Jerry Rees

Jerry W. Rees (born November 15, 1956) is an American film director and animator, best known for the Emmy-nominated animated film The Brave Little Toaster (1987)[1] and creating many of the visual effects for the cult classic Tron (1982).

Jerry Rees
Born
Jerry W. Rees

(1956-11-15) November 15, 1956
Alma materCalifornia Institute of the Arts
OccupationFilm director, screenwriter, animator, film producer
Years active1978-present
Websitewww.jerryrees.com

Early life

Rees was mentored as an animator from the age of 16 at Disney Studios, by one of Walt Disney's Nine Old Men, and was trained and taught at California Institute of the Arts, along with classmates John Lasseter, Brad Bird, John Musker, Tim Burton and Doug Lefler.[2]

Career

In 1978, Rees worked as an animator for the Christmas children's film The Small One. He also worked on the Disney film The Fox and the Hound (1981), and the following year served as one of the visual effects supervisors for the cutting-edge science fiction film Tron.

In 1987, Rees and science fiction writer Thomas M. Disch collaborated on adapting Disch's short story The Brave Little Toaster into an animated film. The resulting film was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and nominated for Best Animated Program at the 1988 Emmy Awards. He also teamed up with fellow CalArts alum Tim Burton to co-write and co-direct the cult classic featurettes Doctor of Doom and Luau.

Rees directed the Neil Simon-penned The Marrying Man (1991)[3] and served as an animation producer on the film Space Jam (1996). He directed the award-winning Back to Neverland documentary starring Robin Williams and Walter Cronkite, shown as part of the animation studio tours at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. He also directed the educational films Tourist from Hell and The Editing Story, which screened as part of the backstage tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

In 1993, Rees wrote and produced (with Steven Paul Leiva) a new Betty Boop feature film for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Seventy-five percent of the film was storyboarded, but two weeks before voice recording was to begin, MGM switched studio chiefs and the project, tentatively called The Betty Boop Feature Script, was abandoned.

In addition to his film credits, Rees helped produce and direct a record-setting 13 multimedia features at the various Disney theme parks, including Sounds Dangerous at Disney-MGM Studios, the live-action sequences of Cranium Command at EPCOT, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! at Disney-MGM Studios, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney-MGM Studios and Walt Disney Studios Paris, Extra-Terrorestrial Alien Encounter at Magic Kingdom, Michael & Mickey at Disney-MGM Studios, and the new Cinemagique show at Walt Disney Studios Paris. Rees also directed the pre-ride film at Disney's Animal Kingdom ride Dinosaur.

For some time, Rees was attached as director to a project called Rand Robinson, Robot Repairman, financed by Interscope and Philips. The film was set in a futuristic Los Angeles, and Philips expected to use the film to showcase their emerging technology. Rees storyboarded various scenes in the film,[4] but eventually several key players left the project and it was shelved.

In 2010, Rees and voice actress/writer Deanna Oliver made an appearance at California State University, Northridge to discuss the making of their film The Brave Little Toaster.[5]

Currently, Rees is a full-time creative consultant at the San Francisco film studio Wild Brain, where he is developing CGI Features. Rees is also attached to direct a Casey Silver Productions CGI feature.

Filmography

Feature films

Year Title Director Writer Animation

department

Notes
1980 Animalympics Yes character animator
1981 The Fox and the Hound Yes character animator
1982 Tron Yes production storyboards / computer image choreography
1985 The Black Cauldron Yes character animator
1987 The Brave Little ToasterYesYesYes voice role: Radio / storyboard artist
1991 The Marrying ManYes
1991 Michael & MickeyYes
1996 Space Jam Yes animation producer
2003 Little Alvin and the Mini-MunksYes direct-to-video / voice roles: Sam / Lou / special effects animator
2013 Susie's HopeYesYes direct-to-video

Short films

Year Title Director Writer Animation

department

Notes
1978 The Small One Yes character animator
1979 Doctor of DoomYes voice role: Bob Garcia / editor / cinematographer
1982 LuauYesYes producer
1983 Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore Yes character animator
1983 Mickey's Christmas Carol Yes character animator
1989 Back to NeverlandYesYes
1989 Cranium CommandYes attraction
1994 ExtraTERRORestrial Alien EncounterYes attraction
1998 DinosaurYes
1999 Sounds DangerousYes attraction
1999 Rock' Roller Coaster Starring AerosmithYes attraction
2001 Disney's California Adventure TV SpecialYes
2002 CinéMagiqueYes
2005 Disneyland: The first 50 Magical YearsYes documentary
2014 The Marvel ExperienceYes media director

Television

Year Title Credited as Notes
1984 Heathcliff & the Catillac Cats storyboard artist 65 episodes
1989 Alvin and the Chipmunks writer episode "Cookie Chomper III"

References

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