Steve Hickner is an American animator and director at DreamWorks Animation. He is best known for directing DreamWorks animated films such as The Prince of Egypt and Bee Movie. He won the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Feature and was also nominated for the Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature for his work on The Prince of Egypt.
Early life Hickner was inspired to work in animation by his high school English teacher, who suggested he should find a career in the animation industry. This suggestion encouraged him to create an animated film after school. Hickner described this film as “terrible,” because he lacked knowledge of how to properly animate. At first he desired to become a cartoonist, but later he decided to become an animator. Hickner cited some of his biggest influences as Walt Disney and the Warner Brothers. After High School he went to the New York University Film school where he studied Film Production B.F.A.
Career While in school, Hickner contacted, and was hired by a man named Kay Wright. He spent over thirty-five years working at DreamWorks, Disney, Amblimation, Aardman, Hanna-Barbera and Filmation. He has produced the films, An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story and Balto. His directing credits include Bee Movie and The Prince of Egypt. Hickner also contributed to Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Little Mermaid, The Great Mouse Detective, Madagascar, Shrek Forever After, Mr. Peabody & Sherman and Home. He has contributed to location-based entertainment projects in Singapore, Dubai, China, London, and Hollywood. Hickner has been a guest speaker at many colleges and universities, film festivals and animation events. He has also authored two books: Animation Rules! 52 Ways to Achieve Creative Success and Animating Your Career.
Filmography Television Year Title Notes 1981 The New Adventures of Zorro storyboard artist Blackstar 1982 Pac-Man story director 1983 The Dukes 1983-1985 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe storyboard artist 2010 Kung Fu Panda Holiday story artist
Film Year Title Notes 1985 The Black Cauldron in between artist 1986 The Great Mouse Detective key assistant animator 1988 Who Framed Roger Rabbit production coordinator: animation 1989 The Little Mermaid assistant production manager: clean-up 1991 An American Tail: Fievel Goes West associate producer 1993 We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story producer 1995 Balto 1998 Antz additional story artist The Prince of Egypt director 2000 The Road to El Dorado additional storyboard artist Joseph: King of Dreams executive producer 2004 Shark Tale story artist 2005 Madagascar additional story artist 2006 Over the Hedge 2007 Bee Movie director 2008 Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five storyboard artist 2010 Shrek Forever After additional story artist Donkey's Caroling Christmas-tacular story artist 2011 Night of the Living Carrots storyboard artist Book of Dragons director/writer 2014 Mr. Peabody & Sherman storyboard artist 2015 Home additional story artist
Internet Year Title Notes 2016 Cartoons VS Cancer Himself
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