# Benjamin Gluck

Ben Gluck is an American storyboard artist, film director, and screenwriter. Gluck was a director and head of story at Disney Animation Studios.

## Early life

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). 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 at the CalArts Producers Show, where Gluck had the opportunity to thank Thomas and Johnson personally. His film premiered on MTV's network, and played the theatre circuit at Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation.

## Career

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 story internship, working on The Prince of Egypt.
Gluck transitioned to Disney Television where he was 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. Gluck also directed the Annie Award-winning film Brother Bear II.
After Disney, Gluck pursued opportunities to advance the animation art form. 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." Gluck was also a segment storyboard artist on the acclaimed adaptation of Kahlil Gibran's, The Prophet’'.
He was one of two directors on the CGI animated feature film, Alpha and Omega. Despite a limited $10 million production budget, Alpha and Omega was a commercial success, earning over $50 million worldwide, selling 1.1 million DVDs, and inspiring a video game. The film launched a franchise and gained a cult following, becoming Lionsgate Family Entertainment’s highest-grossing original animated series and leading to seven sequels.
Recently, Gluck served as Head of Story for the Peanuts holiday special Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne, 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."
He also served as Head of Story for the award-winning Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love. For this holiday special, Gluck’s contribution played a key role in highlighting the theme that all families deserve recognition, earning the special a Humanitas Prize nomination and the Kidscreen Award for Best Animated Holiday Special. Both specials were produced for Apple TV +.

## Themes

Gluck has emphasized the significance of representation in animation. His body of work has demonstrated his commitment to related themes.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Credits | Awards |
| 2022 | Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love | writer/ head of story | Kidscreen Awards: Best Special Holiday Production and Humanitas Award nominee. |
| 2021 | Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne | writer/ head of story | Annie Award nominee: Best Animated Special Production |
| 2015 | Strange Magic (film) | consultant | |
| 2014 | Kahlil Gibran's, The Prophet | storyboard artist | The Visionary Award |
| 2013 | Battle of the Planets | development | |
| 2010 | Alpha and Omega | director | Annie Award nominee: Best Animated Feature |
| 2010 | Yogi Bear | storyboard artist | |
| 2009 | 9 | writer/ head of story | VES Award Nominee: Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture |
| 2006 | Brother Bear II | writer/ director | Annie Award: Best Screenplay |
| 2006 | Bambi II | writer/ head of story | Annie Award: Best Home Entertainment Production |
| 2004 | Home on the Range | storyboard artist | |
| 2003 | Piglet's Big Movie | storyboard artist | |
| 2001 | The Emperor's New Groove | storyboard artist | |
| 2000 | Dinosaur | storyboard artist | |
| 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 | | |
| 1996 | MTV's Cartoon Sushi Man's Best Friend | writer/ creator | Walter and Gracie Lantz Award /Best Animated Short: NY Independent Film Festival |

## Television

* Rugrats (TV) (2000)
* Clerks (TV) (2001)
* MTV's Cartoon Sushi’s Man's Best Friend (1998)