Steve Martino

Not to be confused with Steve Martin.
Steve Martino
Martino at the 2015 Annecy International Animated Film Festival
Born
Stephen Michael Martino

(1959-07-21) July 21, 1959 (age 65)
Dayton, Ohio, U.S.[1]
Alma materOhio State University
Occupations
  • Designer
  • film director
Years active1990–present
EmployerBlue Sky Studios (2001–2021)
Signature

Stephen Michael Martino[2] (born July 21, 1959)[2] is an American designer and film director. He is best known for directing the Blue Sky Studios films Horton Hears a Who! (2008), Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), and The Peanuts Movie (2015).

Early life

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Martino went to Ohio State University where he studied design.[3] After graduation, he heard computer animation pioneer Chuck Csuri speak. "I was absolutely blown away. No one was doing what he was showing us. I hadn't seen images like that anywhere before," Martino said. He returned to the university and earned in 1989 a master's degree,[1] studying at the Computer Graphics Research Group (later renamed to Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design), founded by Csuri.[3]

Career

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After graduation, Martino went to Los Angeles, where he worked in animation and visual effects.[3] In 2001, he joined Connecticut-based Blue Sky Studios.[1] There he co-directed the animated films Horton Hears a Who! (2008) and Ice Age: Continental Drift.[3] He also directed The Peanuts Movie (2015), an animated feature film adaptation of Charles M. Schulz's US comic strip Peanuts.[4]

In February 2018, it was reported that Martino and Karen Disher would direct the animated fantasy musical, under the working title Foster, for Blue Sky Studios. The film was originally scheduled for release on March 5, 2021.[5][6] However, following Disney's acquisition of Fox, it was removed from the release schedule.[7] The production studio was closed in 2021.[8]

In November 2023, WildBrain Studios announced that Martino will direct an animated Peanuts film for Apple TV+.[9]

Filmography

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Director

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Film

Short film

  • Scrat's Continental Crack-up (2010)
  • Scrat's Continental Crack-up - Part 2 (2011)

Art director

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Film

Short Films

Television

  • World of Discovery (1990) (Main title designer)

Other roles

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Critical reception

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Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
Horton Hears a Who! (2008) 76%[10] 71%[11]
Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) 37%[12] 49%[13]
The Peanuts Movie (2015) 87%[14] 67%[15]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
1991 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Title Sequences World of Discovery
Shared with Jeff Doud, Jon Townley and Thomas Barham		 Won
2006 Annie Award Best Production Design in an Animated Feature Production Robots
Shared with William Joyce		 Nominated
2016 Outstanding Achievement in Directing in an Animated Feature Production The Peanuts Movie Nominated
African-American Film Critics Association Best Animated Feature Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Animated Feature Nominated
Seattle Film Critics Award Best Animated Feature Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c Grossberg, Michael (September 16, 2012). "Hollywood studios brimming with talent honed in Columbus". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Martino, Steve, 1959-". Library of Congress. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d "Steve Martino, alumni, ACCAD". The Ohio State University. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  4. ^ "Charles Schulz's 'Peanuts' Gang to Hit Theaters". ComingSoon.net. October 9, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  5. ^ Amidi, Amid (February 13, 2018). "Karen Disher Set To Be First Woman Director At Blue Sky Studios". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  6. ^ Lang, Brent (February 12, 2018). "Pasek and Paul to Write Songs for Blue Sky's First Animated Musical". Variety Magazine. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  7. ^ Lang, Brent; Rubin, Rebecca (May 7, 2019). "Disney Announces New 'Star Wars' Films, Moves 'Avatar' Sequels". Variety. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  8. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 9, 2021). "Disney Closing Blue Sky Studios, Fox's Once-Dominant Animation House Behind 'Ice Age' Franchise". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Brew, Caroline (2023-11-06). "Peanuts Head to the Big City in First Apple TV+ Movie". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  10. ^ "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! (2008) - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  11. ^ "Horton Hears a Who! Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  12. ^ "Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  13. ^ "Ice Age: Continental Drift Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  14. ^ "The Peanuts Movie (2015) - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  15. ^ "The Peanuts Movie Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
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