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Tony Leondis

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Tony Leondis
Born
Anthony Leondis

(1972-03-24) March 24, 1972 (age 52)[1]
New York City, New York, U.S.
Alma materHellenic College[1]
Occupation(s)Director, screenwriter, animator, voice actor
Years active1997–present
Notable workLilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch, Igor, The Emoji Movie, Kronk's New Groove

Anthony Leondis (born March 24, 1972) is a Greek[2]-American filmmaker, known for being the director of The Emoji Movie, Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch, Igor, and the unreleased DreamWorks Animation feature film, B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations. He was also a writer from Kronk's New Groove. He won two Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Director and Screenplay, however, he was nominated for Best Director and Screenplay from Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch and Best Writer in Kronk's New Groove, and also was the director for Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters, voicing Master Croc, which proved to be his better-known work.

Career

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.[3]

Since 2009, he was directing at DreamWorks Animation an animated feature film about ghosts, titled B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations.[4] The film, which was based on his original idea,[5] was scheduled to be released in 2015,[6] but by late 2014, it was pulled from DWA's schedule and went back into restructuring.[7][8] By 2015, Leondis left DreamWorks to develop his next animated film, while B.O.O. is left dead at the studio.

The Emoji Movie

In 2017, Leondis directed and co-wrote Sony Pictures Animation's animated film The Emoji Movie, about emojis.[8] Leondis pitched the film to the studio and co-wrote it with Eric Siegel.[8]

The film was released on July 28, 2017. Though the film was a box-office success, it was panned by critics.[9] He won two Razzie Awards for Worst Director and Worst Screenplay, the latter he shared with Eric Siegel and Mike White, making him the first animation director in motion picture history to get those categories.[10]

2017-present

Following The Emoji Movie, Leondis has expressed some interest in presuming live-action filmmaking. In an interview with IGN Greece, Leondis said,

If I did some live action movie, I would like to be in a fantasy world. I like animation the idea of creating the world, the whole world. So yeah, some time ago I'd have fun doing live action.[2]

Personal life

Leondis is openly gay.[11]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director Writer Animation department Voice actor Role Notes
1998 The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Yes Direct-to-video
Additional character designer
The Prince of Egypt Yes Story artist
2000 The Road to El Dorado Yes Additional storyboard artist
2004 Home on the Range Yes Story artist
2005 Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch Yes Yes Direct-to-video
Kronk's New Groove Yes
2008 Igor Yes Yes Yes Killiseum Fan #4
2011 Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters Yes Yes Master Croc Video short
2017 The Emoji Movie Yes Yes Yes Laughter,
Broom,
Pizza
Unreleased B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations Yes Yes Wrote the story

Television

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

Awards and nominations

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

  1. ^ a b "Tony Leondis - Film director and writer of famous animations produced by Walt Disney". Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Stelinia Theodosopoulou (September 24, 2017). "GREEK-AMERICAN DIRECTOR TONY LEONDIS SPEAKS AT IGN GREECE". IGN Greece. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  3. ^ "Weinsteins tap 'Igor' helmer". Variety. August 11, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  4. ^ Barrett, Annie (June 19, 2009). "DreamWorks greenlights animated ghost project 'Boo U'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  5. ^ 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. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  6. ^ DreamWorks Animation (September 9, 2012). "New Distributor Twentieth Century Fox Unveils DreamWorks Animation's Release Slate Through 2016". DreamWorks Animation. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  7. ^ Verrier, Richard (November 17, 2014). "DreamWorks Animation shares plummet after Hasbro talks end". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c Fleming Jr., Mike (July 21, 2015). "Emoji At Center Of Bidding Battle Won By Sony Animation; Anthony Leondis To Direct". Deadline. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  9. ^ "7 brutal reviews of The Emoji Movie". Entertainment Weekly. July 27, 2017.
  10. ^ "'The Emoji Movie' Sets Animation Record With 4 Razzie Nominations - Cartoon Brew". January 23, 2018.
  11. ^ Frreeman, Molly. "How Toy Story Inspired The Emoji Movie, According to Tony Leondis". Screenrant. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
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