Was drawing pictures of Woody Woodpecker by age four (with the help of his older brother)

Began making his own "flip books" to approximate animation

Moved with family from Levittown PA to Cherry Hill NJ at age six

Made Super-8 home movies

Was drawing and photographing (a frame at a time) his own animated films by age 13

While a college student, entered and won the grand prize in Kodak's Teenage Movie Awards with a short entitled "For Sale"

Came to the attention of British producer-director-animator Richard Williams while still a student; offered work on the feature "Raggedy Ann and Andy"

Began a four-year association with Williams

First professional assignment, served as an assistant animator (to Tissa David) on the character of Raggedy Ann in "Raggedy Ann and Andy"

Moved to London

Directed, designed and animated commercials for Williams while working alongside such veteran animation figures as Art Babbit (of 1940s Disney fame) and Ken Harris (from Warner Brothers)

Worked briefly as an independent animator

Reteamed with Williams to serve as director of animation on the Emmy Award-winning ABC cartoon special, "Ziggy's Gift"

Worked for noted commercial animation director Oscar Grillo for six months in London

Teamed up with Mario Cavalli and Pam Dennis to open his own commercial studio, Pizazz Pictures; created hundreds of animated commercials--including some prize winners--for European and American products (date approximate)

Invited by Disney to work on their animated feature "Aladdin"

Moved to California with his family

Became the first animator assigned to work on "Aladdin"

Designed the Genie character and helped establish the film's style

First Disney feature credits, supervising animator (Genie) and character designs for "Aladdin"

Feature directorial debut, co-directed (with Mike Gabriel) Disney's "Pocahontas"