Template:Lead rewriteDonald Virgil "Don" Bluth (born September 13, 1937) is an American animator, film director, producer, writer, production designer, video game designer and independent studio owner who is known for his departure from The Walt Disney Company in 1979 and his subsequent directing of animated films such as The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail (1986), The Land Before Time (1988), All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989), and Anastasia (1997), and his involvement in the laserdisc game Dragon's Lair. He is also known for competing with Disney during the years leading up to the films that would make up the Disney Renaissance. He is the older sibling of illustrator Toby Bluth.
The Secret of NIMH, Anastasia, The Land Before Time, Thumbelina, An American Tail, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Rock-a-Doodle, Titan A.E., The Pebble and the Penguin, A Troll in Central Park, Bartok the Magnificent, Banjo the Woodpile Cat, All Dogs Go to Heaven 2, The Small One, Gift of the Hoopoe, Ben 10...
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Trademark
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Animated films frequently contain dark imagery and pathos
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Almost always has the main protagonist carrying an object or possession that has an importance to the plot (Charlie's watch in All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989), Mrs. Brisby's amulet in The Secret of NIMH (1982), Littlefoot's treestar in The Land Before Time (1988))
The children in his films are often either orphaned or separated from their family (Anne-Marie in All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989), Littlefoot, Cera, Petrie, Ducky and Spike in The Land Before Time (1988), Fievel in An American Tail (1986), Anastasia in Anastasia (1997))
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His animated features often feature a glittering gold sparkle effect
[on Judith Barsi] She was absolutely astonishing. She understood verbal direction, even for the most sophisticated situations. We loved working with her.
Quit Disney on his 41st birthday taking 18 other employees with him.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Dragon's Lair: The Movie
characters / story announced
All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series
1996-1998
TV Series characters - 40 episodes
All Dogs Go to Heaven 2
1996
characters - uncredited
A Troll in Central Park
1994
story
Thumbelina
1994
screenplay
Rock-A-Doodle
1991
story
Dragon's Lair II: Timewarp
1991
Video Game characters - uncredited
All Dogs Go to Heaven
1989
story
Dragon's Lair
1984
TV Series characters - 13 episodes
The Secret of NIMH
1982
story adaptation
Banjo the Woodpile Cat
1979
TV Short uncredited
Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too
1974
Short story
Animation Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
SpongeBob SquarePants
TV Series animator - 1 episode, 2006 visual effects - 1 episode, 2006
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
1982
TV Series animator - 1 episode
The Secret of NIMH
1982
directing animator / layout artist
Xanadu
1980
animator: animation sequence unit
Banjo the Woodpile Cat
1979
TV Short animator
The Small One
1978
Short animator - uncredited
Pete's Dragon
1977
animation director
The Rescuers
1977
directing animator
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
1977
animator
Escape to Witch Mountain
1975
animator: titles - uncredited
Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too
1974
Short animator
Robin Hood
1973
character animator
Journey Back to Oz
1972
layout artist
Sabrina and the Groovie Goolies
1970
TV Series layout artist - 16 episodes
Will the Real Jerry Lewis Please Sit Down
1970
TV Series layout artist - 1 episode
Fantastic Voyage
1968-1969
TV Series layout artist - 17 episodes
The Sword in the Stone
1963
assistant animator - uncredited
Sleeping Beauty
1959
assistant animator - uncredited
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Dragon's Lair: The Movie
announced
Gift of the Hoopoe
2009
Short credit only
Titan A.E.
2000
Bartok the Magnificent
1999
Video
Anastasia
1997
The Pebble and the Penguin
1995
uncredited
A Troll in Central Park
1994
Thumbelina
1994
Rock-A-Doodle
1991
Dragon's Lair II: Timewarp
1991
Video Game
All Dogs Go to Heaven
1989
The Land Before Time
1988
An American Tail
1986
Space Ace
1983
Video Game
Dragon's Lair
1983
Video Game
The Secret of NIMH
1982
Banjo the Woodpile Cat
1979
TV Short
The Small One
1978
Short
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Dragon's Lair: The Movie
producer announced
Dragon's Lair 3D: Return to the Lair
2002
Video Game producer
Titan A.E.
2000
producer
Bartok the Magnificent
1999
Video producer
Anastasia
1997
producer
The Pebble and the Penguin
1995
producer
A Troll in Central Park
1994
producer
Thumbelina
1994
producer
Rock-A-Doodle
1991
producer
Dragon's Lair II: Timewarp
1991
Video Game producer
All Dogs Go to Heaven
1989
producer
The Land Before Time
1988
producer
An American Tail
1986
producer
Space Ace
1983
Video Game producer
Dragon's Lair
1983
Video Game producer
The Secret of NIMH
1982
producer
Banjo the Woodpile Cat
1979
TV Short producer
The Small One
1978
Short producer
Art Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
I-Ninja
2003
Video Game storyboard artist: cinematics
Rock-A-Doodle
1991
storyboard artist
All Dogs Go to Heaven
1989
storyboard artist
The Land Before Time
1988
storyboard artist
An American Tail
1986
storyboard artist
The Secret of NIMH
1982
visual development - uncredited
Production Designer
Title
Year
Status
Character
All Dogs Go to Heaven
1989
The Land Before Time
1988
An American Tail
1986
Archie and His New Pals
1969
TV Movie
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Banjo the Woodpile Cat
1979
TV Short lyrics: "He Couldn't Be Good", "Off to the City", "The Rain Song", "Boogie Baby", "I'll Stick with You, Kid" / music: "He Couldn't Be Good", "Off to the City", "The Rain Song", "Boogie Baby", "I'll Stick with You, Kid"
The Small One
1978
Short "Small One" / writer: "Small One Main Title", "The Merchant's Song"
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
I-Ninja
2003
Video Game director: cinematics
An American Tail
1986
title designer
Dragon's Lair
1984
TV Series based on the characters owned by - 1 episode
Space Ace
1983
Video Game game designer
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Nostalgia Critic
2015
TV Series
Don Bluth
Space Ace
1983
Video Game
Borf (voice)
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Nostalgia Critic
2015
TV Series special thanks - 2 episodes
Animation Lookback
2012
TV Series documentary acknowledgment - 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Shut Up and Talk
2016
TV Series
Himself
Picture Perfect: The Making of Sleeping Beauty
2008
Video documentary short
Himself
The Making of 'Anastasia'
2006
Video documentary
Himself
The Quest for the Titan
2000
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Gamerz
1998
TV Series
Himself
Biography
1997
TV Series documentary
Himself - Director / Producer
The Magical Journey of 'Anastasia'
1997
Video documentary short
Himself
Back to Enchantment: The Making of 'Thumbelina'
1993
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Troldspejlet
1989
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Director
Cinema 3
1987
TV Series
Himself
Vista: The New Magicians
1985
TV Series documentary
Himself (1985)
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Edición Especial Coleccionista
2011
TV Series
Himself
Waking Sleeping Beauty
2009
Documentary
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2005
Winsor McCay Award
Annie Awards
1998
OFTA Film Award
Online Film & Television Association
Best Animated Picture
Anastasia (1997)
1993
Time-Machine Honorary Award
Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1998
Annie
Annie Awards
Outstanding Individual Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production
Anastasia (1997)
1998
Annie
Annie Awards
Outstanding Individual Achievement for Producing in an Animated Feature Production