Effects Animator Profile: Mark Dindal

Mark Dindal has been contributing to the art of animation for the past 20 years in a variety of artistic capacities and receives his second feature film directing credit with The Emperor's New Groove. He made his directing debut in 1997 with the Warner Bros. animated feature, Cats Don't Dance. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Dindal grew up watching Disney animated classics and knew early on that he wanted to pursue a career in animation.

He studied his craft at the prestigious CalArts animation program before launching his professional career with Disney in 1980. Starting as an effects inbetweener on The Fox and the Hound, he went on to work on The Black Cauldron, Mickey's Christmas Carol, and The Great Mouse Detective. Following a brief hiatus to pursue outside projects, he returned to Disney in 1987 for a stint as visual effects supervisor on The Little Mermaid followed by work on The Rescuers Down Under. His other credits for the Studio include visual development for several projects and a stint as effects animator on Aladdin. Additionally, he directed the animated segment for the live-action film, The Rocketeer (shown below).



Listen to this great interview with Mark Dindal from the TAG blog - Part 1 and Part 2.

Effects Animation Filmography

1. "The Little Mermaid" (effects animation) (2 episodes, 1992) (effects consultant) (1 episode, 1992)
       - Eel-Ectric City (1992) TV episode (effects animation)
       - Beached (1992) TV episode (effects animation)
       - Whale of a Tale (1992) TV episode (effects consultant)
2. Aladdin (1992) (effects animator)
3. Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1992) (effects animator)
4. The Rescuers Down Under (1990) (effects animator)
5. Happily Ever After (1990) (special effects animator) (as Mark L. Dindal)
   
6. The Little Mermaid (1989) (visual effects supervisor)
7. Oliver & Company (1988) (effects animator)
8. BraveStarr: The Legend (1988) (special effects animator)
9. "BraveStarr" (special effects animator) (65 episodes, 1987-1988)
       - Strength of the Bear (1988) TV episode (special effects animator)
       - Shake Hands with Long Arm John (1988) TV episode (special effects animator)
       - No Drums, No Trumpets (1988) TV episode (special effects animator)
       - The Blockade (1988) TV episode (special effects animator)
       - Nomad Is an Island (1988) TV episode (special effects animator)
         (60 more)
10. Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night (1987) (special effects animator)
11. The Brave Little Toaster (1987) (effects animation consultant)
12. Sport Goofy in Soccermania (1987) (effects animator)
13. Basil, the Great Mouse Detective (1986) (effects animator)
    ... aka "The Great Mouse Detective" - USA (original title)
    ... aka "The Adventures of the Great Mouse Detective" - USA (reissue title)
14. The Black Cauldron (1985) (special effects animator)
15. Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) (effects animator)

Skip ahead through this clip to 3:40 to see just a bit of his old work: