Steve Hickner is an American animator and director at DreamWorks Animation.[1] He is best known for directing DreamWorks animated films such as The Prince of Egypt and Bee Movie.[2][3] 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.[4] After High School he went to the New York University Film school where he studied Film Production B.F.A.[4]

Career

While in school, Hickner contacted, and was hired by a man named Kay Wright.[4] 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.[5] 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. [5]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Notes
1981 The New Adventures of Zorro storyboard artist
Blackstar
1982 Pac-Man story director
1983 The Dukes
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
1998 Antz additional story artist
The Prince of Egypt director
2000 The Road to El Dorado additional storyboard artist
Joseph: King of Dreams executive producer
2004 Shark Tale story artist
2005 Madagascar additional story artist
2006 Over the Hedge
2007 Bee Movie director
2008 Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five storyboard artist
2010 Shrek Forever After additional story artist
Donkey's Caroling Christmas-tacular story artist
2011 Night of the Living Carrots storyboard artist
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

References

  1. ^ "About Steve". Animating Your Career. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  2. ^ McCarthy, Todd (October 28, 2007). "Review: 'Bee Movie'". Variety. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  3. ^ "Bee-Movie - Cast, Crew, Director and Awards - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-24. Retrieved 2013-07-02.
  4. ^ a b c "The Animated Life of Steve Hickner and Careers in Cartooning". www.collegexpress.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  5. ^ a b "Steve Hickner Bio". stevehickner. Retrieved 2020-02-17.

External links