Benjamin Gluck
American filmmaker
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Benjamin “Ben” Gluck is an American Head of Story and animation director known for his work on major animated features including 9 (Focus Features), Disney's Bambi 2, and the Peanuts holiday specials Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love and Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne for Apple TV+. He also directed Disney's Brother Bear 2 and Alpha and Omega (Lionsgate).
Ben Gluck | |
|---|---|
Gluck (left) with Frank Thomas | |
| Born | Benjamin Gluck |
| Other names | Ben Gluck |
| Alma mater | California Institute of the Arts |
| Occupations | Head of Story, Director, Storyboard Artist |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Known for | Peanuts, 9, Walt 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. They encouraged him to apply to California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).[1] After being accepted, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Character Animation from CalArts. His second-year student film Man's Best Friend was awarded the Walter Lantz Animation Prize[2] at the CalArts Producers Show, where he thanked Thomas and Johnston personally. The film later premiered on MTV's network[3] and screened theatrically as part of the Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation.
Career
Upon graduating from CalArts, Gluck joined Walt Disney Feature Animation, contributing to multiple theatrical films and later serving as Head of Story and Director on studio releases, including Bambi II, Piglet's Big Movie, and the Annie Award-winning Brother Bear II.[4][5][6][7]
After Disney, Gluck pursued opportunities to tell new kinds of stories in animation,[8] becoming Head of Story on the Tim Burton-produced 9 for Focus Features.[9]
In 2010, Gluck co-directed Alpha and Omega, by Lionsgate Family Entertainment, contributing to the launch of a family animation franchise.[10] During this period he also developed feature film projects with producers including George Lucas and Charles Roven.
Gluck later played a key role in revitalizing the Peanuts franchise, serving as senior story creative and Head of Story for Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne (2021), the first new Peanuts holiday special in eighteen years, and Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love. The latter was noted for breaking new ground with its inclusion of LGBTQ families[11][12] and was the first in the franchise to receive a Humanitas Prize nomination.[13] Both specials were produced for Apple TV+ and marked a new chapter in the expansion of Peanuts programming.[14]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Credits | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love | Head of Story | Children's and Family Emmy-Nominee. Humanitarian Award-Nominee. Kidscreen Award-Winner: Best Holiday Special. |
| 2021 | Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne | Head of Story | Annie Award-Nominee: Best Animated Special Production |
| 2016 | Madea's Tough Love | Story Editor | Dove "Family Approved Seal” Award-Recipient |
| 2013 | Kahlil Gibran's, The Prophet | Storyboard Artist | Visionary Award-Winner |
| 2010 | Alpha and Omega | Director | Annie Award-nominee: Best Animated Feature |
| 2010 | Yogi Bear | Storyboard Artist | |
| 2009 | 9 | Head of Story | VES Award-Nominee: Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture |
| 2006 | Brother Bear II | Director | Annie Award-Winner: Best Screenplay |
| 2006 | Bambi II | Head of Story | Annie Award-Winner: 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-Winner |
| 1998 | The Prince of Egypt | Storyboard Artist | |
| 1998 | Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation Man's Best Friend | ||
| 1996 | MTV's Cartoon Sushi Man's Best Friend |
Director / Creator | Walter Lantz Award-Winner |
Television
- Rugrats (TV) (2000)
- Clerks (TV) (2001)
- MTV's Cartoon Sushi's Man's Best Friend (1998)