Pasadena Convention Center
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John Musker (He/Him)

Director
John is a 40 year veteran of the Disney Animation Studio. He began there in 1977 as part of the first "wave" from the CalArts Character Animation Program. He animated on "The Fox and the Hound" and later co-wrote and directed several features with his partner Ron Clements including "The Great Mouse Detective" (1986), "The Little Mermaid" ( 1989) , "Aladdin" (1992), "Hercules" (1997), "Treasure Planet "( 2002) , "The Princess and the Frog" ( 2009), and "Moana" ( 2016). Several of these have been nominated for Oscars. "Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin" both won two Oscars. John retired from Disney in 2018 and has made his own hand drawn animated short "I'm Hip" which was selected by the Annecy Festival in 2023 and short listed for the 2023 Oscar for Best Animated Short. He has a number of other hand drawn shorts in the planning stages. He continues to produce caricatures of his friends , family, and colleagues. He is currently mentoring animation students at Chapman University in Orange, California.

PARTICIPANT SCHEDULE

Ron Clements & John Musker: The Art of Story Masterclass

Civic Auditorium | John Musker | Ron Clements | Pietro Schito | Write for Animation

Discover the storytelling secrets behind Disney classics like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Moana, taught by the legendary duo who created them —Ron Clements and John Musker.

In this rare masterclass, they’ll reveal how they craft compelling characters, build emotional arcs, and transform ideas into timeless stories. Whether you’re a writer, artist, or animator, gain clear, practical insights directly from two Disney legends.

Presented by Write for Animation. Hosted by writer-producer Pietro Schito.

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