack Attack (2005)
The Incredibles (2004)
The Iron Giant (1999)
Amazing Stories: Book Two (1992) (segment "Family Dog")
"The Simpsons" Like Father, Like Clown, Krusty Gets Busted (1990) TV Episode
"Amazing Stories" Family Dog (1987)

Writer:

Jack-Jack Attack (2005)
The Incredibles (2004)
The Iron Giant (1999)
"Family Dog" (1992) (creator)
Amazing Stories: Book Two (1992) (segment "Family Dog")
*Batteries Not Included (1987)
"Amazing Stories" Family Dog (1987), The Main Attraction (1985)

Honors

Annie Award: Best Director Incredibles (2005)
Academy Award (2005)
BAFTA Childrens' Award (2005)
Saturn (2005)


Related Links

Salon Article
ABC News Story
IGN Article


Bibliographic References

Contributors To This Listing

Edan Bryant

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