Mike Gabriel
Bio
Mike Gabriel fulfilled his childhood dream and has worked at Walt Disney Animation Studios for thirty years. He’s been an Animator, Story and Story Sketch Artist, Character Designer, and Director.
After several attempts and failures, Mike was hired at the age of 24. He had the great good fortune to be mentored by the legendary Eric Larson. At the time, Mike was part of the pack of newly minted CalArts grads who were responsible for the second great, Golden Age of Animation. Some of his CalArts cohorts were John Lasseter, Tim Burton, John Musker, Darrell Van Citers, Chris Buck, Mike Giaimo, and Joe Ranft. Mike is currently happy to be part of a third Renaissance, thanks to the return to Disney of Lasseter and the great leadership of Ed Catmull.
Mike co-directed “The Rescuers Down Under” with Hendel Butoy, “Pocahontas” with Eric Goldberg, and he directed and story boarded the 2005 Oscar-nominated animated short, “Lorenzo”, as well as serving as the Stylist and Art Director. Mike is currently working as Visual Development Artist and Story Artist, while also fulfilling some Art Director duties with Ian Gooding, Art Director on “The Princess and the Frog”. He also designed the new Walt Disney Pictures logo that debuted with the opening of “Pirates of the Carribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”.
Credits
- Bolt (2008), Story Artist
- Lorenzo (2004), Director, Story Board Artist, Art Director
- Home on The Range (2004), Visual Development Artist
- Pocahontas (1995), Co-Director
- The Rescuers Down Under (1990), Co-Director
- Oliver & Company (1988), Character Designer and Supervising Animator
- The Great Mouse Detective (1986), Character Animator
- The Black Cauldron (1985), Animator