Chris Sanders "Lilo & Stitch"

Chris Sanders came Center Stage with Mark Gordon to talk about his work on the film LILO & STITCH.

Born and raised in Colorado, Chris Sanders fell in love with animation at the age of ten after seeing Ward Kimball animated shorts on 'The Wonderful World of Disney'. He began drawing, and applied to CalArts after his grandmother told him about the animation program at the school. He majored in character animation, and graduated in 1984, moving on to work at Marvel Comics.

Sanders joined Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1987 as the first person hired into Feature Animations newly formed visual development department. His first project at Disney was The Rescuers Down Under, where he started as part of the visual development team before making the transition to the story department. He repeated that pattern on Beauty and the Beast, for which he storyboarded several sequences, including the Beasts death and magnificent resurrection. Following Beauty and the Beast, Sanders developed new concepts for Disney's Fantasia 2000, but was quickly drawn into The Lion King as the films production designer. For The Lion King, he worked on the design sensibilities for sequences that were a departure from the films main style, including the I Just Can't Wait to Be King song sequence and Mufasas ghost. For the 1998 Disney animated feature, Mulan, Sanders lent his talents as co-head of story and screenwriter. His work on that film earned him two Annie Awards in the storyboarding and screenwriting categories.

For the next step in Sanders distinguished animation career as an artist, designer and story supervisor, Sanders made his directorial debut on Lilo & Stitch. Starting with his own, original idea, Sanders guided Lilo & Stitch through all stages of its creative journey from story sketch to the screen in his role as screenwriter/director (along with Dean DeBlois). Demonstrating yet another facet of his talent, Sanders also provided the voice of the mischievous title alien, Stitch.

After 20 successful and inspired years at Disney Animation, Sanders recently moved to Dreamworks Animation where he is currently directing his next animated feature film. An avid outdoor adventurer, Sanders resides in Los Angeles where he enjoys spending time with his daughter. In addition to his directing responsibilities, Sanders also works as an artist, author and illustrator.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Lilo
• Stitch
• Disney
• Animation
• Hawaii

[IwantKonaCoffee]

lol so funny

Chris Sanders is amazing

best voice for Stitch!

Imagine him calling you in the middle of the night! MEEGA NALA KWEESTA!

XD

[matthewmtt]

This is great stuff for aspiring animators. thanks.

[BluebirdsCircle]

OMG! This guy, is like my god! Gosh, I like, admire the hell out of him. :D

[stitch4angel]

Lilo & Stitch. the best characters ever. Best movie. Thanks Chris Sanders.

[Vikibe98]

Miga nala kłista!!! Rozwaliło mnie! :D

[Vikibe98]

Kurde Chris gada jak Stich nie do poznania jego głosu! Ale ja też tak mam, mnie też było trudno rozpoznać!

[nmcowboy1983]

Every single time I see this movie, when Stitch asks if he has to go on the ship, my eyes well up. But in my vast talent for impersonation, my Daughter totally thinks I am stitch!

[ThePajama123]

3:55 ! :D

[electriccompany7]

WOW!! I can't believe how great that Stitch voice he did at the end was AWESOME!!!! I can alos do it EXACTLY LIKE THAT!!! And I had no idea Chris Sanders eventually got to play the voice of Stitch since no one else could. And I was out of my MIND when I heard he used that voice to anno some people!!!!!!

[ladyamerias]

<3 Stitch!!!

[1234Colt]

haha his stitch voice is amazing, love it. such a great movie full of style and nice designs.