Marlon West is an effects animator who is Head of Effects Animation and Visual Effects Supervisor for Walt Disney Animation Studios. He has twice been nominated for Annie Awards, winning for his effects animation work on Moana in 2017.
Early life West became interested in film and animation as a child. He often made short films with an 8mm camera, casting neighborhood kids in his films. He was also interested in making stop-motion films in the style of Jason and the Argonauts. West graduated from University City High School in University City, Missouri in 1981. He then attended Columbia College Chicago where he got a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Filmmaking and a Bachelors of Arts degree in Creative Writing in 1985.
Career
Early career After West graduated from Columbia College Chicago, he began working at Hyperion Studios' now-defunct animation division. He worked on the company's final two feature films: Rover Dangerfield and Bebe's Kids. He then worked as a freelance animator on commercials and music videos — for acts including The Beastie Boys and Paula Abdul — before starting as a trainee for Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1994. His first project for the company was 1994's The Lion King, where he was an effects animator.
Current career He is currently the Head of Effects Animation and is a Visual Effects Animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios. West is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and is on the Board of Governors, specifically the Animation branch.
Art In 2020 in the wake of the George Floyd murder, West was inspired to create a series of what he called "Ink Tributes" to civil rights heroes and victims of police brutality. He started out by posting his drawings on his social media pages and he has since created over 40 of these tributes. Some of his first tributes were to Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Vice President Kamala Harris. West's own son inspired two of his tributes for Nina Pop and Tony McDade. West's son inspired these portraits because he is also transgender. His art was debuted at the Museum of Social Justice in Los Angeles on August 13, 2022.
Filmography
Films +TitleYearContributionZootopia 22025Visual Effects SupervisorIwaju2024Visual Effects SupervisorEncanto2021Head of Effects AnimationFrozen II2019Head of Effects AnimationMoana2016Head of Effects AnimationThe Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated Classic2014Self CreditedBig Hero 62014Departmental LeadershipFrozen2013Effects Supervisor, Head Of Effects AnimationWinnie the Pooh2011Visual Effects SupervisorThe Princess and the Frog2009Effects Animation SupervisorMeet the Robinsons2007Digital Effects ArtistCurious George2006Visual Effects AnimatorChicken Little2005Effects AnimatorHome on the Range2004Visual Effects SupervisorAtlantis: The Lost Empire2001Visual Effects SupervisorThe Emperor's New Groove2000Additional Visual Effects AnimatorFantasia 20001999Assistant Effects Supervisor (segments: Rhapsody in Blue)Tarzan1999Visual Effects AnimatorMulan1998Additional Visual Effects AnimatorHercules1997Visual Effects AnimatorThe Hunchback of Notre Dame1996Visual Effects AnimatorPocahontas1995Effects AnimatorThe Lion King1994Effects AnimatorFernGully: The Last Rainforest1992Additional Effects AnimatorBebe's Kids1992Additional Character Designer, Special Effects AnimatorRover Dangerfield1991Special Effects Animator
TV series +TitleYear ContributionIwájú2024Visual Effects Supervisor (1 episode, 2024)Quack Pack1996Special Effects (1 episode, 1996), Art Coordinator (1 episode, 1996) Stunt Double or Nothing (Nov 27, 1996) Season 1, Episode 38 - Special Effects
Hit the Road, Backwater Jack (Nov 19, 1996) Season 1, Episode 34 - Art CoordinatorBritannica's Tales Around the World1993Ink And Paint (1 episode, 1993) Hansel and Gretel/The Woodcutter's Wealthy Sister/Pedro and the Monster (1993) - Ink And Paint (segments: Pedro and the Monster)
Short films +TitleYearContributionFeast2014Head Of Effects AnimationPaperman2012Final Line AnimatorHow to Hook Up Your Home Theater2007Artistic Coordinator, Effects SupervisorHow to Haunt a House1999Visual Effects AnimatorThe Itsy Bitsy Spider1992Special Effects AnimationThe Lion and the Mouse1988Principal Animator
Other credits +TitleYearContributionWalt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection2015Final Line Animator (segments: Paperman), Artistic Coordinator (segments: How to Hook up Your Home Theater), Effects Supervisor/head Of Effects Animation (segments: How to Hook up Your Home Theater", & "Feast)The Making of 'Atlantis: The Lost City''' |2002 |Self credited - Artistic Supervisor, Visual Effects |- |Shadrach by the Beastie Boys''1989Painter
Acting roles +TitleYearContributionThe Princess and the Frog (video game)2009VoiceThe Princess and the Frog2009Additional VoicesEternity1989Voice
Awards and nominations +AwardAward nameMovieYearAnnie AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Animated Effects in an Animated ProductionMoana2016Annie AwardsNominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Effects AnimationAtlantis: The Lost Empire2001
References