William Joyce (writer)
Encyclopedia
William Joyce is an American author, illustrator, and filmmaker. Newsweek
has called him one of the top 100 people to watch in the new millennium. His illustrations have appeared on numerous New Yorker
covers and his paintings are displayed at national museums and art galleries. He lives with his wife and their son in Shreveport, Louisiana
. His daughter Mary Katherine, died at the age of 18 on 2 May 2010.
, Santa Calls, Dinosaur Bob and his Adventures with the Family Lazardo, Rolie Polie Olie
, The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs, and A Day with Wilbur Robinson
.
Joyce is currently working on an upcoming series of novels and picture books, The Guardians of Childhood, consisting of totally 15 books.
, an animated series based on his series of children's books that airs on the Disney Channel
. His second television series, George Shrinks
, airs daily on PBS stations.
Joyce created conceptual characters for Disney/Pixar
's feature films Toy Story
(1995) and A Bug's Life
(1998).
In 2001, after Joyce and Ice Age
director Chris Wedge
failed to adapt one of Joyce's books to the screen, Santa Calls, they both came up with the idea for the animated film Robots
(2005). Besides being one of the creators, Joyce also served as a producer and production designer.
In 2005 Joyce and Reel FX launched a joint venture Aimesworth Entertainments to produce feature films, video games and books. The new company set to make three feature films: The Guardians of Childhood
, The Mischevians, and Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures With the Family Lazardo, but they never got realized.
In 2007, Disney released Meet the Robinsons
, a movie based on his book A Day with Wilbur Robinson
, to which Joyce served as one of the executive producers of the film along with John Lasseter
and Clark Spencer
. In the same year, he designed the opening title sequence for Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
.
In August 2009, Joyce and Reel FX co-founder Brandon Oldenburg founded a Shreveport-based animation and visual effects studio MOONBOT Studios. The studio produced a 13-minute animated short film and an e-book
app The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.
At the DreamWorks Animation
, he is currently co-directing a 2012 computer-animated film Rise of the Guardians, which is based on his upcoming series of picture books and novels The Guardians of Childhood. Also, his picture book The Leaf Men is currently being adapted into a 2013 computer-animated feature film by Blue Sky Studios
. Joyce is writer, producer and production designer on the film.
's original location.
cover through the foundation with all profit going to Louisiana artists and arts organizations.
Rolie Polie Olie series:
The Guardians of Childhood series:
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
has called him one of the top 100 people to watch in the new millennium. His illustrations have appeared on numerous New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
covers and his paintings are displayed at national museums and art galleries. He lives with his wife and their son in Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
. His daughter Mary Katherine, died at the age of 18 on 2 May 2010.
Children's literature
Joyce has written and illustrated over fifty children's books. Some of his best known are: George ShrinksGeorge Shrinks
George Shrinks is a Canadian animated television series. It is based on the children's book by William Joyce, produced in China by Jade Animation and in Canada by Nelvana, in association with Public Broadcasting Service . It tells the story of a ten-year-old boy named George who, for unexplained...
, Santa Calls, Dinosaur Bob and his Adventures with the Family Lazardo, Rolie Polie Olie
Rolie Polie Olie
Rolie Polie Olie is a children's television series produced by Nelvana and created by William Joyce. The show centers on a little boy who is composed of several spheres and other three-dimensional geometric shapes...
, The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs, and A Day with Wilbur Robinson
A Day with Wilbur Robinson
A Day with Wilbur Robinson is a 1990 children's picture book written and illustrated by William Joyce...
.
Joyce is currently working on an upcoming series of novels and picture books, The Guardians of Childhood, consisting of totally 15 books.
Film and television
Joyce has received three Emmys for Rolie Polie OlieRolie Polie Olie
Rolie Polie Olie is a children's television series produced by Nelvana and created by William Joyce. The show centers on a little boy who is composed of several spheres and other three-dimensional geometric shapes...
, an animated series based on his series of children's books that airs on the Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
. His second television series, George Shrinks
George Shrinks
George Shrinks is a Canadian animated television series. It is based on the children's book by William Joyce, produced in China by Jade Animation and in Canada by Nelvana, in association with Public Broadcasting Service . It tells the story of a ten-year-old boy named George who, for unexplained...
, airs daily on PBS stations.
Joyce created conceptual characters for Disney/Pixar
Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
's feature films Toy Story
Toy Story
Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated film released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is Pixar's first feature film as well as the first ever feature film to be made entirely with CGI. The film was directed by John Lasseter and featuring the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen...
(1995) and A Bug's Life
A Bug's Life
A Bug's Life is a 1998 American computer animated adventure comedy film produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures in the United States on November 25, 1998. A Bug's Life was the second Disney·Pixar feature film after Toy Story, and the third American computer-animated film after Toy...
(1998).
In 2001, after Joyce and Ice Age
Ice Age (film)
Ice Age is a 2002 American computer-animated film created by Blue Sky Studios and released by 20th Century Fox. It was directed by Carlos Saldanha and Chris Wedge from a story by Michael J. Wilson. The story follows three Paleolithical mammals attempting to return a lost human baby to its parents...
director Chris Wedge
Chris Wedge
Chris Wedge is an American film director, best known for the films Ice Age and Robots.-Early life and career:Wedge was born in Binghamton, New York. He attended Fayetteville-Manlius High School, graduating in 1975...
failed to adapt one of Joyce's books to the screen, Santa Calls, they both came up with the idea for the animated film Robots
Robots (film)
Robots is a 2005 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Blue Sky Studios for 20th Century Fox, and was released theatrically on March 11, 2005. The story was created by Chris Wedge and William Joyce, a children's book author/illustrator. The two were trying to create a film version of...
(2005). Besides being one of the creators, Joyce also served as a producer and production designer.
In 2005 Joyce and Reel FX launched a joint venture Aimesworth Entertainments to produce feature films, video games and books. The new company set to make three feature films: The Guardians of Childhood
The Guardians of Childhood
Rise of the Guardians, formerly titled The Guardians of Childhood, is an upcoming 3D computer-animated action/adventure comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and due for release on November 21, 2012. It is being directed by Peter Ramsey and co-directed by William Joyce...
, The Mischevians, and Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures With the Family Lazardo, but they never got realized.
In 2007, Disney released Meet the Robinsons
Meet the Robinsons
Meet the Robinsons is a 2007 American computer-animated family film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures on March 30, 2007. The forty-seventh animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics, the film was released in both the United States and the...
, a movie based on his book A Day with Wilbur Robinson
A Day with Wilbur Robinson
A Day with Wilbur Robinson is a 1990 children's picture book written and illustrated by William Joyce...
, to which Joyce served as one of the executive producers of the film along with John Lasseter
John Lasseter
John Alan Lasseter is an American animator, director and the chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. He is also currently the Principal Creative Advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering....
and Clark Spencer
Clark Spencer
Clark Spencer is an American film producer, businessman and studio executive, best known for his work at Walt Disney Animation Studios....
. In the same year, he designed the opening title sequence for Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is a 2007 film written and directed by Zach Helm. The film stars Dustin Hoffman as the owner of a magical toy store, and Natalie Portman as his store employee.-Plot:...
.
In August 2009, Joyce and Reel FX co-founder Brandon Oldenburg founded a Shreveport-based animation and visual effects studio MOONBOT Studios. The studio produced a 13-minute animated short film and an e-book
E-book
An electronic book is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, and produced on, published through, and readable on computers or other electronic devices. Sometimes the equivalent of a conventional printed book, e-books can also be born digital...
app The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.
At the DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. is an American animation studio based in Glendale, California that creates animated feature films, television program and online virtual worlds...
, he is currently co-directing a 2012 computer-animated film Rise of the Guardians, which is based on his upcoming series of picture books and novels The Guardians of Childhood. Also, his picture book The Leaf Men is currently being adapted into a 2013 computer-animated feature film by Blue Sky Studios
Blue Sky Studios
Blue Sky Studios is an American CGI-animation studio which specializes in high-resolution, computer-generated character animation and rendering. It is owned by 20th Century Fox and located in Greenwich, Connecticut...
. Joyce is writer, producer and production designer on the film.
Saks Fifth Avenue
In both 1994 and 1995 Joyce designed the Christmas displays for Saks Fifth AvenueSaks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
's original location.
The World of William Joyce
This exhibition is run by the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature. It began in 1998 and is currently still traveling nationally.Artspace
Artspace is a gallery located in Shreveport that is run under the guidance of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. Joyce serves as the Artistic Director. He has helped bring a Peter Pan Centennial exhibit, an Art of Robots exhibit, and Faces of Katrina.Community
Joyce has recently founded the Katrinarita Gras Foundation to raise money for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He is selling prints of his unpublished Mardi Gras The New YorkerThe New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
cover through the foundation with all profit going to Louisiana artists and arts organizations.
Awards
Joyce received the 2008 Louisiana Writer Award for his enduring contribution to the "literary intellectual heritage of Louisiana." The award was presented to him on October 4, 2008, during a ceremony at the 2008 Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge.Books
- George Shrinks (1985) - Written and illustrated by
- Shoes (1986) - Written by Elizabeth Winthrop, illustrated by
- Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo (1988) - Written and illustrated by
- A Day with Wilbur RobinsonA Day with Wilbur RobinsonA Day with Wilbur Robinson is a 1990 children's picture book written and illustrated by William Joyce...
(1990) - Written and illustrated by - Bently & Egg (1992) - Written and illustrated by
- Santa Calls (1993) - Written and illustrated by
- The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs (1996) - Written and illustrated by
Rolie Polie Olie series:
- Rolie Polie Olie (1999) - Written and illustrated by
- Snowie Rolie (2000) - Written and illustrated by
- Sleepy Time Olie (2001) - Written and illustrated by
- Big Time Olie (2002) - Written and illustrated by
The Guardians of Childhood series:
- The Man in the Moon (2011) - Written and illustrated by
- Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King (2011) - Written and illustrated by
- E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth's Core! (2012) - Written and illustrated by
Films
- Toy StoryToy StoryToy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated film released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is Pixar's first feature film as well as the first ever feature film to be made entirely with CGI. The film was directed by John Lasseter and featuring the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen...
(1995) - Conceptual and art design - Buddy (1997) - Screen story, screenwriter
- A Bug's LifeA Bug's LifeA Bug's Life is a 1998 American computer animated adventure comedy film produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures in the United States on November 25, 1998. A Bug's Life was the second Disney·Pixar feature film after Toy Story, and the third American computer-animated film after Toy...
(1998) - Conceptual and art design - RobotsRobots (film)Robots is a 2005 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Blue Sky Studios for 20th Century Fox, and was released theatrically on March 11, 2005. The story was created by Chris Wedge and William Joyce, a children's book author/illustrator. The two were trying to create a film version of...
(2005) - Producer, production designer - Meet the RobinsonsMeet the RobinsonsMeet the Robinsons is a 2007 American computer-animated family film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures on March 30, 2007. The forty-seventh animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics, the film was released in both the United States and the...
(2007) - Writer, executive producer - Mr. Magorium's Wonder EmporiumMr. Magorium's Wonder EmporiumMr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is a 2007 film written and directed by Zach Helm. The film stars Dustin Hoffman as the owner of a magical toy store, and Natalie Portman as his store employee.-Plot:...
(2007) - Production designer, main title sequence design - The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (2011) - Director, writer
- Rise of the Guardians (2012) - Co-director, writer, producer, executive producer
- Leaf Men (2013) - Writer, executive producer
Television series
- Rolie Polie OlieRolie Polie OlieRolie Polie Olie is a children's television series produced by Nelvana and created by William Joyce. The show centers on a little boy who is composed of several spheres and other three-dimensional geometric shapes...
(1998–2006) - Created by, based on the book series of the same name - George ShrinksGeorge ShrinksGeorge Shrinks is a Canadian animated television series. It is based on the children's book by William Joyce, produced in China by Jade Animation and in Canada by Nelvana, in association with Public Broadcasting Service . It tells the story of a ten-year-old boy named George who, for unexplained...
(2000–2001) - Created by, based on the book of the same name