Was creating his own cartoon "flip books" by fourth grade

Considered becoming an architect during junior high school

Met a representative from CalArts during his sophomore year of high school

Assembled a portfolio of his drawings and paintings; accepted by CalArts after high school

Left CalArts after attending for three years

Hired by Carter/Mendez Productions; worked for one year animating, designing and storyboarding various TV projects

First TV credit, animator on "Stanley, The Ugly Duckling", a presentation of the "ABC Weekend Specials"

Worked for Grand American Fare, doing illustrations and paste-ups for restaurant menus, special event flyers and T-shirts

Hired by Disney in May

First Disney credits, effects assistant (or "in-between effects artist") on the animated feature "The Black Cauldron" and worked as an ("assistant and clean-up") effects animator on the live-action teen film "My Science Project"

Gained attention at the Disney Studio with a series of "bad attitude" gag cartoons

Transferred to the story development team for the feature animation division of Disney

Credited as a storyboard artist for the breakthrough Disney animated feature "The Little Mermaid"

First directing collaboration with Kirk Wise on "Cranium Command", the four-minute animated pre-show for the "Wonders of Life" exhibit at Disney's Epcot Center

Feature directing debut (with Wise) on the acclaimed Disney animated feature "Beauty and the Beast"

Credited for pre-production story development (Computer Generated Imagery) for the popular Disney animated feature "Aladdin"

Was collaborating with Wise in preproduction on "A Song of the Sea", a proposed Disney animated feature about humpbacked whales, when the opportunity came to switch projects; began preproduction on "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (date approximate)

Worked as a storyboarder on the blockbuster Disney animated feature "The Lion King"

Reteamed with directing partner Wise for "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", Disney's 34th full-length animated feature

Entered a long-term exclusive commitment to Walt Disney Feature Animation, reteaming him with Wise on several more projects

With Wise, co-directed the animated feature "Atlantis: The Lost Empire"