Gary Goldman(I)
- Producer
- Animation Department
- Director
When Gary Goldman met Don Bluth at Walt Disney
Studios in 1972, they formed an instant friendship, soon realizing that
they both shared the desire of restoring the heritage of classical
animation to today's animated films, their friendship eventually turned
into a creative partnership that has lasted over 30 years.
Born in Oakland and raised in Watsonville, California, as a youth,
Goldman studied piano and enjoyed model-making and drawing. Before
devoting himself entirely to the arts, he served as an electronics
technician in the United States Air Force (1962-1967). He received his
Associate of Arts Degree (1969) from Cabrillo College near Santa Cruz,
California, and in December, 1971, he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine
Arts degree in Life Drawing and Art History from the University of
Hawaii.
In early 1972, he began his career in animation when he joined Walt
Disney Productions. His first assignment was as an "in-betweener" to
legendary Disney animator Frank Thomas on the film
Robin Hood (1973). He then worked
alongside Don Bluth, as an animator, on
Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974)
and The Rescuers (1977) before
serving as directing animator on
Pete's Dragon (1977) and
The Small One (1978).
In an effort to accelerate their skills in preparation for leadership
assignments within the Disney organization, Goldman and Bluth began to
probe every aspect of animated production. United by the same goal of
restoring the lost techniques of classical animation, Goldman and
Bluth, with animator John Pomeroy, produced (in Bluth's garage) the
classically animated television special
Banjo the Woodpile Cat (1979).
It took four years, working nights and weekends. It won the National
Film Advisory Board Award for excellence and the Golden Scroll Award
from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. Using
what they learned on their "GARAGE" project, they implemented their
techniques on projects at Disney. Divided by disagreements over story
and production values, Goldman, along with Bluth and Pomeroy, resigned
from Walt Disney Productions to establish their independent animation
studio, Don Bluth Productions, Inc. (1979).
Since leaving Disney, the team produced several feature films, starting
with
The Secret of NIMH (1982),
which won the Saturn Award for 'Best Animated Feature' from the Science
Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Film Academy. Their follow-up effort,
An American Tail (1986), ushered
in a new era of success for the full-length animated feature, becoming
the highest-grossing animated film of its time. The film's theme song
'Somewhere Out There', also received two Grammy Awards and an Oscar
nomination for 'Best Original Song'.
Goldman was producer on the animated laser disc interactive video
games,
Dragon's Lair (1983),
Space Ace (1983) and
Dragon's Lair II: Timewarp (1991).
"Dragon's Lair" received the Inkpot Award for the 'First Interactive
Laser Disc Arcade Game' and an Arkie Award for the 'Best Arcade
Audio/Visuals'. Dragon's Lair has experienced an incredible tenure as a
popular interactive game on 16 different platforms for home
entertainment. It remained in the top 10 sales through 1999. The title
is in final stages of production (September 2002) as a 3D game for PC,
MAC, Sony Playstation 2, Nintendo's Game Cube and Microsoft's Xbox.
In 1986, Goldman and Bluth moved their entire operation, including 87
employees and their families to Dublin, Ireland, at the invitation of
the Irish Government. Their third feature film
The Land Before Time (1988),
was their first production created entirely in Ireland. Released by
Universal Pictures during the 1988 Thanksgiving holiday, it achieved a
record-breaking opening weekend gross for an animated film.
In August 1994, Goldman returned from Ireland to head up the Fox
Animation Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona where he shared the
creative leadership with Don Bluth. The first production completed by
the studio was the award winning, family favorite
Anastasia (1997). Also produced at the
Phoenix studio was, the direct-to-video animated musical,
Bartok the Magnificent (1999),
and the animated science fiction film,
Titan A.E. (2000).
In 1999, Goldman, with Don Bluth, John Pomeroy, Rick Dyer and David
Foster formed a new company, Dragon's Lair LLC. The company was formed
to develop new 3D games, starting with a revamp of the hit 1983 game
Dragon's Lair. Goldman and Bluth have reestablished their independence
with their production company, Don Bluth Films, Inc., based in Phoenix,
Arizona. They are in pre-production on "Dragon's Lair" as a feature
film. They have developed several feature film concepts and short
stories for a direct-to-video library. The company has established a
web site, www.donbluth.com, where they will communicate with their
audience on a personal level, and will provide animation information
on-line. Gary Goldman has been a member of the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences since 1976.
Studios in 1972, they formed an instant friendship, soon realizing that
they both shared the desire of restoring the heritage of classical
animation to today's animated films, their friendship eventually turned
into a creative partnership that has lasted over 30 years.
Born in Oakland and raised in Watsonville, California, as a youth,
Goldman studied piano and enjoyed model-making and drawing. Before
devoting himself entirely to the arts, he served as an electronics
technician in the United States Air Force (1962-1967). He received his
Associate of Arts Degree (1969) from Cabrillo College near Santa Cruz,
California, and in December, 1971, he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine
Arts degree in Life Drawing and Art History from the University of
Hawaii.
In early 1972, he began his career in animation when he joined Walt
Disney Productions. His first assignment was as an "in-betweener" to
legendary Disney animator Frank Thomas on the film
Robin Hood (1973). He then worked
alongside Don Bluth, as an animator, on
Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974)
and The Rescuers (1977) before
serving as directing animator on
Pete's Dragon (1977) and
The Small One (1978).
In an effort to accelerate their skills in preparation for leadership
assignments within the Disney organization, Goldman and Bluth began to
probe every aspect of animated production. United by the same goal of
restoring the lost techniques of classical animation, Goldman and
Bluth, with animator John Pomeroy, produced (in Bluth's garage) the
classically animated television special
Banjo the Woodpile Cat (1979).
It took four years, working nights and weekends. It won the National
Film Advisory Board Award for excellence and the Golden Scroll Award
from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. Using
what they learned on their "GARAGE" project, they implemented their
techniques on projects at Disney. Divided by disagreements over story
and production values, Goldman, along with Bluth and Pomeroy, resigned
from Walt Disney Productions to establish their independent animation
studio, Don Bluth Productions, Inc. (1979).
Since leaving Disney, the team produced several feature films, starting
with
The Secret of NIMH (1982),
which won the Saturn Award for 'Best Animated Feature' from the Science
Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Film Academy. Their follow-up effort,
An American Tail (1986), ushered
in a new era of success for the full-length animated feature, becoming
the highest-grossing animated film of its time. The film's theme song
'Somewhere Out There', also received two Grammy Awards and an Oscar
nomination for 'Best Original Song'.
Goldman was producer on the animated laser disc interactive video
games,
Dragon's Lair (1983),
Space Ace (1983) and
Dragon's Lair II: Timewarp (1991).
"Dragon's Lair" received the Inkpot Award for the 'First Interactive
Laser Disc Arcade Game' and an Arkie Award for the 'Best Arcade
Audio/Visuals'. Dragon's Lair has experienced an incredible tenure as a
popular interactive game on 16 different platforms for home
entertainment. It remained in the top 10 sales through 1999. The title
is in final stages of production (September 2002) as a 3D game for PC,
MAC, Sony Playstation 2, Nintendo's Game Cube and Microsoft's Xbox.
In 1986, Goldman and Bluth moved their entire operation, including 87
employees and their families to Dublin, Ireland, at the invitation of
the Irish Government. Their third feature film
The Land Before Time (1988),
was their first production created entirely in Ireland. Released by
Universal Pictures during the 1988 Thanksgiving holiday, it achieved a
record-breaking opening weekend gross for an animated film.
In August 1994, Goldman returned from Ireland to head up the Fox
Animation Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona where he shared the
creative leadership with Don Bluth. The first production completed by
the studio was the award winning, family favorite
Anastasia (1997). Also produced at the
Phoenix studio was, the direct-to-video animated musical,
Bartok the Magnificent (1999),
and the animated science fiction film,
Titan A.E. (2000).
In 1999, Goldman, with Don Bluth, John Pomeroy, Rick Dyer and David
Foster formed a new company, Dragon's Lair LLC. The company was formed
to develop new 3D games, starting with a revamp of the hit 1983 game
Dragon's Lair. Goldman and Bluth have reestablished their independence
with their production company, Don Bluth Films, Inc., based in Phoenix,
Arizona. They are in pre-production on "Dragon's Lair" as a feature
film. They have developed several feature film concepts and short
stories for a direct-to-video library. The company has established a
web site, www.donbluth.com, where they will communicate with their
audience on a personal level, and will provide animation information
on-line. Gary Goldman has been a member of the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences since 1976.