David Maxwell Kirschner (born May 29, 1955) is an American film and television producer and screenwriter. His producing credits include Don Bluth's An American Tail (also wrote) and Titan A.E. animated features as well as Cats Don't Dance, Curious George, the Child's Play horror franchise.
Career After studying at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, Kirschner began his career designing album cover art for Neil Diamond, including The Jazz Singer, and illustrating characters for the Muppets and Sesame Street. In 1983, Kirschner created and released children's book series Rose Petal Place, which spawned two Television specials, toys, clothing, and a wide array of licensed consumer products. In 1986, Kirschner created and executive produced An American Tail, which was co-executive produced by Steven Spielberg, and, at its release, was the highest-grossing non-Disney produced animated feature of all time. It was followed by its theatrical sequel An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991), the television series Fievel's American Tails, and two direct-to-video sequels. In 1986, David Kirschner signed a deal with United Artists Pictures and MGM/UA Television for development, production and distribution of major motion picture and television projects for a two-year deal. Kirschner was appointed chairman of Hanna-Barbera Productions in 1989, where he wrote / created and executive produced many films, specials and shows, including Wake, Rattle & Roll, Gravedale High and The Pirates of Dark Water.
Kirschner also designed the Chucky animatronic doll which is featured in the Child's Play series. He has produced all seven films in the original franchise, as well as executive producing the Chucky television series. Other notable productions include 1997's Cats Don't Dance, winner of the 25th annual Annie Award for Best Animated Feature, 2006's Curious George, based upon the book series of the same name, Martian Child, and Golden Globe-nominated Miss Potter. His 2010s/2020s work includes executive producer on Curious George, Hocus Pocus 2 (Disney+), Random (In Pre-Production for The Weinstein Company) and Garden District (In-Development for Dimension Films). Kirschner is currently head of his own production company, David Kirschner Productions.
Filmography
Films +TitleYearFunctioned asNotesProducerExecutiveproducerWriterAn American Tail1986Animated Child's Play1988Child's Play 21990Child's Play 31991An American Tail: Fievel Goes West1991AnimatedOnce Upon a Forest1993AnimatedHocus Pocus1993The Flintstones1994The Pagemaster1994Live action / animated Cats Don't Dance1997Animated Bride of Chucky1998Titan A.E.2000AnimatedFrailty2001Secondhand Lions2003Seed of Chucky2004Thru the Moebius Strip2005Animated Curious George2006Animated Miss Potter2006Martian Child2007Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey!2009Animated / Direct-to-DVDCurse of Chucky2013Direct-to-DVDKristy2014Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle2015Animated / Direct-to-DVDCult of Chucky2017Direct-to-DVDCurious George: Royal Monkey2019Animated / Direct-to-DVDCurious George: Go West, Go Wild2020Animated / Direct-to-streamingCurious George: Cape Ahoy2021Animated / Direct-to-streamingHocus Pocus 22022Direct-to-streaming
Television films and specials TitleYearFunctioned asNotesProducerExecutiveproducerWriterRose Petal Place1984Animated specialRose Petal Place: Real Friends1985Animated special...Where's Rodney?1990Unsold pilotPoochinski1990Unsold pilotThe Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story1990The Last Halloween1991Live action / animated specialMonster in My Pocket: The Big Scream1992Animated specialThe Halloween Tree1993Animated specialThe Town Santa Forgot1993Animated special
Television series +TitleYear(s)Functioned asNotesCreatorExecutiveproducerWriterGravedale High1990Animated (13 episodes)Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures1990Animated (13 episodes)Wake, Rattle and Roll1990–1991Live action / animated (50 episodes)The Pirates of Dark Water1991–1993Animated (21 episodes)Fievel's American Tails1992Animated (13 episodes) / Also creative consultantFish Police1992Animated (6 episodes)The Addams Family1992–1993Animated (21 episodes)Capitol Critters1992–1996Animated (13 episodes)Earth: Final Conflict1997–2002Executive producer (110 episodes) / Teleplay (Episode: "Law & Order")Five Days to Midnight2004Mini-series (5 episodes)Curious George2006–2022Animated (198 episodes + 3 specials)Chucky2021–2024 24 episodes
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