Chris Williams is an American-Canadian animation film director, screenwriter and voice actor who is best known for directing the films Bolt (2008) and Big Hero 6 (2014) and co-directing the film Moana (2016) for Walt Disney Animation Studios, and for directing the film The Sea Beast (2022) for Netflix Animation.
Early life Williams was born in Missouri and spent the first 25 years of his life in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, where his father was the director of Counselling Services at the University of Waterloo. Williams graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in Fine Arts and then enrolled in the animation program at Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario. Upon graduation from Sheridan, he was recruited by Disney and moved to Los Angeles.
Career Williams previously worked in the story department for Mulan (1998), The Emperor's New Groove (2000) and Frozen (2013), in which he also voiced the character Oaken. In February 2007, it was announced he would direct American Dog, which was re-titled Bolt (2008) and was later joined by Byron Howard, both of them replaced Chris Sanders who was the original director.
In July 2010, it was reported by various sources that Williams would direct King of the Elves based on the story by Philip K. Dick. However, in 2012, it was revealed that Williams had joined another Walt Disney Animation film, Big Hero 6, as a director inspired by the Marvel Comics of the same name, alongside Don Hall.
In November 2018, it was reported that Williams had left Disney and he would write and direct The Sea Beast for Netflix. The Sea Beast was released on Netflix on July 8, 2022.
Filmography Feature films YearFilmCredited as Director Writer ProducerStoryArtist Other Voice Notes 1998 Mulan 2000 The Emperor's New Groove 2002 Lilo & Stitch Head of Story 2003 Brother Bear Additional Story 2005 Chicken Little 2007 Meet the Robinsons 2008 Bolt Additional Voices Disney Story Trust - uncredited 2009 The Princess and the Frog 2010 Tangled 2011 Winnie the Pooh 2012 Wreck-It Ralph 2013 Frozen Oaken 2014 Big Hero 6 Creative Leadership 2016 Zootopia Additional Story, Creative Leadership Moana Creative Leadership 2018 Ralph Breaks the Internet 2019 Frozen II Oaken (uncredited) 2021 Raya and the Last Dragon Additional Story 2022 The Sea Beast Netflix Original Film
Shorts and TV Year TitleDirectorWriterExecutiveProducerOtherVoice Notes 2008 Glago's Guest 2009 Super Rhino Prep & Landing TV special 2015 Frozen Fever Oaken 2016 LEGO Frozen: Northern Lights Episode: "Journey to the Lights" 2017 Gone Fishing Olaf's Frozen Adventure Oaken Featurette 2020 Once Upon a Snowman Disney+ Original Short Film
Other credits Year Title Role 2012 Paperman Special Thanks 2020 The Willoughbys 2022 Strange World Very Special Thanks 2023 Nimona Special Thanks 2024 Moana 2 Special Thanks - Gratitude (as “Chris”) 2025 The Twits Special Thanks In Your Dreams
See also List of University of Waterloo people
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