creates on
screen magic.
Director•• Story Artist
Writer
Annie and Oscar-nominated short film. The reaction to Presto has been wonderful. For years I've fielded compliments — including that it's used in college story classes — that go to everyone on the show. Newsweek even went out of their way to sing their praises, a rare nod for a short.
This montage (@ 45 sec), a single performance played out by an entire population, explores what one might experience when a tragic loss is reversed. Do they dare believe this is real? The progression from shock to humble joy never fails to move me (and apparently Stevie Nicks).
Way back, I animated Woody meeting Buzz. I know! So it was a thrill to help Buzz meet yet another group of cartoon greats, this time from the director’s chair. Finding a story that balanced these two epic brands was a blast, as was working with the multiple crews that made it sing.
Animation is often expected to be first-and-foremost comedic, so it’s refreshing to step outside that box and explore tones of earnestness, adventure, and awe. I love films like this, which in a short period of time take you somewhere rich, magical, and far away.