Benjamin Gluck

{{Infobox person

| name = Ben Gluck

| image = 1998 CalArts Producer’s Show.jpg

| caption = Gluck (left) with Frank Thomas

| birth_name = Benjamin Gluck

| birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.

| alma_mater = California Institute of the Arts

| occupation = storyboard artist, writer, director.

| years_active = 1996–present

| other_names = Ben Gluck

| known_for = Peanuts, 9, Walt Disney Animation Studios .

| website =

}}

Ben Gluck is an American storyboard artist, film director, and screenwriter. Gluck was a director and head of story at Disney Animation Studios.

Early life

Benjamin "Ben" Gluck was born in St. Louis, Missouri. As a teenager, he showed his art portfolio to Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston during their book tour for Bambi: The Story and the Film. They encouraged him to apply to California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/Animation_Magazine_October_2010/page/n15/mode/2up | title=Animation Magazine October 2010 }} After being accepted, Gluck earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Character Animation from CalArts. Gluck's second year student film Man's Best Friend was awarded the Walter Lantz Animation Prize{{cite news|title=CalArts Magazine Fall/Winter 2009 |url=https://issuu.com/calarts/docs/magazine-fall-winter-2009/15|work=Issuu}} at the CalArts Producers Show, where Gluck thanked Thomas and Johnson personally.

His film premiered on MTV's network,{{cite news|title=Ben Gluck - Mafab.hu|url=https://www.mafab.hu/people/ben-gluck-275783.html|work=Mafab.hu}} and was screened in theaters as part of the Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation.

Career

Upon graduating from CalArts, Gluck immediately obtained a job as a storyboard and visual development artist at Walt Disney Feature Animation. Gluck contributed to several theatrical films, including Dinosaur, The Emperor's New Groove, and Home on the Range. Before Disney, Gluck was part of DreamWorks Animation’s first story internship, working on The Prince of Egypt.

Gluck transitioned to Disney Television where he was the divisions first Head of Story for Bambi II and helped adapt A.A. Milne’s The House at Pooh Corner into Piglet's Big Movie both of which received theatrical releases.{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2002/film/news/disney-bets-on-piglet-s-prospects-1117860897/ | title=Disney bets on Piglet's prospects | date=February 19, 2002 }} Gluck also directed the Annie Award-winning film Brother Bear II.{{cite web | url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2006/08/brother-bear-2-due-at-months-end/ | title=Brother Bear 2 Due at Month's End | date=15 August 2006 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/disney-to-axe-sydney-studio-20050727-gdlray.html | title=Disney to axe Sydney studio | date=26 July 2005 }}{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/Animation_Magazine_September_2006/page/20/mode/2up | title=Animation Magazine September 2006 }}

After Disney, Gluck pursued opportunities to advance the animation art form.{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/Animation_Magazine_October_2010/page/n15/mode/2up | title=Animation Magazine October 2010 }} He became Head of Story on the Tim Burton-produced 9 for Focus Features, contributing to character development and overseeing the story animatic. Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four, contrasting it with the works of Hayao Miyazaki and saying that "the visuals are entrancing."{{cite news|title=9|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20090909%2FREVIEWS%2F909099998|work=Chicago Sun-Times|first=Roger|last=Ebert|date=2009-09-09|access-date=2011-03-06|archive-date=April 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418180759/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20090909%2FREVIEWS%2F909099998|url-status=dead}} Gluck was also a segment storyboard artist on the acclaimed adaptation of Kahlil Gibran's, The Prophet.

He was co-director on Alpha and Omega and Omega (2010), which received mixed-to-negative reviews but was a commercial success, grossing over $50 million worldwide and spawning a franchise with seven sequels.

Recently, Gluck served as Head of Story for the Peanuts holiday special Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne, where he contributed to the plot and to Lucy’s characterization, emphasizing a more introdpective portrayal. Chuck Wilson from The Village Voice praised the special, saying, "Lucy is transformed from a character of nostalgia into a girl as self-reflective and searching as any young person watching the special might be. Her crisis of self is sure to resonate."{{cite web | url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2021/12/28/its-lucys-party-in-new-peanuts-for-auld-lang-syne-holiday-special/ | title=It's Lucy's Party in New Peanuts 'For Auld Lang Syne' Holiday Special | date=28 December 2021 }}

He also served as Head of Story for Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love. This special emphasized the theme that all families deserve recognition,{{cite web | url=https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/michael-foust/new-peanuts-special-has-lgbt-message-some-kids-even-have-2-moms.html | title=New Peanuts Special Has LGBT Message: 'Some Kids Even Have 2 Moms' }} and was nominated for a Humanitas Prize nomination{{cite web | url=https://www.humanitasprize.org/blog/nominee-watchlist | title=46th Annual Humanitas Prizes Winners & Nominee Watchlist | date=September 2022 }} and received the Kidscreen Award for Best Animated Holiday Special. Both specials were produced by Apple TV +.

Representation

Gluck has emphasized the significance of representation in animation.{{cite web | url=https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/michael-foust/new-peanuts-special-has-lgbt-message-some-kids-even-have-2-moms.html | title=New Peanuts Special Has LGBT Message: 'Some Kids Even Have 2 Moms' }}

His body of work has demonstrated his commitment to related themes.{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/Animation_Magazine_October_2010/page/n15/mode/2up | title=Animation Magazine October 2010 }}{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/Animation_Magazine_September_2006/page/20/mode/2up | title=Animation Magazine September 2006 }}

Filmography

class="wikitable"
width="65"\| Year ! width="150"\| Title ! width="65"\| Credits ! width="65"\| Awards
2022 \|Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love \|head of story \|Kidscreen Awards: Best Special Holiday Production and Humanitas Award nominee.
2021 \|Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne \|head of story \| Annie Award nominee: Best Animated Special Production
2019 \|Foster \|head of story \|
2015 \|Madea's Tough Love \|story by \|Dove “Family Approved Seal” Award
2014 \|Strange Magic (film) \|consultant \|
2013 \|Kahlil Gibran's, The Prophet \|storyboard artist \|The Visionary Award
2012 \|Battle of the Planets \|development \|
2010 \|Alpha and Omega \|director \|Annie Award nominee: Best Animated Feature
2010 \|Yogi Bear \|storyboard artist \|
2009 \|9 \|writer/ head of story \|VES Award Nominee: Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
2006 \|Brother Bear II \|writer/ director \|Annie Award: Best Screenplay
2006 \|Bambi II \|writer/ head of story \|Annie Award: Best Home Entertainment Production
2004 \|Home on the Range \|storyboard artist \|
2003 \|Piglet's Big Movie \| story by/ storyboard artist \|
2001 \|The Emperor's New Groove \|storyboard artist \|
2000 \|Dinosaur \|storyboard artist \|
2000 \|Clerks (TV) Season 1/Episode 2: Wherein Dante and Randle are Locked in the Freezer \|storyboard artist \|
2000 \|Rugrats (TV) Season 8/Episode 3: Don't Poop On My Parade \|storyboard artist \|Daytime Emmy Award
1998 \|The Prince of Egypt \|storyboard artist \|
1998 \|Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation Man’s Best Friend \| \|
1996 \|MTV's Cartoon Sushi Man's Best Friend \|creator \|Walter Lantz Award

class="wikitable"

width="65"| Year

! width="150"| Title

! width="65"| Credits

! width="65"| Awards

2022

|Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love

|head of story

|Kidscreen Awards: Best Special Holiday Production and Humanitas Award nominee.

2021

|Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne

|head of story