Kevin Lima
Encyclopedia
Kevin Lima is an American
film director
who has directed a number of Disney films including his debut film A Goofy Movie
in 1995, Tarzan
, 102 Dalmatians
, and Enchanted. He is married to Brenda Chapman
, an animation Director at Pixar
.
. Then he worked on The Chipmunk Adventure
, where he met Glen Keane
, one of many artists, who had left Disney after The Black Cauldron
s box office failure. Keane persuaded Lima to apply at Disney, where he got a job, despite the fact that he was turned down three years earlier. Lima worked at Disney as character animator on the film Oliver & Company
, as a character designer on The Little Mermaid
and Beauty and the Beast
, and as a story editor for Aladdin. Wanting to direct, he left Disney for Hyperion Pictures
, where he worked on TV series Itsy Bitsy Spider
and films such as Bébé's Kids
.
Lima finally got his opportunity to direct at Disney, where he directed two animated films, A Goofy Movie
, and Tarzan
. Wanting to direct live-action films, Lima once again left Disney, but soon returned. Thanks to Glenn Close
, who voiced a character in Tarzan, Lima was offered to direct her on 102 Dalmatians
, which had just lost its director. After directing his first live action film, he went on to direct two TV films starring Julie Andrews
, Eloise at the Plaza
and Eloise at Christmastime
. Since 2000, Lima had wanted to make the film Enchanted, but he was repeatedly turned down because of the script being too dark, and that he was not "funny enough to do this film". Toned down script finally got green-lit, and in 2007 Enchanted was released to a great critical reception.
Since directing Enchanted, Lima has been set to direct several projects including a live-action feature adaptation of the classic tale of Tom Thumb
entitled Thumb, a film based on the popular Candy Land
board game, a remake of the 1964 film The Incredible Mr. Limpet
, a comedy film starring Hugh Jackman
titled Avon
Man, and an untitled live-action/CG film for Sony Pictures Animation
. In July 2011, DreamWorks Animation
announced that Lima will direct Monkeys of Mumbai, a Bollywood
-stlye animated musical adventure inspired by the Indian epic tale Ramayana
, and told through the point of view of its monkeys.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
who has directed a number of Disney films including his debut film A Goofy Movie
A Goofy Movie
A Goofy Movie is a 1995 American animated musical comedy film, produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, Walt Disney Animation France S.A. and Walt Disney Animation Australia , and released in theaters on April 7, 1995 by Walt Disney Pictures...
in 1995, Tarzan
Tarzan (1999 film)
Tarzan is a 1999 American animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures on June 18, 1999...
, 102 Dalmatians
102 Dalmatians
102 Dalmatians is a 2000 live-action film, produced by Walt Disney Pictures and starring Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil. It is the sequel to 101 Dalmatians, a live-action remake of the 1961 Disney animated feature of the same name. In the film, Cruella de Vil attempts to steal puppies for her...
, and Enchanted. He is married to Brenda Chapman
Brenda Chapman
Brenda Chapman is an American animator and film director. In 1998, she became the first woman to direct an animated feature from a major studio, DreamWorks Animation's The Prince of Egypt.-Life and career:...
, an animation Director at Pixar
Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
.
Life and career
Lima studied film and animation at the California Institute of the Arts, during the mid-80's. After graduation, he went to Taiwan for half a year to work on The Brave Little ToasterThe Brave Little Toaster (film)
The Brave Little Toaster is a 1987 animated adventure film adapted from the 1980 novel of the same name by Thomas Disch. The film was directed by Jerry Rees and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film is set in a world where household appliances and other electronics have the ability to speak...
. Then he worked on The Chipmunk Adventure
The Chipmunk Adventure
The Chipmunk Adventure is a 1987 American animated film featuring the characters from NBC's Saturday morning cartoon Alvin and the Chipmunks. The Chipmunk Adventure was directed by Janice Karman from a screenplay by Karman and Ross Bagdasarian Jr....
, where he met Glen Keane
Glen Keane
Glen Keane is an American animator, author, illustrator and director. Keane is best known for his character animation at Walt Disney Studios for feature films including The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, and Tangled...
, one of many artists, who had left Disney after The Black Cauldron
The Black Cauldron
The Black Cauldron can refer to:* The Black Cauldron , the second novel in The Chronicles of Prydain series* The Black Cauldron , the Disney animated film based on The Chronicles of Prydain book series...
s box office failure. Keane persuaded Lima to apply at Disney, where he got a job, despite the fact that he was turned down three years earlier. Lima worked at Disney as character animator on the film Oliver & Company
Oliver & Company
Oliver & Company is a 1988 American animated film in which a homeless kitten named Oliver joins a gang of dogs to survive on the 1980s New York City streets. The film was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and became the twenty-seventh animated feature released in the Walt Disney Animated...
, as a character designer on The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid (1989 film)
The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name. Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, the film was originally released to theaters on November 14, 1989 and is the twenty-eighth film in...
and Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast is a traditional fairy tale. The first published version of the fairy tale was a rendition by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, published in La jeune américaine, et les contes marins in 1740...
, and as a story editor for Aladdin. Wanting to direct, he left Disney for Hyperion Pictures
Hyperion Pictures
Hyperion Pictures is an American film production company founded by Thomas L. Wilhite, who had previously been the head of motion picture and television produced for and owned by Walt Disney Productions, and writer/director Willard Carroll...
, where he worked on TV series Itsy Bitsy Spider
Itsy Bitsy Spider (TV Series)
The Itsy Bitsy Spider was an animated series based on the short film of the same name. It was broadcast on the USA Network's USA Cartoon Express. The title character's voice was done by Frank Welker.-External links:* at TV.com**...
and films such as Bébé's Kids
Bebe's Kids
Bébé's Kids is a 1992 animated comedy film produced by the Reginald Hudlin and Hyperion Pictures, directed by Bruce W...
.
Lima finally got his opportunity to direct at Disney, where he directed two animated films, A Goofy Movie
A Goofy Movie
A Goofy Movie is a 1995 American animated musical comedy film, produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, Walt Disney Animation France S.A. and Walt Disney Animation Australia , and released in theaters on April 7, 1995 by Walt Disney Pictures...
, and Tarzan
Tarzan (1999 film)
Tarzan is a 1999 American animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures on June 18, 1999...
. Wanting to direct live-action films, Lima once again left Disney, but soon returned. Thanks to Glenn Close
Glenn Close
Glenn Close is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and...
, who voiced a character in Tarzan, Lima was offered to direct her on 102 Dalmatians
102 Dalmatians
102 Dalmatians is a 2000 live-action film, produced by Walt Disney Pictures and starring Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil. It is the sequel to 101 Dalmatians, a live-action remake of the 1961 Disney animated feature of the same name. In the film, Cruella de Vil attempts to steal puppies for her...
, which had just lost its director. After directing his first live action film, he went on to direct two TV films starring Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
, Eloise at the Plaza
Eloise at the Plaza
Eloise at the Plaza is a live-action film based on the Eloise series of children's books drawn and written by Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight...
and Eloise at Christmastime
Eloise at Christmastime
Eloise at Christmastime is a live-action film based on the 1958 book of the same name written by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight. The film was produced by Handmade Films and DiNovi Pictures for Walt Disney Television with distribution handled by the ABC Television Network. It was...
. Since 2000, Lima had wanted to make the film Enchanted, but he was repeatedly turned down because of the script being too dark, and that he was not "funny enough to do this film". Toned down script finally got green-lit, and in 2007 Enchanted was released to a great critical reception.
Since directing Enchanted, Lima has been set to direct several projects including a live-action feature adaptation of the classic tale of Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb is a character of English folklore. The History of Tom Thumb was published in 1621, and has the distinction of being the first fairy tale printed in English. Tom is no bigger than his father's thumb, and his adventures include being swallowed by a cow, tangling with giants, and becoming a...
entitled Thumb, a film based on the popular Candy Land
Candy Land
Candy Land is a simple racing board game. The game requires no reading and minimal counting skills, making it suitable for young children.-Gameplay:...
board game, a remake of the 1964 film The Incredible Mr. Limpet
The Incredible Mr. Limpet
The Incredible Mr. Limpet is a 1964 American live-action/animated film from Warner Bros. It is about a man named Henry Limpet who turns into a talking fish resembling a tilefish and helps the U.S. Navy locate and destroy Nazi submarines. Don Knotts plays the title character. The live action was...
, a comedy film starring Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Michael Jackman is an Australian actor and producer who is involved in film, musical theatre, and television.Jackman has won international recognition for his roles in major films, notably as action/superhero, period and romance characters...
titled Avon
Avon Products
Avon Products, Inc. is a US cosmetics, perfume and toy seller with markets in over 140 countries across the world and sales of $9.9 billion worldwide as of 2007.-Business Model:...
Man, and an untitled live-action/CG film for Sony Pictures Animation
Sony Pictures Animation
Sony Pictures Animation is an American computer-animated film production company owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, founded in May 2002. It is working closely with Sony Pictures Imageworks, which takes care of the digital production...
. In July 2011, DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. is an American animation studio based in Glendale, California that creates animated feature films, television program and online virtual worlds...
announced that Lima will direct Monkeys of Mumbai, a Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
-stlye animated musical adventure inspired by the Indian epic tale Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
, and told through the point of view of its monkeys.
Filmography (as director)
- A Goofy MovieA Goofy MovieA Goofy Movie is a 1995 American animated musical comedy film, produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, Walt Disney Animation France S.A. and Walt Disney Animation Australia , and released in theaters on April 7, 1995 by Walt Disney Pictures...
(1995) - TarzanTarzan (1999 film)Tarzan is a 1999 American animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures on June 18, 1999...
(1999) - 102 Dalmatians102 Dalmatians102 Dalmatians is a 2000 live-action film, produced by Walt Disney Pictures and starring Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil. It is the sequel to 101 Dalmatians, a live-action remake of the 1961 Disney animated feature of the same name. In the film, Cruella de Vil attempts to steal puppies for her...
(2000) - Eloise at the PlazaEloise at the PlazaEloise at the Plaza is a live-action film based on the Eloise series of children's books drawn and written by Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight...
(2003) - Eloise at ChristmastimeEloise at ChristmastimeEloise at Christmastime is a live-action film based on the 1958 book of the same name written by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight. The film was produced by Handmade Films and DiNovi Pictures for Walt Disney Television with distribution handled by the ABC Television Network. It was...
(2003) - Enchanted (2007)
- Monkeys of Mumbai (TBA)