Benjamin “Ben” Gluck is an American head of story and director known for his work on major animated features including 9 (Focus Features), Bambi 2 (Disney), as well as the Apple TV+ specials Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love and Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne. He also directed Disney's Brother Bear 2 and Alpha and Omega (Lionsgate).
Ben Gluck | |
|---|---|
 Gluck (left) with Frank Thomas | |
| Born | Benjamin Gluck |
| Other name | Ben Gluck |
| Alma mater | California Institute of the Arts |
| Occupations | Head of Story, Director, Storyboard Artist |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Known for | Peanuts, 9, Walt Disney Animation Studios . |
Early life
editBenjamin "Ben" Gluck was born in St. Louis, Missouri. As a teenager, he showed his art portfolio to Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston during their book tour for Bambi: The Story and the Film. They encouraged him to apply to California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).[1] After being accepted, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Character Animation from CalArts. His second-year student film Man's Best Friend was awarded the Walter Lantz Animation Prize[2] at the CalArts Producers Show, where he thanked Thomas and Johnston personally. The film later premiered on MTV's network[3] and screened theatrically as part of the Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation.
Career
editUpon graduating from CalArts, Gluck joined Walt Disney Feature Animation, contributing to multiple theatrical films and later serving as Head of Story and Director on studio releases, including Bambi II, Piglet's Big Movie, and the Annie Award-winning Brother Bear II.[4][5][6][7]
After Disney, Gluck pursued opportunities to tell new kinds of stories in animation,[8] becoming Head of Story on the Tim Burton-produced 9 for Focus Features.[9]
In 2010, Gluck co-directed Alpha and Omega, by Lionsgate Family Entertainment, creating a family animation franchise.[10] During this period he also developed feature film projects with producers including George Lucas, Tyler Perry, and Charles Roven. He later served as Senior Executive and Head of Story at Alpha Animation from 2018 to 2019.[11]
In 2021 Gluck played a key role in revitalizing the Peanuts franchise, serving as senior story creative and Head of Story for Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne, the first new Peanuts holiday special in eighteen years, and Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love. The latter was noted for breaking new ground with its inclusion of LGBTQ families[12][13] and was the first in the franchise to receive a Humanitas Prize nomination.[14] Both specials were produced for Apple TV+ and marked a new chapter in the expansion of Peanuts programming.[15]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Credits | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love | Head of Story | Children's and Family Emmy-Nominee. Humanitarian Award-Nominee. Kidscreen Award-Winner: Best Holiday Special. |
| 2021 | Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne | Head of Story | Annie Award-Nominee: Best Animated Special Production |
| 2016 | Madea's Tough Love | Story Editor | Dove "Family Approved Seal” Award-Recipient |
| 2013 | Kahlil Gibran's, The Prophet | Storyboard Artist | Visionary Award-Winner |
| 2010 | Alpha and Omega | Director | Annie Award-nominee: Best Animated Feature |
| 2010 | Yogi Bear | Storyboard Artist | |
| 2009 | 9 | Head of Story | VES Award-Nominee: Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture |
| 2006 | Brother Bear II | Director | Annie Award-Winner: Best Screenplay |
| 2006 | Bambi II | Head of Story | Annie Award-Winner: Best Home Entertainment Production |
| 2004 | Home on the Range | Storyboard Artist | |
| 2003 | Piglet's Big Movie | Storyboard Artist | |
| 2001 | The Emperor's New Groove | Storyboard Artist | |
| 2000 | Dinosaur | Storyboard Artist | |
| 2000 | Clerks (TV) Season 1/Episode 2: Wherein Dante and Randle are Locked in the Freezer | Storyboard Artist | |
| 2000 | Rugrats (TV) Season 8/Episode 3: Don't Poop On My Parade | Storyboard Artist | Daytime Emmy Award-Winner |
| 1998 | The Prince of Egypt | Storyboard Artist | |
| 1998 | Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation Man's Best Friend | ||
| 1996 | MTV's Cartoon Sushi Man's Best Friend |
Director / Creator | Walter Lantz Award-Winner |
Television
edit- Rugrats (TV) (2000)
- Clerks (TV) (2001)
- MTV's Cartoon Sushi's Man's Best Friend (1998)
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Animation Magazine October 2010".
- ↑ "CalArts Magazine Fall/Winter 2009". Issuu.
- ↑ "Ben Gluck - Mafab.hu". Mafab.hu.
- ↑ "Brother Bear 2 Due at Month's End". 15 August 2006.
- ↑ "Disney to axe Sydney studio". 26 July 2005.
- ↑ "Animation Magazine September 2006".
- ↑ "Disney bets on Piglet's prospects". February 19, 2002.
- ↑ "Animation Magazine October 2010".
- ↑ Ebert, Roger (2009-09-09). "9". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on April 18, 2010. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
- ↑ "Alpha and Omega (2010) – Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
- ↑ ...
- ↑ "Peanuts Mother's Day Special Declares 'Some Kids Even Have 2 Moms'". The Christian Post. May 9, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
- ↑ "New Peanuts Special Has LGBT Message: 'Some Kids Even Have 2 Moms'". Crosswalk. May 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
- ↑ "46th Annual Humanitas Prizes Winners & Nominee Watchlist". September 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
- ↑ "Apple TV+ Unveils Exciting Kids and Family Slate Featuring All-New Peanuts Specials".