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Tony Leondis

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Tony Leondis
Born
Anthony Leondis

(1972-03-24) March 24, 1972 (age 52)
New York City, U.S.
Alma materHellenic College[1]
Occupation(s)Animator, voice actor, filmmaker
Years active1997–2017
Notable workLilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch, Igor, Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters, The Emoji Movie

Anthony Leondis (born March 24, 1972) is a Greek–American[2] former animator, filmmaker, and voice actor, known for directing The Emoji Movie, Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch, Igor, and the unreleased DreamWorks Animation film B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations.

Career

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Tony Leondis was at CalArts for a time, and had the opportunity to enter the industry thanks to his then professor Brenda Chapman, who offered him an internship to work on one of her films, The Prince of Egypt. After about 6 months, Leondis ended up working as a story artist on that film full-time.[3]

Leondis started his career as a story artist working on films such as The Prince of Egypt and The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. He later joined DisneyToon Studios, where he co-wrote the script for Kronk's New Groove. Leondis made his directorial debut on Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch in 2005. In 2008, he directed his first theatrical animated film, Igor, for Exodus Film Group.[4]

Since 2009, he was directing at DreamWorks Animation an animated feature film about ghosts. Leondis originally pitched the film as a school story called BOO U,[5] but during development over the next few years, the plot would be drastically changed. Leondis went on to direct the Kung Fu Panda short Secrets of the Masters. Finally, in 2012, his ghost film, now called B.O.O. Otherworldly Operations Office took its apparent final form and entered pre-production. Leondis also directed this version of the film, alongside Ryan O'Loughlin, who became co-director.[6]

Now titled B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations,[7] based on Leondis's original idea,[8] the film was scheduled to be released in 2015,[9] but by late 2014, it was pulled from DWA's schedule and went back into restructuring.[10][11] However, due to the failures that DreamWorks suffered during 2013 and 2014, added to the doubts that the studio was having about the film, they ended up causing the studio to decide to avoid another failure and ended up scrapping the film, in addition to closing Leondis's studio Pacific Data Images, which was helping to animate the film. It was reported that when this studio was closed, the production of B.O.O. ceased. According to reports, the film had 60% advanced animation when it was cancelled.[12] By 2015, Leondis left DreamWorks to develop his next animated film, while B.O.O. was left dead at the studio.

The Emoji Movie

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In 2017, Leondis directed and co-wrote Sony Pictures Animation's animated film The Emoji Movie.[11] Leondis pitched the film to the studio and co-wrote it with Eric Siegel.[11] According to a producer named Tripp Vinson, Leondis stated that several studios thought that Emoji Movie had the potential to become a multi-film franchise.[13]

According to statements by Leondis himself, Emoji Movie had a very rushed production once Sony began producing it,[14][15] supposedly because Sony knew how quickly cell phones evolved and they did not want the film to be outdated. also because by not having the rights, any studio could make an emoji movie before them. As they said, they had such a drastic time limit that they hardly had time to test whether the film worked or not. The film was released on July 28, 2017. Though the film was a box-office success, it was panned by critics.[16] He won two Razzie Awards for Worst Director and Worst Screenplay, the latter shared with Eric Siegel and Mike White, making Leondis the first animation director in motion picture history to win those categories.[17] Leondis has not been active in the entertainment industry since, but continues to make public appearances occasionally as of June 2022, with his most recent appearance being at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Personal life

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Leondis is the son of a Greek Orthodox priest.[18] He is openly gay.[15]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Director Writer Animation department Voice actor Role Notes
1998 The Lion King II: Simba's Pride No No Yes No Direct-to-video
Additional character designer
The Prince of Egypt No No Yes No Story artist
2000 The Road to El Dorado No No Yes No Additional story artist
2004 Home on the Range No No Yes No Story artist
2005 Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch Yes Yes No No Direct-to-video
Kronk's New Groove No Story No No
2008 Igor Yes No No Yes Killiseum Fan #4 Additional screenplay material
2011 Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters Yes No No Yes Master Croc Video short
2017 The Emoji Movie Yes Yes No Yes Laughter,
Broom,
Pizza		 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director winner

Television

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Year Title Special thanks Notes
1997 Cartoon Sushi Yes Episode #1.4

Awards and nominations

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Ceremony Film/TV Show Category Year Result
Razzie Awards The Emoji Movie Worst Director 2018 Won
Worst Screenplay
Annie Awards Kronk's New Groove Best Writing In An Animated Feature Production 2006 Nominated
DVD Exclusive Awards Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch Best Director (of a DVD Premiere Movie)
Best Screenplay (for a DVD Premiere Movie)

References

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  1. ^ "Tony Leondis - Film director and writer of famous animations produced by Walt Disney". Ellines.com. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  2. ^ Stelinia Theodosopoulou (September 24, 2017). "Ο Ελληνοαμερικάνος σκηνοθέτης Tony Leondis μιλάει στο IGN Greece" [Greek-American director Tony Leondis speaks at IGN Greece] (in Greek). IGN Greece. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  3. ^ "Slave Girls From Beyond Infinity & Other Animation First-Job Stories". Animation World Network. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  4. ^ Zeitchik, Steven (September 21, 2006). "Weinsteins tap 'Igor' helmer". Variety. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  5. ^ Tony Leondis (2015-06-04). Art Of BOO Manuscript Second Draft 11 03 14.
  6. ^ "DIRECTING". ryanoloughlin. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  7. ^ Barrett, Annie (June 19, 2009). "DreamWorks greenlights animated ghost project 'Boo U'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  8. ^ DreamWorks Animation (October 31, 2013). "Bill Murray Gets Ghost Busted with Jennifer Coolidge and Octavia Spencer in B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations". Pitch Engine. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  9. ^ DreamWorks Animation (September 9, 2012). "New Distributor Twentieth Century Fox Unveils DreamWorks Animation's Release Slate Through 2016". DreamWorks Animation. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  10. ^ Verrier, Richard (November 17, 2014). "DreamWorks Animation shares plummet after Hasbro talks end". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  11. ^ a b c Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 21, 2015). "Emoji At Center Of Bidding Battle Won By Sony Animation; Anthony Leondis To Direct". Deadline. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  12. ^ "'Three years flushed down the toilet': What happened to Dreamworks' 'B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations'?". uk.movies.yahoo.com. 2019-08-02. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  13. ^ "Movie producer who was baffled by The Lego Movie writers and directors". New York Times. 2017-08-05. Retrieved 2024-09-08 – via Irish Examiner.
  14. ^ Oscars (2017-08-02). Academy Conversations: The Emoji Movie. Retrieved 2024-09-08 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ a b Freeman, Molly (July 10, 2017). "How Toy Story Inspired The Emoji Movie, According to Tony Leondis". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  16. ^ Lawrence, Derek (July 27, 2017). "The most brutal reviews of The Emoji Movie". Entertainment Weekly.
  17. ^
  18. ^ Gaudette, Emily (July 13, 2017). "How the 'Emoji Movie' Tries to Transcend Capitalism". Inverse. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
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