Don Bluth
Don Bluth
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Don Roy Bluth is a renowned American animator, film director, producer, screenwriter, and entrepreneur.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on September 13, 1937, in El Paso, Texas. Still active in the industry today.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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American animator, director, producer, writer, and entrepreneur.
Early Life and Background
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Don Bluth was born to Roy Bluth, a U.S. Army officer, and his wife, Lillian. His family relocated frequently due to his father's military service, eventually settling in San Antonio, Texas. Growing up, Don developed an interest in art and animation, encouraged by his mother, who taught him to draw.
As a teenager, Bluth attended the University of Texas at Austin on a scholarship, where he became involved with local theater groups and began developing his artistic skills further. He dropped out of college after two years to pursue a career in animation.
Bluth's early professional experience includes working as an animator for various studios, including Disney, Mr. Magoo Productions, and Hanna-Barbera Productions. In the 1970s, he became a key figure at Disney, contributing to films such as Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974) and The Rescuers Down Under (1990). However, creative differences led him to leave Disney in 1979.
Major Accomplishments
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Don Bluth's independent production company, Don Bluth Productions, produced several critically acclaimed animated films, including:
The Secret of NIMH (1982) - a critically acclaimed adaptation of Robert C. O'Brien's novel "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH"
An American Tail (1986)
The Land Before Time (1988)
All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)
These films showcased Bluth's commitment to traditional animation techniques, detailed settings, and engaging storylines. His work has been recognized with numerous awards, including two Academy Award nominations.
Notable Works or Actions
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Throughout his career, Don Bluth has also been involved in various other projects:
Dragon's Lair (1983) - an interactive LaserDisc-based game developed by Cinematronics and Don Bluth Productions
Space Ace (1984) - another interactive title developed with the same collaboration
The Pebble and the Penguin (1995) - a film produced in association with 20th Century FoxImpact and Legacy
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Don Bluth's contributions to animation have left an indelible mark on the industry. His dedication to traditional techniques, combined with innovative storytelling, has influenced generations of animators and filmmakers.
Bluth's commitment to preserving traditional animation methods, despite the shift towards computer-generated imagery (CGI), has earned him a reputation as a pioneer in his field. He continues to be active in the industry today, working on various projects that showcase his unwavering dedication to animation.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Don Bluth is widely quoted and remembered for several reasons:
His innovative approach to storytelling and character development
His unwavering commitment to traditional animation techniques, which has inspired a new generation of animators
His involvement in landmark films that have become classics, such as The Secret of NIMH and An American Tail
As an influential figure in the world of animation, Don Bluth's legacy continues to inspire artists and filmmakers worldwide.
Quotes by Don Bluth
Reese Witherspoon. She’s sophisticated enough that you just like her. You like her and she’s smart.
If the machines can take the drudgery out of it and just leave us with the joy of drawing, then that’s the best of both worlds – and I’ll use those computers!
I’m also very pleased that we were able to include a full orchestrated score for Dragon’s Lair 3D. The 40 different music pieces blend with the action to make you feel more a part of the whole adventure.
How can you have a director that doesn’t go to work with the crew every day and talk to them?
There’s about 260 rooms in the new castle which you go through, but it’s all about the game play.
As you follow the escapades or the journey of the hero through a story, it evokes some kind of emotion in the viewers. The director’s job is to make sure that the audience goes through the journey and has an emotional reaction.
I remember when we were doing the first Dragon’s Lair, I got really involved with coming up with all the little rooms and what was the danger in the room and going into it with bats and spiders and snakes.
I think the work that they do and the style of 3D graphics is absolutely fabulous and I think it’s a great brush to use for some stories. And there are other brushes that I think are exclusive to a different kind of story.
We’d love to do Space Ace 3D. It has a lot of potential. But, it is really up to the publishers.
I prefer that animation reach into places where live action doesn’t go, and it seems like all of animation nowadays is trying to go where live action is.