Chris Sanders was born and raised in Colorado, where his childhood fascination with animation began at the tender age of ten after being captivated by Ward Kimball's animated shorts on "The Wonderful World of Disney". This early exposure sparked a creative spark within him, and he soon found himself devoting countless hours to drawing and honing his artistic skills.
As he entered his teenage years, Chris's grandmother playfully nudged him towards the world of animation, sharing with him the existence of an esteemed animation program at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). Heeding her words of wisdom, Chris applied to CalArts and was subsequently accepted, where he majored in character animation and graduated in 1984.
Following his academic pursuits, Chris landed a job at Marvel Comics, where he lent his artistic talents to the beloved animated series "Muppet Babies" (1984). His time at Marvel Comics proved to be a valuable stepping stone, as he soon transitioned to the Walt Disney Company in 1987, joining the visual development department.
Chris's Disney tenure was marked by a series of notable achievements, including his work on the visually stunning "The Rescuers Down Under" (1990),followed by his pivotal contributions to the massive successes "Beauty and the Beast" (1991) and "The Lion King" (1994). His impressive portfolio caught the attention of Disney's animation leaders, who soon entrusted him with the responsibility of co-writing, co-directing, and providing voice work for the 1998 Disney animated hit "Mulan".
The success of "Mulan" catapulted Chris to new heights, and he went on to co-write, co-direct, and design characters for the critically acclaimed "How to Train Your Dragon" (2010) at Dreamworks. Throughout his illustrious career, Chris has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in both traditional cel-based and CGI-based animation, leaving an indelible mark on the world of animation.
