Benjamin Gluck
Benjamin (Ben) Gluck | |
|---|---|
| File:Ben Gluck.png | |
| Born | Benjamin James Gluck St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Alma mater | California Institute of the Arts |
| Occupation(s) | Director, Writer, Head of Story, Senior Story Editor |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Known for | Peanuts 9 Disney Animation Studios |
Benjamin James Gluck (also known as Ben Gluck) is an American director, screenwriter, and head of story.[1] Gluck worked at Disney Animation[2] where he was a director and the first head of story for Walt Disney television studios.
Early life and background
Gluck was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Character Animation from the esteemed California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and was awarded a full-tuition merit scholarship from Walt Disney Feature Animation studios. His student short film Man's Best Friend was awarded the Motion Picture Honorary student Academy Award, the Walter Lantz Award.[3] That film premiered worldwide in heavy rotation on MTV's network,[1] and received many top awards in the United States and International film circuits and toured worldwide and theatrically in Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Animation Festival.
Career
Gluck began his career at DreamWorks Feature Animation where he was recruited by Oscar-winning director Brenda Chapman, as the studios very first story trainee, on The Prince of Egypt.
Gluck was recruited by Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he was mentored by Tony Award winner Roger Allers and Pixar Academy Award nominee, Jim Capobianco. At Disney, Gluck worked for over a decade as a key member of the feature animation story team and was the first head of story at Disney-Television supervising the Annie Award-winning theatrical film's Bambi 2,Piglet's Big Movie and directed Brother Bear 2, which is Disney's second sequel to have a higher rating on Rotten Tomatoes than its predecessor.[4]
After Disney, Gluck collaborated with Academy Award nominated director Shane Acker, as the head of story, on the Tim Burton executive produced animated feature film, 9 for Focus Features. As creative story lead, Gluck directed the storyboard artists and supervised the script from early development to final.
Gluck was one of two directors on Alpha and Omega, which became the first film in the franchise of the same name, followed by eight follow-up films, video games, and books. This is Lionsgate's highest-grossing original CGI animated franchise. As part of his overall deal with Lionsgate, Gluck was consulting director and screenwriter on Madea's Tough Love, developing the Madea character for animation.
Gluck collaborated with George Lucas, at Lucas Film on Strange Magic (film). Gluck also developed an animated theatrical reboot of the popular anime comic Battle of the Planets with executive producer Charles Roven.
Currently, Gluck is the head of story on the Annie Award nominated Peanuts holiday special: Snoopy Presents, For Auld Lang Syne, the first new Peanuts holiday special in a decade. Gluck is collaborating with the Schultz family, on the 46th and 48th original Peanuts steaming specials in collaboration with Apple TV +.
Awards and recognition
- Walter Lantz Honorary Student Academy Award:[1] best short animated film "Man's Best Friend."
- Annie Award for Best Home Entertainment Production: Bambi 2 at the 34th Annie Awards.
- Annie Award for Best Screenplay: Brother Bear 2 at the 35th Annie Awards.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Awards | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Peanuts Untitled Holiday Special | head of story | |
| 2021 | Peanuts For Auld Lang Syne | Annie Award nominated: Best Special | head of story |
| 2015 | Madea's Tough Love | developed for animation | |
| 2014 | Kahlil Gibran's, Salma Hayek presents: The Prophet |
Winner: The Visionary Award | story artist |
| 2013 | Battle of the Planets | developed for animation | |
| 2010 | Yogi Bear | story artist | |
| 2010 | Alpha and Omega | director, story | |
| 2009 | 9 | VES Award Nominee: Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture | head of story |
| 2006 | Brother Bear 2 | Winner: Annie Award: Best Screenplay | director |
| 2006 | Bambi II | Winner: Annie Award: Best Home Entertainment Production. | head of story |
| 2004 | Home on the Range | story artist | |
| 2003 | Piglet's Big Movie | story artist | |
| 2000 | The Emperor's New Groove | story artist | |
| 2000 | Dinosaur | story artist | |
| 1996 | MTV's Cartoon Sushi forth episode: Man's Best Friend |
Winner: Walter & Gracie Lantz Woody Award | creator |
Television
- Man's Best Friend (TV) (1996)
- Rugrats (TV) (2000)
- Clerks (TV) (2000)
- Skunk Fu (TV) (2007-2008)
See also
References
5. Apple TV+ New Peanuts Holiday Specials
