Grew up in and around the San Francisco Bay Area, principally in Palo Alto, CA

Earned first paycheck for drawing at age seven when his mother submitted his sketch of a garbage truck and garbage man to the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE's "Junior Art Champion" Contest [see Notes]

In fifth grade, took a community center course in animation; made his first super-8 films using cut-outs and clay figures

Made films throughout junior high school and high school

First Disney feature credit, served as assistant animator on "The Great Mouse Detective"

Contributed animation and storyboarding to the cartoon feature "The Brave Little Toaster"; credited as animation director (developmental)

Contributed animation and storyboarding to "Family Dog", a fully animated installment of the fantasy anthology series "Amazing Stories"

Received first story credit on a Disney feature, "Oliver & Company" (also animation assistant)

Worked as a storyman on various Disney projects

First directing collaboration with Gary Trousdale on "Cranium Command", the four-minute animated pre-show for the "Wonders of Life" exhibit at the Epcot center at Disneyworld; also provided the voice of the "Hypothalmus"

Made feature directing debut (with Trousdale) on the acclaimed animated feature, "Beauty and the Beast"

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

Feature producing debut, executive produced the live-action Disney remake "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey"; also supervised the writing and recording of the animals' dialogue; paricipated in the casting of the voice talents

Provided additional story material to the blockbuster animated feature "The Lion King"

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

Entered into a long-term exclusive commitment to Walt Disney Feature Animation that will reteam him with Trousdale on several projects

With Trousdale, served as co-director of the Disney animated feature "Atlantis: The Lost Empire"