The animation community mourns the passing of much-loved animation icon, writer-director-storyboard artist and playwright Roger Allers, who passed away on Saturday at age 76. According to a Disney spokesperson, he suddenly at his home in Santa Monica, California, following a short illness. Best known for co-directing Disney’s original blockbuster The Lion King (1994) with Rob Minkoff, Allers also directed Sony Pictures Animation’s first feature Open Season (2006), the GKIDS/Pathe anthology The Prophet (2014) and the 2006 Oscar-nominated short The Little Matchgirl.
Born in Rye, New York, but raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, Allers developed a love for animation after seeing Disney’s Peter Pan at age five. After studying fine arts at Arizona State University, Allers’ passion for animation was reignited after taking a class at Harvard. His first jobs in animation was for Boston-based Lisberger Studios, where he worked as an animator on projects for Sesame Street, The Electric Company, Make a Wish and various commercials.
In 1978, he moved to Los Angeles to work on Steven Lisberger’s 1980 movie Animalypmics as story artist, character designer and animator. He then worked as a storyboard artist for Disney’s 1982 feature, Tron, followed by work as animator on Nelvana’s 1983 feature Rock & Rule. His next venture took him to Tokyo where he did character design, animation and story development on Tokyo Movie Sinsha’s 1989 feature Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland.
After returning to L.A. in 1985, he worked as a storyboard artist on Disney’s 1988 feature Oliver & Company. That led to more work at the studio as a storyboard artist on The Little Mermaid (1989), The Prince and the Pauper (1990) and The Rescuer’s Down Under (1990). He became the head of story on Disney’s Oscar-winning 1991 Beauty and the Beast. He also worked on storyboard sequences for the studio’s 1992 blockbuster Aladdin. He then joined the team on Disney’s next project, working with the likes of Brenda Chapman, Chris Sanders, Don Hahn, Kirk Wise, Gary Trousdale and co-director Rob Minkoff to deliver what became the studios’ epic masterpiece The Lion King, which to date is one of the most popular animated movies of all time, with a total box-office of $979 million worldwide.
Storyboard art created for “The Little Meraid” by Roger Allers.
Allers went on to write the libretto for the Tony-winning 1994 Broadway musical adaptation of The Lion King with co-screenwriter Irene Mecchi, for which they were nominated for the Tony for Best Book of a Musical. He also worked on Disney Kingdom of the Sun, which went on to become the 2000 feature, The Emperor’s New Groove, before leaving the project due to creative differences. Next up was work as story artist on Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois’s 2002 feature Lilo & Stitch.
Roger Allers, who was head of story on “The Beauty and the Beast,” pitches the ballroom sequence he created for the acclaimed movie in this photo.
The beautifully animated short The Little Matchgirl was Allers’ next directing project with producer Don Hahn. Originally planned to be part of the Fantasia 2006 anthology, it became a stand-alone short which received an Oscar nomination and was included as a bonus feature on The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition DVD.
After Disney, Allers moved on to Sony Pictures Animation where he co-directed the studio’s first animated feature Open Season, with director Jill Culton and co-director Anthony Stacchi. His next project was an animated adaptation of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, where he oversaw the narrative structure and supervised the production of the anthology, which included chapters directed by Paul and Gaetan Brizzie, Joan C. Gratz, Mohammed Saeed Harib, Tomm Moore, Nina Paley, Bill Plympton, Joann Sfar and Michal Socha.
His many credits as a storyboard artist also include The Prince and the Pauper, Watership Down, Return to Never Land, Hop, Ted, Ted 2, Ron’s Gone Wrong and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
Many of Allers’ friends and colleagues posted tributes to the great artist online in past few hours. Oscar-winning Disney producer Don Hahn, who worked with him on many of his features wrote, “Feeling shaken and sad to share that our dear friend and creative brother Roger Allers has passed—an extraordinary artist, a man who lived fully and generously, and someone I loved deeply; along with all of us who knew and worked with him. Please hold him and his famly in your thoughts and let his spirit live on in you.”
Disney veteran and author Dave Bossert wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the news that our friend Roger Allers has passed on to his next journey. We were just trading emails this past week while he was traveling in Egypt, which makes this loss feel all the more unreal. Roger was an extraordinarily gifted artist and filmmaker, a true pillar of the Disney Animation renaissance … Roger treated everyone with genuine kindness and respect, regardless of title or position. I worked very closely with him on The Little Matchgirl, and it was nothing short of a joy—he carried a sense of wonder, generosity, and enthusiasm that lifted everyone around him. Roger had a joyful, luminous spirit, and the world is dimmer without him. Rest in peace, my friend. Until we meet again on the other side.”
Animation veteran, author and teacher Tom Sito wrote, “Tonight all of us in the world of animation are saddened by the sudden passing of Roger Allers…Roger was a dear friend and a consummate professional. As hard as pressure and deadlines and politics plagued a film project, I never saw him lose his composure. In my mind’s eye I will always keep the image of that sweet smile of his. Until we meet again old friend.”
Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement, “Roger Allers was a creative visionary whose many contributions to Disney will live on for generations to come. He understood the power of great storytelling — how unforgettable characters, emotion and music can come together to create something timeless. His work helped define an era of animation that continues to inspire audiences around the world, and we are deeply grateful for everything he gave to Disney. Our hearts are with his family, friends and collaborators.”
Tribute posted by Disney director John Musker (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog, Moana) on Sunday.
Allers is survived by his partner Genaro Pereira, his daughter Leah (who is working on a documentary about his father’s life and work) and his son Aidan. Our condolences go out to all of his loved one and the global animation community at large.
You can watch animation historian Mindy Johnson’s insightful interview with Allers and Rob Minkoff (courtesy of Creative Talent Network) below:
Another interview with Allers from Annecy in 2015, discussing his anthology feature The Prophet:
You can watch The Little Matchgirl below:
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety,
