Benjamin Gluck

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. Impressed by Gluck’s work, they encouraged him to apply to California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).^[1] 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^[2] at the CalArts Producers Show, where Gluck had the opportunity to thank Thomas and Johnson personally.

Following this recognition, Gluck's film premiered on MTV's network,^[3] and was featured in Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation. After submitting his portfolio to Walt Disney Feature Animation, Gluck received an offer that included continued educational sponsorship and a position as a storyboard artist.

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 summer story internship, working on The Prince of Egypt.

Gluck transitioned to Disney Television, after being invited to join the division from Walt Disney Feature Animation’s President. At Disney Television, Gluck served as 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.^[4] Gluck also directed Brother Bear II,^[5] animated at Disney’s Sydney studio. Following a successful first storyboard screening, the studio moved the project into production. During its’ expedited 12-month development and production schedule, Disney closed the Sydney studio and informed the 250 employees.^[6] The film was completed even with the studio’s shutdown.^[7]

After Disney, Gluck pursued opportunities to advance the animation art form.^[8] He became Head of Story on the Tim Burton-produced 9 for Focus Features, where he shaped characters and oversaw 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."^[9] Gluck was also a segment storyboard artist on the acclaimed adaptation of Kahlil Gibran's, The Prophet.

Gluck served as Head of Story for the Peanuts holiday special Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne, where he significantly influenced the plot and depicting Lucy’s character with greater introspection. 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."^[10]

Gluck also served as Head of Story for the award-winning Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love. For this holiday special, Gluck played a key part in promoting the theme that all families deserve celebration, which contributed to the special’s nomination for a Humanitas Prize.^[11] Both specials were produced for Apple TV +.

Gluck has emphasized the significance of inclusive representation in family entertainment content.^[12] Throughout Gluck's career, his body of work has consistently demonstrated his commitment to exemplifying related themes.^[13][14][15]

• Rugrats (TV) (2000)
• Clerks (TV) (2001)
• MTV's Cartoon Sushi’s Man's Best Friend (1998)

• Modern animation in the United States
• Walt Disney Animation Studios
• Disney and LGBT representation in animation

• Ben Gluck at IMDb