ERIC GOLDBERG - Aladdin “The Genie”
This was a live recording with Disney Studios..
ERIC GOLDBERG (Animator) is renowned for his role in creating and supervising the animation of the Genie character for “Aladdin,” for directing “Pocahontas” and the “Rhapsody in Blue” and “Carnival of the Animals” sequences for “Fantasia/2000,” along with numerous other achievements. He is the recipient of the 2011 Winsor McCay award from ASIFA-Hollywood for lifetime achievement in animation. Among his recent work, he created new animation for the Cirque du Soleil show, “Drawn to Life,” at Disney Springs in Orlando, Fla. He has also contributed animation to a variety of projection shows and special projects for Disney Parks and Experiences around the world.
Goldberg’s animation knowledge started early, creating flip books at age six and moving on to making prize-winning Super 8 films from the age of 13. After attending Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, majoring in illustration, Goldberg became a full-time assistant animator to legendary director Richard Williams on “Raggedy Ann and Andy.” He went on to direct countless TV spots for Williams in London before coming to Los Angeles to serve as director of animation on the Emmy®-winning “Ziggy’s Gift.” Returning to London, he co-founded Pizazz Pictures, a commercial studio with a world-wide clientele.
Goldberg joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1990 to supervise the animation of the wise-cracking Genie in “Aladdin.” He then co-directed “Pocahontas” (1995), and animated the feisty satyr Phil in “Hercules” (1997). His directing stints on “Fantasia/2000” were a labor of love and were inspired by both George Gershwin and the legendary theatrical caricaturist Al Hirschfeld, who served as artistic consultant.
Other Disney credits include “The Princess and the Frog” (for which he supervised Louis, the trumpet-playing alligator, earning him his third Annie Award for best character animation), “Winnie the Pooh” (supervising Rabbit and the “Backson Song” sequence), and “Wreck-It Ralph” (helping to flesh out the character of King Candy). He also served as head of animation for 2013’s Oscar®-nominated short, “Get a Horse!” and recently was the director, writer, and a supervising animator for the animated shorts “Disney Presents Goofy in How to Stay at Home.”
Goldberg and wife, Susan, a talented artist and art director in her own right, have two daughters, Rachel and Jenny, who both work as artists in the entertainment industry.
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