Tony Bancroft

Director Animator

Tony Bancroft realized a childhood dream when he was hired to animate for Walt Disney Animation Studios. During his 12-year career with Disney Studios, Bancroft helped create and animate Pumbaa, the lovable warthog in The Lion King; Kronk, the dim-witted sidekick in The Emperor’s New Groove; Cogsworth the nervous clock from Beauty and the Beast; and Iago the pestering parrot in Aladdin. He was the co-director of Disney’s Mulan, for which he received the Annie Award for Director of the Year; and animation supervisor of Sony’s Stuart Little 2, for which he received the Visual Effects Society’s top award for character animation. Tony recently went back into animation for Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns, Warner Bros. Space Jam 2, and Disney’s Disenchanted. He and his twin brother, Tom, started a popular podcast focusing on the animation industry called The Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast, which is the #1 podcast for animation on iTunes.

WEBSITE

PARTICIPANT SCHEDULE

Friday 10/23, 12:00PM-1:00PM

YouTube-First Animated Series: How to Build the Next Big IP

How do you turn a YouTube-first idea into a breakout animated IP? Emily Brundige (Strawberry Vampire), Pietro Schito (Johnny IRL), and Mary James (Run Monster Run) share practical lessons on shaping a series audiences want to follow, launching original animation online, growing a community, and building a world that can last beyond a single video. For creators developing their next animated IP directly for YouTube. Moderated by Tony Bancroft. Presented by Write for Animation.

Skill Level: General Audience

Friday 10/23, 8:15PM-9:45PM

Animayo Internacional Film Festival of Animation

Civic Auditorium | Damián Perea Lezcano | Tony Bancroft

The International Film Festival Animayo presents the Official Awards. The International Jury selected 18 award winners and 3 special mentions from nearly 2,000 films submitted from 78 countries, with only 75 works reaching the Official Shortlist. Animayo is the first and only animation festival in Spain recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as an Oscar® Qualifying Festival in two categories, and since 2026 it has also joined the exclusive Annie Awards Qualifying Festival List promoted by ASIFA-Hollywood. Over the past years, films showcased at Animayo have earned 7 shortlist, 5 Oscar® nominations and 1 Academy Awards with In the Shadow of the Cypress. This screening presents the festival’s most outstanding award-winning films.

Skill Level: General Audience

Tony Bancroft

YouTube-First Animated Series: How to Build the Next Big IP

Animayo Internacional Film Festival of Animation

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