Byron Howard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Byron Howard
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Howard at the 2015 Annecy International Animated Film Festival
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| Born | December 26, 1968 Misawa, Aomori, Japan
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Evergreen State College |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
| Employer | Walt Disney Animation Studios (1994–present) |
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Notable work
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Bolt Tangled Zootopia Encanto |
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Byron P. Howard (born December 26, 1968) is an American artist who creates animated films. He works as an animator, character designer, story artist, film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is famous for directing movies for Walt Disney Animation Studios. These include Bolt (2008), Tangled (2010), Zootopia (2016), and Encanto (2021). He is also working on Zootopia 2, which is expected in 2025. Byron Howard is the first openly gay director to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature twice. He won for his work on Zootopia and Encanto.
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Early Life and School
Byron Howard was born in Misawa, Japan. He grew up in the United States, near Philadelphia and in Issaquah, Washington. He came from a middle-class family. For his college education, he went to Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.
Career at Disney
Byron Howard started his journey at Disney as a tour guide at Disney MGM Studios. He had always dreamed of working for Disney. As a child, he even wrote to Frank Thomas, one of Disney's original famous animators.
Howard joined the Disney Studio Internship program. He was hired in 1994 as an animator. He worked on many popular films. These included Pocahontas, Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, and Brother Bear. He was recognized for his animation work on Brother Bear.
Directing Animated Films
Byron Howard directed his first animated Disney film, Bolt. This movie was nominated for an Oscar in 2008. He co-directed Bolt with Chris Williams. Howard focused on creating the characters and their movements for the film.
After Bolt, Howard directed Tangled (2010) with Nathan Greno. He also directed Zootopia (2016) with Rich Moore. Howard and Greno also made a short film called Tangled Ever After. This short film featured characters from Tangled. It played in theaters before the 2012 re-release of Beauty and the Beast.
Later Projects and Recognition
After Zootopia, Byron Howard spoke at the 2016 View Conference. He shared how Zootopia was made. He also taught a workshop on designing Disney characters.
Later, Howard worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda on the film Encanto. Howard co-directed Encanto with Jared Bush and Charise Castro Smith. Miranda wrote the songs for the movie. Encanto is about a girl from a magical family in Colombia who does not have magic herself.
On September 20, 2024, it was announced that Howard would co-direct Zootopia 2. He is working on this film with Jared Bush. In 2009, Howard became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. This group gives out the Oscars.
Personal Life
Byron Howard is openly gay and has been married since 1988.
Filmography
Feature Films
| Year | Film | Credited as | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Story | Executive Producer |
Animator | Visual Development Artist |
Other | Voice Role | Notes | ||
| 1995 | Pocahontas | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | In-between-er | |
| 1998 | Mulan | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Animator: Yao and Fa Family Ancestors | |
| 2002 | Lilo & Stitch | No | No | No | Supervising | No | Yes | Supervising Animator: Cobra Bubbles Character Design |
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| 2003 | Brother Bear | No | No | No | Supervising | No | No | Supervising Animator: Kenai - Bear | |
| 2005 | Chicken Little | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Additional Story Artist | |
| 2008 | Bolt | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Additional Screenplay Material | |
| 2009 | The Princess and the Frog | No | No | No | No | No | No | Disney Story Trust - uncredited | |
| 2010 | Tangled | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Guard 2/Thug 2 | |
| 2011 | Winnie the Pooh | No | No | No | No | No | No | ||
| 2012 | Wreck-It Ralph | No | No | No | No | Additional | No | ||
| 2013 | Frozen | No | No | No | No | No | No | ||
| 2014 | Big Hero 6 | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Creative Leadership | |
| 2016 | Zootopia | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Bucky Oryx-Antlerson/Travis | |
| Moana | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | |||
| 2018 | Ralph Breaks the Internet | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | ||
| 2019 | Frozen II | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | ||
| 2021 | Raya and the Last Dragon | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Additional Story, Creative Leadership | |
| Encanto | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Creative Leadership | ||
| 2022 | Strange World | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | ||
| 2023 | Wish | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | ||
| 2024 | Moana 2 | No | No | No | Directing | No | Yes | Additional Story, Creative Leadership | |
| 2025 | Zootopia 2 | Yes | TBA | No | No | TBA | Yes | Creative Leadership | |
Short Films and Series
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Artistic Supervisor |
Executive Producer |
Other | Voice | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | John Henry | No | No | Yes | No | No | Character Animation | |
| 2009 | Super Rhino | No | No | No | Yes | No | ||
| 2012 | Tangled Ever After | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Lantern Wrangler / Chef | |
| 2022 | Zootopia+ | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Bucky Oryx-Antlerson | Disney+ Original short films |
| 2024 | Iwájú | No | No | No | Yes | No | Disney+ Original long-form limited series |
Awards and Recognition
Byron Howard has won several important awards for his animated films.
Golden Globe Awards
- 2008 – Nominated: Best Animated Feature Film for Bolt
- 2010 – Nominated: Best Animated Feature Film for Tangled
- 2017 – Won: Best Animated Feature Film for Zootopia
- 2021 – Won: Best Animated Feature Film for Encanto
Academy Awards (Oscars)
- 2008 – Nominated: Best Animated Feature for Bolt
- 2017 – Won: Best Animated Feature for Zootopia
- 2021 – Won: Best Animated Feature for Encanto
See also
In Spanish: Byron Howard para niños
- List of LGBT Academy Award winners and nominees
