| Ben Gluck | |
| Birth Name: | Benjamin Gluck |
| Birth Place: | St. Louis Missouri, U.S. |
| Alma Mater: | California Institute of the Arts |
| Occupation: | storyboard artist, screenwriter, director. |
| Years Active: | 1996–present |
| Known For: | Peanuts,Walt Disney Feature Animation |
Ben Gluck is an American storyboard artist, film director, and screenwriter. Gluck was a director and head of story at Disney Animation Studios.
Benjamin "Ben" Gluck was born in St. Louis, Missouri. As a teenager, he showed his art portfolio to Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston during their book tour for Bambi: The Story and the Film. Impressed by Gluck’s work, they encouraged him to apply to California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).[1] After being accepted, Gluck earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Character Animation from CalArts. Gluck's second year student film Man's Best Friend was awarded the Walter Lantz Animation Prize[2] at the CalArts Producers Show, where Gluck had the opportunity to thank Thomas and Johnson personally.
Following this recognition, Gluck's film premiered on MTV's network,[3] and was featured in Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation. After submitting his portfolio, Gluck received a rare offer from Walt Disney Feature Animation that included both funding for his education and a storyboard artist contract.
Upon graduating from CalArts, Gluck immediately obtained a job as a storyboard and visual development artist at Walt Disney Feature Animation. Gluck contributed to several theatrical films, including Dinosaur, The Emperor's New Groove, and Home on the Range. Before Disney, Gluck was part of DreamWorks Animation’s first summer story internship, working on The Prince of Egypt.
Gluck transitioned to Disney Television, after being invited to join the division from Walt Disney Feature Animation’s President. At Disney Television, Gluck served as the divisions first Head of Story for Bambi II and helped adapt A.A. Milne’s The House at Pooh Corner into Piglet's Big Movie both of which received theatrical releases.[4] Gluck also directed Brother Bear II,[5] animated at Disney’s Sydney studio. After a successful first storyboard screening, the studio moved the project into production. During a 12-month development and production schedule--being the fastest ever for a direct-to-video release--Disney closed the Sydney studio and informed its 250 employees.[6] The film was completed even with the studio’s shutdown.[7]
After Disney, Gluck pursued opportunities to explore different genres and advance animation storytelling.[8] He became Head of Story on the Tim Burton-produced 9 for Focus Features, where he shaped characters and oversaw the story animatic. Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four, contrasting it with the works of Hayao Miyazaki and saying that, the visuals are entrancing."[9] Gluck was also a segment storyboard artist on the acclaimed adaptation of Kahlil Gibran's, The Prophet.
Gluck served as Head of Story for the Peanuts holiday special , where he significantly influenced the plot and depicting Lucy’s character with greater introspection. Chuck Wilson from The Village Voice praised the special, saying, "Lucy is transformed from a character of nostalgia into a girl as self-reflective and searching as any young person watching the special might be. Her crisis of self is sure to resonate."[10]
Gluck also served as Head of Story for the award-winning . For this holiday special, Gluck played a key part in promoting the theme that all families deserve celebration, which contributed to the special’s nomination for a Humanitas Prize.[11] Both specials were produced for Apple TV +.
Gluck has emphasized the significance of diverse representation and content in family entertainment.[12] Throughout Gluck's career, his body of work has consistently demonstrated his commitment to exemplifying related themes.[13] [14] [15]
| Year | Title | Credits | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | head of story | Kidscreen Awards: Best Special Holiday Production and Humanitas Award nominee. | |
| 2021 | head of story | Annie Award nominee: Best Animated Special Production | |
| 2015 | Strange Magic (film) | story consultant | |
| 2014 | Kahlil Gibran's, The Prophet | storyboard artist | The Visionary Award |
| 2013 | Battle of the Planets | development | |
| 2010 | Yogi Bear | storyboard artist | |
| 2009 | 9 | head of story | VES Award Nominee: Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture |
| 2006 | Brother Bear II | director | Annie Award: Best Screenplay |
| 2006 | Bambi II | head of story /voice actor: Baby Possum | Annie Award: Best Home Entertainment Production |
| 2004 | Home on the Range | storyboard artist | |
| 2003 | Piglet's Big Movie | storyboard artist / story by | |
| 2001 | The Emperor's New Groove | story | |
| 2000 | Dinosaur | story | |
| 2000 | Clerks (TV) Season 1/Episode 2: Wherein Dante and Randle are Locked in the Freezer | storyboard artist | |
| 2000 | Rugrats (TV) Season 8/Episode 3: Don't Poop On My Parade | storyboard artist | Daytime Emmy Award |
| 1998 | The Prince of Egypt | story trainee | |
| 1998 | Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation Man’s Best Friend | creator / voice actor: serpent | |
| 1996 | MTV's Cartoon Sushi Man's Best Friend | creator | Walter and Gracie Lantz Award /Best Animated Short: NY Independent Film Festival |