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{{Short description|American filmmaker (born 1960)}}
'''Mark Dindal''' (born in [[Columbus, Ohio]]) is an American [[special effects animator]] and [[film director]]. Dindal was head of special effects on [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]]'s ''[[The Little Mermaid (1989 movie)|The Little Mermaid]]'' and ''[[The Rescuers Down Under]]''.
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{BLP sources|date=May 2011}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mark Dindal
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_place = [[Columbus, Ohio]], U.S.
| other_names =
| alma_mater = [[CalArts]]
| occupation = {{Flatlist|
*Filmmaker
*effects animator
*character designer
*storyboard artist
*voice actor
}}
| employer = {{plainlist|
*[[Walt Disney Animation Studios]] (1980–2006)
}}
| yearsactive = 1979–present
| spouse =
| children = 2<ref name=collider>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/disney-chicken-little-history-explained/|title=Disney's 'Chicken Little': Inside the Troubled History of the Studio's First CGI Feature|publisher=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|access-date=November 26, 2020|date=November 9, 2020|author=Joseph Andrew Taylor|quote=Regarding the origins of ''Chicken Little'', “I have two daughters, so I immediately went to a father/daughter story,” Dindal said.|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120092716/https://collider.com/disney-chicken-little-history-explained/|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
'''Mark Dindal''' is an American filmmaker, animator and voice actor. Best known for his work at [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]], he directed the company's 2000 animated film ''[[The Emperor's New Groove]]'' (2000), as well as their 2005 film ''[[Chicken Little (2005 film)|Chicken Little]]''.<ref name="Lanpher2010">{{cite book |last=Lanpher |first=Dorse A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OjD1AZSuftcC&pg=PA176 |title=Flyin' Chunks and Other Things to Duck: Memoirs of a Life Spent Doodling for Dollars |date=October 19, 2010 |publisher=iUniverse |isbn=978-1-4502-6099-2 |pages=176– |access-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref> Prior, he was credited with animation work on the [[Disney Renaissance]] films ''[[The Little Mermaid (1989 film)|The Little Mermaid]]'' (1989) and ''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]'' (1992), as well as [[Tom and Jerry: The Movie|''Tom and Jerry: The Movie'']] (1992). In 1997, he briefly moved to [[Warner Bros. Animation]] and made his directorial debut with the film ''[[Cats Don't Dance]]'', which won an [[Annie Award for Best Animated Feature|Annie Award]] for [[Annie Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Film]]. Recently, Dindal directed the 2024 animated film ''[[The Garfield Movie]]'' for [[Sony Pictures]] and [[Alcon Entertainment]].


==Early life==
He went on to direct [[Turner Entertainment|Turner]]'s ''[[Cats Don't Dance]]'', and Disney's ''[[The Emperor's New Groove]]'' and ''[[Chicken Little (2005 movie)|Chicken Little]]''. He is also the co-director of Disney's traditional animated films based on theme park attractions like ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean]]'' with [[Eric Goldberg (film director)|Eric Goldberg]], and ''[[Phantom Manor]]'' with [[Hendel Butoy]].
Dindal was born in [[Columbus, Ohio]] in 1960.<ref name="ChickenLittleNotes" />


Growing up, Dindal was influenced by [[Disney films]] and [[Warner Bros.]] Saturday cartoons.<ref name=AWNPlaceSun /> One of his earliest influence was Disney's ''[[The Sword in the Stone (1963 film)|The Sword in the Stone]]'', which he remembers his grandmother taking him to see when he was three years old.<ref name=AWNPlaceSun>{{cite web|last1=Strike|first1=Joe|title=Mark Dindal's Place in the Sun|url=http://www.awn.com/animationworld/mark-dindals-place-sun|publisher=Animation World Network|access-date=December 27, 2014|date=November 1, 2000|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025949/http://www.awn.com/animationworld/mark-dindals-place-sun|url-status=live}}</ref> It also helped that his dad took art as a hobby and taught Dindal to draw while growing up in [[Syracuse, New York]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribute.ca/people/mark-dindal/5712/|title=Mark Dindal biography|publisher=tribute.ca|access-date=July 4, 2015|archive-date=July 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705092934/http://www.tribute.ca/people/mark-dindal/5712/|url-status=live}}</ref>
He has been nominated for three [[Annie Award|Annie awards]]: one for directing ''[[The Emperor's New Groove]]'', one for writing it, and one for Directing ''[[Cats Don't Dance]]''. He even did the voice of Darla's assistant, Max.


During his teen years, Dindal attended [[Jamesville-DeWitt High School]], where he attended most of the art classes that the school had to offer, along with making comic strips and short films.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.waltdisney.org/education/talks/happily-ever-after-hours-director-and-filmmaker-mark-dindal|title=Happily Ever After Hours with Director and Filmmaker Mark Dindal|publisher=[[The Walt Disney Family Museum]]|access-date=December 5, 2020|archive-date=February 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210095412/https://www.waltdisney.org/education/talks/happily-ever-after-hours-director-and-filmmaker-mark-dindal|url-status=live}}</ref> Dindal learned animation at [[CalArts]].<ref name="ChickenLittleNotes" /> He began working at Disney in 1980.<ref name="ChickenLittleNotes" />
In March 2006, Mark left Disney to pursue his own projects, expressing an interest in a film combining live action with animation.


==Career==
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dindal, Mark}}
===Effects Animator at Disney (1980–1988)===
[[Category:American animators]]
His early work included ''[[The Fox and the Hound]]'' (1981), ''[[The Black Cauldron (film)|The Black Cauldron]]'' (1985), ''[[Mickey's Christmas Carol]]'' (1983), ''[[The Great Mouse Detective]]'' (1986), and ''[[Oliver & Company]]'' (1988),<ref name="ChickenLittleNotes" /> each following a very similar animation style in all the films. This style consisted of similar backgrounds with delicate animation and complex character effects, which was well received.
[[Category:American film directors|Dindal, Mark]]
[[Category:People from Columbus, Ohio|Dindal, Mark]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)|Dindal, Mark]]
[[Category:Living people|Dindal, Mark]]


===Leaving and Returning to Disney (1986–1992)===
{{animator-stub}}
After these projects, Dindal briefly left Disney to work on several projects for varying studios, including ''[[BraveStarr]]'' and ''[[The Brave Little Toaster]]''. He returned to the studio in 1987 and got his first head role as a visual effects supervisor for ''[[The Little Mermaid (1989 film)|The Little Mermaid]]'' (1989).<ref name="ChickenLittleNotes" /> He later worked as head animator for the film ''[[The Rescuers Down Under]]'' (1990) and worked as an effects animator on the animated film ''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]'' (1992).<ref name="ChickenLittleNotes" />


===Dindal as Director (1991–2000)===
[[de:Mark Dindal]]
Dindal’s first time in the director’s chair was for a short, 1940s style wartime propaganda segment for the 1991 superhero film, [[The Rocketeer (film)|''The Rocketeer'']]. Working with a crew of 3 other animators, Dindal took inspiration from Disney wartime cartoons like [[Victory Through Air Power (film)|''Victory Through Air Power'']] and [[Frank Capra]]’s ''[[Why We Fight]]'' series.<ref name="AfterHours">{{cite web|url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2020/12/18/wdfm-mark-dindal-event-recap/|title=WDFM Event Recap: Mark Dindal Talks About Directing "The Emperor's New Groove" and "Chicken Little"|access-date=December 31, 2020|date=December 18, 2020|author=Alex Reif|publisher=Laughing Place|archive-date=February 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205124306/https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2020/12/18/wdfm-mark-dindal-event-recap/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Dindal's feature-length debut was ''[[Cats Don't Dance]]'', which was released in 1997, three years before ''[[The Emperor's New Groove]]'' was released in 2000.<ref name="ChickenLittleNotes" /> In ''Cats Don't Dance'' Dindal voiced Max. The film won the [[Annie Award]] for Best Animated Film and Dindal was nominated for directing. ''The Emperor's New Groove'' was initially expected to be a Disney musical feature called ''Kingdom of the Sun''. However, the idea did not work out, so Dindal, along with [[Chris Williams (director)|Chris Williams]] and [[David Reynolds (screenwriter)|David Reynolds]] changed the script to a comedy. During the six-year production, he started to work on ''Cats Don't Dance'', a [[Turner Broadcasting]] (since merged into Warner Bros.) animated musical production.

===''Chicken Little'' (2005)===
Dindal worked on ''[[Chicken Little (2005 film)|Chicken Little]]'' (2005), another Disney production, which needed a large animation team. Dindal voiced Morkubine Porcupine and Coach in the film. The film was nominated for several Annies, though Dindal was not nominated as a director. During the film's production, [[DisneyToon Studios]] produced ''[[Kronk's New Groove]]'' as a direct-to-video feature. As Dindal was working on ''Chicken Little'' at the time, he did not have a position on the staff. Later, Dindal created the TV series ''[[The Emperor's New School]]'' (2006–2008).

===Post-Disney (2006–present)===
In March 2006, a day after the DVD release of ''Chicken Little'', Dindal and producer [[Randy Fullmer]] left the company because they were reportedly tired of dealing with then-[[Walt Disney Animation Studios|WDFA]] head [[David Stainton]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hill|first1=Jim|title=A special "No nudes is good news" edition of Why For|url=http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2006/10/06/6091.aspx|publisher=Jim Hill Media|access-date=December 27, 2014|date=October 5, 2006|archive-date=December 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227171922/http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2006/10/06/6091.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> Over the span of three years, Dindal was attached to direct several live-action films, including ''Sherlock's Secretary''<ref>{{cite web|title=Mark Dindal to Direct 'Sherlock's Secretary'|url=http://www.movieweb.com/mark-dindal-to-direct-sherlocks-secretary|publisher=MovieWeb|access-date=December 27, 2014|date=August 11, 2006|archive-date=December 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228151453/http://www.movieweb.com/mark-dindal-to-direct-sherlocks-secretary|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Housebroken'',<ref>{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=Dindal draws 'Housebroken'|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/news/dindal-draws-housebroken-1118009856/|access-date=December 27, 2014|work=Variety|date=October 12, 2009|archive-date=February 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204122648/https://variety.com/2009/film/news/dindal-draws-housebroken-1118009856/|url-status=live}}</ref> both for [[Walden Media]], and a film adaptation of the children's book ''[[Kringle (book)|Kringle]]'' for [[Paramount Pictures]].<ref name="Kringle">{{cite news|last1=LaPorte|first1=Nicole|title=Paramount gets tough with Santa myth|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/paramount-gets-tough-with-santa-myth-1117960270/|access-date=May 17, 2015|work=Variety|date=February 27, 2007|archive-date=February 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213004232/https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/paramount-gets-tough-with-santa-myth-1117960270/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2010, Dindal was directing at [[DreamWorks Animation]] the animated film ''[[List of unproduced DreamWorks Animation projects#Me and My Shadow/Edgar Wrights' Shadows|Me and My Shadow]]'', based on his own pitch that would've combined both [[computer animation|computer]] and [[traditional animation]].<ref>{{cite press release|author1=DreamWorks Animation|title=DreamWorks Animation Pioneers Groundbreaking Combination of CG and Hand-Drawn Animation Techniques in Me and My Shadow for March 2013|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dreamworks-animation-pioneers-groundbreaking-combination-of-cg-and-hand-drawn-animation-techniques-in-me-and-my-shadow-for-march-2013-111662249.html|publisher=PR Newswire|access-date=December 27, 2014|date=December 10, 2010}}</ref> In January 2012, he was no longer directing the film<ref>{{cite news|last=Kit|first=Borys|title=DreamWorks Animation Sets Voice Cast for 'Me & My Shadow' (Exclusive)|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dreamworks-me-my-shadow-kate-hudson-bill-hader-286141|access-date=February 1, 2012|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 31, 2012|archive-date=February 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203034229/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dreamworks-me-my-shadow-kate-hudson-bill-hader-286141|url-status=live}}</ref> and was replaced by story artist [[Alessandro Carloni]] as director, and the film has been in [[development hell|development limbo]] since 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=DreamWorks Animation Pushes Back Release for 'Mr. Peabody & Sherman'|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-animation-pushes-back-release-418673|access-date=December 26, 2016|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 5, 2013|archive-date=February 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209200911/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-animation-pushes-back-release-418673|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2014, he provided illustrations for the documentary film ''[[Restrung]]'', centering on colleague Randy Fullmer on his career at Wyn Guitars from 2006. On November 12, 2018, it was announced that Dindal will direct an animated ''[[Garfield]]'' feature for [[Alcon Entertainment]], with pre-production beginning the following month in [[Los Angeles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/mark-dindal-to-direct-all-animated-garfield-feature-for-alcon-166468.html|title=Mark Dindal To Direct All-Animated 'Garfield' Feature For Alcon|publisher=[[Cartoon Brew]]|date=November 12, 2018|access-date=November 13, 2018|archive-date=February 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205124509/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/mark-dindal-to-direct-all-animated-garfield-feature-for-alcon-166468.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2019, Dindal was involved as a story artist and helped design the characters, Gus and Cooper,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://keyframemagazine.org/2019/03/01/wild-and-wonderful/|title=WILD AND WONDERFUL|author=Keyframe Magazine|date=March 2019|publisher=[[The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839|The Animation Guild]]|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=September 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902025450/https://keyframemagazine.org/2019/03/01/wild-and-wonderful/|url-status=live}}</ref> for the 2019 [[Nickelodeon Movies|Nickelodeon film]], ''[[Wonder Park]].'' That same year, it was announced that Dindal, along with [[Pixar]] veteran [[Teddy Newton]], will develop a film based on the [[Funko]] pop figures for [[Warner Animation Group]].<ref name="Funko">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/funko-film-warner-bros-animation-collectible-figures-1202735840/amp/|title=Warner Bros Animation Plans Funko Film Based On Collectible Figures|website=Deadline|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike|date=September 16, 2019|access-date=September 17, 2019|archive-date=January 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129090927/https://deadline.com/2019/09/funko-film-warner-bros-animation-collectible-figures-1202735840/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2021, it was announced that ''[[The Garfield Movie]]'' was picked up by [[Sony Pictures Releasing]] for a worldwide release (excluding China), and will star [[Chris Pratt]] as the titular role. The film will also reunite Dindal with ''New Groove'' screenwriter David Reynolds, who's writing the script.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/garfield-chris-pratt-to-play-title-character-in-alcon-animated-film-1234865972/|title='Garfield': Chris Pratt To Voice Title Character In Alcon Entertainment's Animated Film|last=Grobar|first=Matt|work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|date=November 1, 2021|access-date=November 2, 2021|archive-date=August 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817150451/https://deadline.com/2021/11/garfield-chris-pratt-to-play-title-character-in-alcon-animated-film-1234865972/|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2022, the film was scheduled to be released on May 24, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Rourke |first=Ryan |date=September 16, 2022 |title=''Garfield'' Release Date Moved to Spring 2024 |url=https://collider.com/garfield-release-date-change-chris-pratt/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref>

===Unrealized projects===
* ''[[The Emperor's New Groove#Kingdom of the Sun|Kingdom of the Sun]]'' - an epic retelling of ''[[The Prince and the Pauper]]'' in the vein of ''[[The Lion King]]''. Dindal served as co-director and reworked the project into ''[[The Emperor's New Groove]]'' (for [[Walt Disney Feature Animation]]; 1994).
* ''Sherlock's Secretary'' - a live-action film about a man who resides at the infamous home of [[Sherlock Holmes]], who receives a letter requesting the help of Holmes. The man's life changes when he decides to take on a case himself (for [[Walden Media]]; 2006).
* ''[[Kringle (novel)|Kringle]]'' - a film adaption based the book under the same name that tells the untold story of [[Santa Claus]] (for [[Paramount Pictures]]; 2007).
* ''Housebroken'' - a live-action comedy film about a newly wed's talking pets, who must adjust to living together under one roof. Along with directing, Dindal would also polish the script, originally written by ''[[Made of Honor]]'' screenwriter [[Adam Sztykiel]]. The last update was in 2011 when the film would be rewritten by ''[[George Lopez (TV series)|George Lopez]]'' executive producers Paul Kaplan and Mark Torgove (for Walden Media and [[20th Century Fox]]; 2009).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tracking-board.com/paul-kaplan-and-mark-torgove-are-housebroken/|title=Paul Kaplan and Mark Torgove are HOUSEBROKEN|publisher=The Tracking Board|date=February 1, 2011|access-date=January 28, 2021|archive-date=February 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202072027/https://www.tracking-board.com/paul-kaplan-and-mark-torgove-are-housebroken/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''[[List of unproduced DreamWorks Animation projects#2010|Me and My Shadow]]'' - (for [[DreamWorks Animation]]; 2010)

==Personal life==
Dindal is the father of two daughters, who were the inspiration for his original ''Chicken Little'' pitch.<ref name="collider"/>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Writer
! Animation Department
! Other
! Note
|-
| 1981
|''[[The Fox and the Hound]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
| Effects inbetween artist (uncredited)
|-
| 1982
|''[[Fun with Mr. Future]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|
|-
| 1983
|''[[Mickey's Christmas Carol]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
| rowspan="4" | Effects animator
|-
| 1985
| ''[[The Black Cauldron (film)|The Black Cauldron]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|-
| 1986
|''[[The Great Mouse Detective]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1987
|''[[Sport Goofy in Soccermania]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|-
|''[[The Brave Little Toaster]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|Effects animation consultant
|-
|''[[Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|rowspan="2" |Special effects animator
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1988
|''[[BraveStarr]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|-
|''[[BraveStarr: The Movie|BraveStarr: The Legend]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
| rowspan="2" | Effects animator
|-
|''[[Oliver & Company]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|-
| 1989
|''[[The Little Mermaid (1989 film)|The Little Mermaid]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
| Visual effects supervisor
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1990
|'' [[The Prince and the Pauper (1990 film)|The Prince and the Pauper]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
| Storyboard artist
|-
|''[[The Rescuers Down Under]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
| Head effects animator
|-
| 1991
|''[[The Rocketeer (film)|The Rocketeer]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|Director: Nazi Invasion segment
|-
| rowspan="4" | 1992
|'' [[Frozen Assets (film)|Frozen Assets]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
| Animation sequence producer
|-
| ''[[Tom and Jerry: The Movie]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|rowspan="2" |Effects animator
|-
|''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|-
| ''[[The Little Mermaid (TV series)|The Little Mermaid]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
| Effects consultant (1 episode), effects animator (2 episodes), storyboard artist (1 episode)
|-
| 1993
|''[[Happily Ever After (1990 film)|Happily Ever After]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
| Special effects animator, voice of Goons (uncredited)
|-
| 1997
|''[[Cats Don't Dance]]''
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
| Story, character designer, storyboard artist, storyboard supervisor, voice of Max
|-
| 2000
|''[[The Emperor's New Groove]]''
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|
|-
| 2002
| ''[[The Sweatbox]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{yes}}
| Himself, documentary
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2005
|''[[Chicken Little (2005 film)|Chicken Little]]''
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|Story, character designer, voice of Morkubine Porcupine & Coach
|-
|''[[Kronk's New Groove]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
| Based on characters (uncredited)
|-
| 2006–2008
|''[[The Emperor's New School]]''
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
| Creator, writer
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Restrung]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
| Illustrator, documentary
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Wonder Park]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
| Story Artist
|-
| 2024
| ''[[The Garfield Movie]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| Story artist, character designer, voice of Sleep App, lyricist for ''Lactose Farm Jingle''
|}

===Internet===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
|-
|2011
| ''TAG Blog''<ref name=TAGInterview>{{cite news|last=Hulett|first=Steve|title=The Mark Dindal Interview -- Part I|url=http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/mark-dindal-interview-part-i.html|access-date=November 27, 2011|newspaper=TAG Blog|date=June 13, 2011|archive-date=October 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009214956/http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/mark-dindal-interview-part-i.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rowspan=4 | Himself
|-
|2015
| ''Lights, Camera, Austin''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lightscameraaustin.net/mark-dindal-june-2015.html|title=Interview: Mark Dindal, director, "''The Emperor's New Groove''"|publisher=Lights, Camera, Austin|access-date=September 23, 2021|date=June 4, 2015|archive-date=July 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726001542/http://www.lightscameraaustin.net/mark-dindal-june-2015.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2020
| ''Happily Ever After Hours''<ref name="AfterHours"/>
|-
|2021
| ''Disney Movie Insider Presents''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ESP7721801191?selected=ESP8658133265|title=Disney Movie Insiders Presents... ''The Emperor's New Groove''|author=Disney Movie Insider|publisher=[[Megaphone (podcasting)|Megaphone]]|access-date=September 23, 2021|date=January 27, 2021|archive-date=September 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923222504/https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ESP7721801191?selected=ESP8658133265|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}

==Reception==
Critical, public and commercial reception to films Dindal has directed as of May 29, 2024.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Film
! [[Rotten Tomatoes]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Dindal {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/mark-dindal |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |access-date=29 May 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
! [[Metacritic]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Dindal |url=https://www.metacritic.com/person/mark-dindal/ |website=www.metacritic.com |access-date=29 May 2024 |language=en |date=1989}}</ref>
! [[CinemaScore]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cinemascore.com/ | title=CinemaScore | work=cinemascore.com | access-date=May 29, 2024}}</ref>
! Budget
! Box office
|-
| ''Cats Don't Dance'' || 71% (24 reviews) || 62 (21 reviews) || B || $32 million || $3.5 million
|-
| ''The Emperor's New Groove'' || 86% (134 reviews) || 70 (28 reviews) || A || $100 million || $169.7 million
|-
| ''Chicken Little'' || 36% (163 reviews) || 48 (32 reviews) || A− || $150 million || $314.4 million
|-
| ''The Garfield Movie'' || 37% (113 reviews) || 31 (28 reviews) || B+ || $60 million || $100.3 million
|}

==Awards and nominations==
===Nominations===
* Best Individual Achievement: Directing in a Feature Production for ''Cats Don't Dance'' (Annie) (1997)
* Outstanding Individual Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production for ''The Emperor's New Groove'' (Annie) (2001)
* Outstanding Individual Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production for ''The Emperor's New Groove'' (Annie) (2001)
* Best Animated Feature for ''The Emperor's New Groove'' & ''Chicken Little'' (Annie) (2001; 2006)
* Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature for ''The Emperor's New Groove'' & ''Chicken Little'' ([[Satellite Award]]) (2000; 2005)
* Best Animated Feature for ''Chicken Little'' ([[Critics' Choice Movie Awards]]) (2005)

===Won===
* Best Animated Feature for ''Cats Don't Dance'' (Annie) (1997)

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="ChickenLittleNotes">{{cite web|title=Chicken Little - Production Information |url=http://www.bvifinland.fi/uploads/text/ChickenLittle_ProdNotes.doc |publisher=The Walt Disney Company Nordic |access-date=December 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529192756/http://bvifinland.fi/uploads/text/ChickenLittle_ProdNotes.doc |archive-date=May 29, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* {{IMDb name|0227540}}
* [http://www.awn.com/mag/issue5.08/5.08pages/strikedindal.php3 ''Mark Dindal's Place in the Sun''] by Joe Strike at [[Animation World Network]].
* [http://markdindal.tumblr.com Mark Dindal] on [[Tumblr]]

{{Mark Dindal}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dindal, Mark}}
[[Category:American animated film directors]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:American storyboard artists]]
[[Category:Animators from Ohio]]
[[Category:Annie Award winners]]
[[Category:Artists from Columbus, Ohio]]
[[Category:California Institute of the Arts alumni]]
[[Category:Film directors from Ohio]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Ohio]]
[[Category:Sony Pictures Animation people]]
[[Category:Special effects people]]
[[Category:Walt Disney Animation Studios people]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. Animation people]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. Discovery people]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Latest revision as of 01:55, 31 May 2024

Mark Dindal
Born
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Alma materCalArts
Occupations
  • Filmmaker
  • effects animator
  • character designer
  • storyboard artist
  • voice actor
Years active1979–present
Employer
Children2[1]

Mark Dindal is an American filmmaker, animator and voice actor. Best known for his work at Disney, he directed the company's 2000 animated film The Emperor's New Groove (2000), as well as their 2005 film Chicken Little.[2] Prior, he was credited with animation work on the Disney Renaissance films The Little Mermaid (1989) and Aladdin (1992), as well as Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1992). In 1997, he briefly moved to Warner Bros. Animation and made his directorial debut with the film Cats Don't Dance, which won an Annie Award for Best Animated Film. Recently, Dindal directed the 2024 animated film The Garfield Movie for Sony Pictures and Alcon Entertainment.

Early life[edit]

Dindal was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1960.[3]

Growing up, Dindal was influenced by Disney films and Warner Bros. Saturday cartoons.[4] One of his earliest influence was Disney's The Sword in the Stone, which he remembers his grandmother taking him to see when he was three years old.[4] It also helped that his dad took art as a hobby and taught Dindal to draw while growing up in Syracuse, New York.[5]

During his teen years, Dindal attended Jamesville-DeWitt High School, where he attended most of the art classes that the school had to offer, along with making comic strips and short films.[6] Dindal learned animation at CalArts.[3] He began working at Disney in 1980.[3]

Career[edit]

Effects Animator at Disney (1980–1988)[edit]

His early work included The Fox and the Hound (1981), The Black Cauldron (1985), Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983), The Great Mouse Detective (1986), and Oliver & Company (1988),[3] each following a very similar animation style in all the films. This style consisted of similar backgrounds with delicate animation and complex character effects, which was well received.

Leaving and Returning to Disney (1986–1992)[edit]

After these projects, Dindal briefly left Disney to work on several projects for varying studios, including BraveStarr and The Brave Little Toaster. He returned to the studio in 1987 and got his first head role as a visual effects supervisor for The Little Mermaid (1989).[3] He later worked as head animator for the film The Rescuers Down Under (1990) and worked as an effects animator on the animated film Aladdin (1992).[3]

Dindal as Director (1991–2000)[edit]

Dindal’s first time in the director’s chair was for a short, 1940s style wartime propaganda segment for the 1991 superhero film, The Rocketeer. Working with a crew of 3 other animators, Dindal took inspiration from Disney wartime cartoons like Victory Through Air Power and Frank Capra’s Why We Fight series.[7]

Dindal's feature-length debut was Cats Don't Dance, which was released in 1997, three years before The Emperor's New Groove was released in 2000.[3] In Cats Don't Dance Dindal voiced Max. The film won the Annie Award for Best Animated Film and Dindal was nominated for directing. The Emperor's New Groove was initially expected to be a Disney musical feature called Kingdom of the Sun. However, the idea did not work out, so Dindal, along with Chris Williams and David Reynolds changed the script to a comedy. During the six-year production, he started to work on Cats Don't Dance, a Turner Broadcasting (since merged into Warner Bros.) animated musical production.

Chicken Little (2005)[edit]

Dindal worked on Chicken Little (2005), another Disney production, which needed a large animation team. Dindal voiced Morkubine Porcupine and Coach in the film. The film was nominated for several Annies, though Dindal was not nominated as a director. During the film's production, DisneyToon Studios produced Kronk's New Groove as a direct-to-video feature. As Dindal was working on Chicken Little at the time, he did not have a position on the staff. Later, Dindal created the TV series The Emperor's New School (2006–2008).

Post-Disney (2006–present)[edit]

In March 2006, a day after the DVD release of Chicken Little, Dindal and producer Randy Fullmer left the company because they were reportedly tired of dealing with then-WDFA head David Stainton.[8] Over the span of three years, Dindal was attached to direct several live-action films, including Sherlock's Secretary[9] and Housebroken,[10] both for Walden Media, and a film adaptation of the children's book Kringle for Paramount Pictures.[11]

In December 2010, Dindal was directing at DreamWorks Animation the animated film Me and My Shadow, based on his own pitch that would've combined both computer and traditional animation.[12] In January 2012, he was no longer directing the film[13] and was replaced by story artist Alessandro Carloni as director, and the film has been in development limbo since 2013.[14]

In July 2014, he provided illustrations for the documentary film Restrung, centering on colleague Randy Fullmer on his career at Wyn Guitars from 2006. On November 12, 2018, it was announced that Dindal will direct an animated Garfield feature for Alcon Entertainment, with pre-production beginning the following month in Los Angeles.[15] In March 2019, Dindal was involved as a story artist and helped design the characters, Gus and Cooper,[16] for the 2019 Nickelodeon film, Wonder Park. That same year, it was announced that Dindal, along with Pixar veteran Teddy Newton, will develop a film based on the Funko pop figures for Warner Animation Group.[17]

In November 2021, it was announced that The Garfield Movie was picked up by Sony Pictures Releasing for a worldwide release (excluding China), and will star Chris Pratt as the titular role. The film will also reunite Dindal with New Groove screenwriter David Reynolds, who's writing the script.[18] In September 2022, the film was scheduled to be released on May 24, 2024.[19]

Unrealized projects[edit]

Personal life[edit]

Dindal is the father of two daughters, who were the inspiration for his original Chicken Little pitch.[1]

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Director Writer Animation Department Other Note
1981 The Fox and the Hound No No Yes No Effects inbetween artist (uncredited)
1982 Fun with Mr. Future No No Yes No
1983 Mickey's Christmas Carol No No Yes No Effects animator
1985 The Black Cauldron No No Yes No
1986 The Great Mouse Detective No No Yes No
1987 Sport Goofy in Soccermania No No Yes No
The Brave Little Toaster No No No Yes Effects animation consultant
Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night No No Yes No Special effects animator
1988 BraveStarr No No Yes No
BraveStarr: The Legend No No Yes No Effects animator
Oliver & Company No No Yes No
1989 The Little Mermaid No No Yes No Visual effects supervisor
1990 The Prince and the Pauper No No Yes No Storyboard artist
The Rescuers Down Under No No Yes No Head effects animator
1991 The Rocketeer No No Yes No Director: Nazi Invasion segment
1992 Frozen Assets No No No Yes Animation sequence producer
Tom and Jerry: The Movie No No Yes No Effects animator
Aladdin No No Yes No
The Little Mermaid No No Yes Yes Effects consultant (1 episode), effects animator (2 episodes), storyboard artist (1 episode)
1993 Happily Ever After No No Yes No Special effects animator, voice of Goons (uncredited)
1997 Cats Don't Dance Yes Yes Yes Yes Story, character designer, storyboard artist, storyboard supervisor, voice of Max
2000 The Emperor's New Groove Yes Yes No No
2002 The Sweatbox No No No Yes Himself, documentary
2005 Chicken Little Yes Yes Yes Yes Story, character designer, voice of Morkubine Porcupine & Coach
Kronk's New Groove No No No Yes Based on characters (uncredited)
2006–2008 The Emperor's New School No Yes No No Creator, writer
2014 Restrung No No No Yes Illustrator, documentary
2019 Wonder Park No No Yes No Story Artist
2024 The Garfield Movie Yes No Yes Yes Story artist, character designer, voice of Sleep App, lyricist for Lactose Farm Jingle

Internet[edit]

Year Title Role
2011 TAG Blog[21] Himself
2015 Lights, Camera, Austin[22]
2020 Happily Ever After Hours[7]
2021 Disney Movie Insider Presents[23]

Reception[edit]

Critical, public and commercial reception to films Dindal has directed as of May 29, 2024.

Film Rotten Tomatoes[24] Metacritic[25] CinemaScore[26] Budget Box office
Cats Don't Dance 71% (24 reviews) 62 (21 reviews) B $32 million $3.5 million
The Emperor's New Groove 86% (134 reviews) 70 (28 reviews) A $100 million $169.7 million
Chicken Little 36% (163 reviews) 48 (32 reviews) A− $150 million $314.4 million
The Garfield Movie 37% (113 reviews) 31 (28 reviews) B+ $60 million $100.3 million

Awards and nominations[edit]

Nominations[edit]

  • Best Individual Achievement: Directing in a Feature Production for Cats Don't Dance (Annie) (1997)
  • Outstanding Individual Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production for The Emperor's New Groove (Annie) (2001)
  • Outstanding Individual Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production for The Emperor's New Groove (Annie) (2001)
  • Best Animated Feature for The Emperor's New Groove & Chicken Little (Annie) (2001; 2006)
  • Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature for The Emperor's New Groove & Chicken Little (Satellite Award) (2000; 2005)
  • Best Animated Feature for Chicken Little (Critics' Choice Movie Awards) (2005)

Won[edit]

  • Best Animated Feature for Cats Don't Dance (Annie) (1997)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Joseph Andrew Taylor (November 9, 2020). "Disney's 'Chicken Little': Inside the Troubled History of the Studio's First CGI Feature". Collider. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020. Regarding the origins of Chicken Little, "I have two daughters, so I immediately went to a father/daughter story," Dindal said.
  2. ^ Lanpher, Dorse A. (October 19, 2010). Flyin' Chunks and Other Things to Duck: Memoirs of a Life Spent Doodling for Dollars. iUniverse. pp. 176–. ISBN 978-1-4502-6099-2. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Chicken Little - Production Information". The Walt Disney Company Nordic. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Strike, Joe (November 1, 2000). "Mark Dindal's Place in the Sun". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  5. ^ "Mark Dindal biography". tribute.ca. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  6. ^ "Happily Ever After Hours with Director and Filmmaker Mark Dindal". The Walt Disney Family Museum. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Alex Reif (December 18, 2020). "WDFM Event Recap: Mark Dindal Talks About Directing "The Emperor's New Groove" and "Chicken Little"". Laughing Place. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  8. ^ Hill, Jim (October 5, 2006). "A special "No nudes is good news" edition of Why For". Jim Hill Media. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  9. ^ "Mark Dindal to Direct 'Sherlock's Secretary'". MovieWeb. August 11, 2006. Archived from the original on December 28, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  10. ^ McNary, Dave (October 12, 2009). "Dindal draws 'Housebroken'". Variety. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  11. ^ LaPorte, Nicole (February 27, 2007). "Paramount gets tough with Santa myth". Variety. Archived from the original on February 13, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  12. ^ DreamWorks Animation (December 10, 2010). "DreamWorks Animation Pioneers Groundbreaking Combination of CG and Hand-Drawn Animation Techniques in Me and My Shadow for March 2013" (Press release). PR Newswire. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  13. ^ Kit, Borys (January 31, 2012). "DreamWorks Animation Sets Voice Cast for 'Me & My Shadow' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 3, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
  14. ^ "DreamWorks Animation Pushes Back Release for 'Mr. Peabody & Sherman'". The Hollywood Reporter. February 5, 2013. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  15. ^ "Mark Dindal To Direct All-Animated 'Garfield' Feature For Alcon". Cartoon Brew. November 12, 2018. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  16. ^ Keyframe Magazine (March 2019). "WILD AND WONDERFUL". The Animation Guild. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  17. ^ Fleming, Mike (September 16, 2019). "Warner Bros Animation Plans Funko Film Based On Collectible Figures". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  18. ^ Grobar, Matt (November 1, 2021). "'Garfield': Chris Pratt To Voice Title Character In Alcon Entertainment's Animated Film". Deadline. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  19. ^ O'Rourke, Ryan (September 16, 2022). "Garfield Release Date Moved to Spring 2024". Collider. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  20. ^ "Paul Kaplan and Mark Torgove are HOUSEBROKEN". The Tracking Board. February 1, 2011. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  21. ^ Hulett, Steve (June 13, 2011). "The Mark Dindal Interview -- Part I". TAG Blog. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
  22. ^ "Interview: Mark Dindal, director, "The Emperor's New Groove"". Lights, Camera, Austin. June 4, 2015. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  23. ^ Disney Movie Insider (January 27, 2021). "Disney Movie Insiders Presents... The Emperor's New Groove". Megaphone. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  24. ^ "Mark Dindal | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  25. ^ "Mark Dindal". www.metacritic.com. 1989. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  26. ^ "CinemaScore". cinemascore.com. Retrieved May 29, 2024.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mark_Dindal&oldid=1226506112"