The highly anticipated sequel to the animated movie hit "Madagascar" is being directed by Kansas City native and Hollywood director Eric Darnell.
Darnell is taking time from "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" to help area school children understand animation during a "Behind the Scenes" look called "Animation 101." Darnell will talk with 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at John Luff Elementary School Tuesday, October 21 from 9:45-10:45 am.
About Eric Darnell:
Darnell is a Kansas City native and is a Director with Paramount Pictures. Darnell joined the Character Animation team at PDI (Pacific Data Images, affiliated with Dreamworks Animation) way back in 1991. PDI is one of the leading proponents of computer animation and even helped to define the industry itself. Darnell had some fun at PDI with his animated short, Gas Planet (1992), which featured alien animals eating alien foods, and then, well, passing a lot of gas. The short film garnered recognition internationally and won the Special Jury Prize at the 1993 Ottawa Animation Festival.
Darnell started off studying Broadcast Journalism at the University of Colorado but then went on to receive his MFA in Experimental Animation from CalArts. His "experimentation" became evident in the animated feature film, Antz (1998), which Darnell co-directed. The quirky, awkward animated bugs from Antz were wildly popular, and Darnell was nominated for an Annie award (think Oscars for Animation) for Outstanding Direction for the film.
Other credits include television commercials and a segment of the IMAX feature, Cyberworld (2000). Madagascar (2005) is Darnell's second time utilizing the voice talents of a star-studded cast.
Filmography:
Madagascar (2005)
Antz (1998)
"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" opens up in theatres Friday, November 7.