# Steve Hickner

Steve Hickner is an American animator and director at DreamWorks Animation. He is best known for directing DreamWorks animated films such as The Prince of Egypt and Bee Movie. He won the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Feature and was also nominated for the Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature for his work on The Prince of Egypt.

## Early life

Hickner was inspired to work in animation by his high school English teacher, who suggested he should find a career in the animation industry. This suggestion encouraged him to create an animated film after school. Hickner described this film as “terrible,” because he lacked knowledge of how to properly animate. At first he desired to become a cartoonist, but later he decided to become an animator. Hickner cited some of his biggest influences as Walt Disney and the Warner Brothers. After High School he went to the New York University Film school where he studied Film Production B.F.A.

## Career

While in school, Hickner contacted, and was hired by a man named Kay Wright. He spent over thirty-five years working at DreamWorks, Disney, Amblimation, Aardman, Hanna-Barbera and Filmation. He has produced the films, An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story and Balto. His directing credits include Bee Movie and The Prince of Egypt. Hickner also contributed to Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Little Mermaid, The Great Mouse Detective, Madagascar, Shrek Forever After, Mr. Peabody & Sherman and Home. He has contributed to location-based entertainment projects in Singapore, Dubai, China, London, and Hollywood. Hickner has been a guest speaker at many colleges and universities, film festivals and animation events. He has also authored two books: Animation Rules! 52 Ways to Achieve Creative Success and Animating Your Career.

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1981 | The New Adventures of Zorro | storyboard artist |
| 1981 | Blackstar | storyboard artist |
| 1982 | Pac-Man | story director |
| 1983 | The Dukes | story director |
| 1983-1985 | He-Man and the Masters of the Universe | storyboard artist |
| 2010 | Kung Fu Panda Holiday | story artist |

### Film

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1985 | The Black Cauldron | in between artist |
| 1986 | The Great Mouse Detective | key assistant animator |
| 1988 | Who Framed Roger Rabbit | production coordinator: animation |
| 1989 | The Little Mermaid | assistant production manager: clean-up |
| 1991 | An American Tail: Fievel Goes West | associate producer |
| 1993 | We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story | producer |
| 1995 | Balto | producer |
| 1998 | Antz | additional story artist |
| 1998 | The Prince of Egypt | director |
| 2000 | The Road to El Dorado | additional storyboard artist |
| 2000 | Joseph: King of Dreams | executive producer |
| 2004 | Shark Tale | story artist |
| 2005 | Madagascar | additional story artist |
| 2006 | Over the Hedge | additional story artist |
| 2007 | Bee Movie | director |
| 2008 | Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five | storyboard artist |
| 2010 | Shrek Forever After | additional story artist |
| 2010 | Donkey's Caroling Christmas-tacular | story artist |
| 2011 | Night of the Living Carrots | storyboard artist |
| 2011 | Book of Dragons | director/writer |
| 2014 | Mr. Peabody & Sherman | storyboard artist |
| 2015 | Home | additional story artist |

### Internet

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2016 | Cartoons VS Cancer | Himself |