Robert Animation Studios

Disclaimer: Some of the production content might be subject to change

Robert Animation Studios is an American animation studio in New Haven, Connecticut. The studios is well known for it’s mix of traditional and computer animated films.

Early Years(1995-1999)
In 1994, Robert approached Walt Disney Feature Animation to put his dream project to life, but Disney refused due to their other planned projects. He was then approached by then Disney Animation employees Michael Wolf and Isa Winslow in 1995 who were intrigued about his idea. While they wanted to help Robert make the project, Robert was hesitant since it would take a lot of work since they were a smaller group. But they decided to form an animation studio open to anyone who wanted to bring their idea to the drawing board. The studio would become “Robert Animation Studios” and they would begin production of a short film, High School Daze. The short would center around a 16 year old girl who just entered a new school after she moved to the city. The short would star Melissa Joan Hart, David Lascher, Cheryl Chase, and Rodger Bumpass. The short would be shown off at Film Fest New Haven in 1997 and would later be shown theatrically in 1999 with the release of Arlene. The short was well-received by critics for it’s simplicity and the short would be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film of 1997, but lost to Pixar’s Geri’s Game.

After finishing High School Daze, Robert was ready to begin production on his passion project. The studios first feature film, Arlene. The film would feature Natalie Portman as the title character, as well as Nicole Kidman, Masiela Lusha, Daniel Day-Lewis, Bette Midler, John De Lancie, Vanessa Williams, and Danny Tamberelli. In 1998, Robert Nadal announced that Paramount Pictures would distribute the film and would be released in theaters worldwide on July 7, 1999. The film was praised by critics and audiences for its story, characters, relationships, and comedy and would gross around $364 million worldwide being the highest grossing non-Disney traditional animated feature of 1999 and the highest grossing non-Disney traditional animated film overall until Spirited Away surpassed it.