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

Friday 10/23

The Great Mouse Detective 40th Anniversary!

Nick Manfredi | John Musker | Ron Clements

“The game’s afoot!”

Join us for an unforgettable 40th Anniversary Celebration of Disney’s The Great Mouse Detective, the animated classic that saved Disney Animation and launched a whole new era of storytelling!

Step into the world of Basil, Dawson, Olivia, and the villainous Professor Ratigan alongside the legendary filmmakers who created them — directors John Musker and Ron Clements! Hear behind-the-scenes stories, creative insights, and reflections on the lasting legacy of the film that helped pave the way for the Disney Renaissance!

This discussion will be moderated by Nick Manfredi, host of the video podcast series Nick’s Friends in Film! Come relive the mystery, adventure, and magic of The Great Mouse Detective with the iconic filmmakers who made it all possible!

Skill Level: General Audience

John Musker (He/Him)

The Great Mouse Detective 40th Anniversary!

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