Chris Williams
Chris Williams is an American-Canadian animation film director, screenwriter and voice actor who is best known for directing the films Bolt (2008) and Big Hero 6 (2014) and co-directing the film Moana (2016) for Walt Disney Animation Studios, and for directing the film The Sea Beast (2022) for Netflix Animation.
Chris Williams

Boungawa · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Chris Williams
- Birthplace
- Missouri, U.S.
- Occupation
- Animator, film director, screenwriter, voice actor
- Education
- University of Waterloo Sheridan College
- Born
- 1968 · Waterloo.
- Nationality
- Canada
- Fields
- film production
- Honours
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program · Academy Award for Best Animated Feature
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
Chris Williams is an American-Canadian animation film director, screenwriter and voice actor who is best known for directing the films Bolt (2008) and Big Hero 6 (2014) and co-directing the film Moana (2016) for Walt Disney Animation Studios, and for directing the film The Sea Beast (2022) for Netflix Animation.
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Note VALÉORINE
Chris Williams (born 1968) is an actor, animator and director, among other activities, of Canadian nationality. The actor was born in Waterloo.
Chris Williams was educated at Bluevale Collegiate Institute and University of Waterloo. The actor lived in Missouri. Activity centred on film production.
Languages used include English. Honours include Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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In this article
Biography
Biography
Chris Williams studied at University of Waterloo and Bluevale Collegiate Institute. The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is film production. Residence is recorded at Missouri. Distinctions recorded are Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program and Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Chris Williams • Birthplace — Missouri, U.S. • Years Active — 1996–present • Occupation — Animator, film director, screenwriter, voice actor • Employer — Walt Disney Animation Studios (1998–2018) Netflix (2018–present) • Notable Works — Glago's Guest Bolt Big Hero 6 Moana The Sea Beast • Education — University of Waterloo Sheridan College • Awards — Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Big Hero 6 (2014) Chris Williams is an American-Canadian animation film director, screenwriter and voice actor who is best known for directing the films Bolt (2008) and Big Hero 6 (2014) and co-directing the film Moana (2016) for Walt Disney Animation Studios, and for directing the film The Sea Beast (2022) for Netflix Animation.
Early life
Early life
Williams was born in Missouri and spent the first 25 years of his life in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, where his father was the director of Counselling Services at the University of Waterloo. Williams graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in Fine Arts and then enrolled in the animation program at Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario. Upon graduation from Sheridan, he was recruited by Disney and moved to Los Angeles.
Career
Career
Williams previously worked in the story department for Mulan (1998), The Emperor's New Groove (2000) and Frozen (2013), in which he also voiced the character Oaken. In February 2007, it was announced he would direct American Dog, which was re-titled Bolt (2008) and was later joined by Byron Howard, both of them replaced Chris Sanders who was the original director. In July 2010, it was reported by various sources that Williams would direct King of the Elves based on the story by Philip K. Dick. However, in 2012, it was revealed that Williams had joined another Walt Disney Animation film, Big Hero 6, as a director inspired by the Marvel Comics of the same name, alongside Don Hall. In November 2018, it was reported that Williams had left Disney and he would write and direct The Sea Beast for Netflix. The Sea Beast was released on Netflix on July 8, 2022.
Shorts and TV
Shorts and TV
• Year — Title — Director — Writer — Executive Producer — Other — Voice — Notes • 2008 — Glago's Guest • 2009 — Super Rhino • Prep & Landing — Story — TV special • 2015 — Frozen Fever — Oaken • 2016 — LEGO Frozen: Northern Lights — Episode: "Journey to the Lights" • 2017 — Gone Fishing — Co-Director • Olaf's Frozen Adventure — Oaken — Featurette • 2020 — Once Upon a Snowman — Disney+ Original Short Film
Other credits
Other credits
• Year — Title — Role • 2012 — Paperman — Special Thanks • 2020 — The Willoughbys • 2022 — Strange World — Very Special Thanks • 2023 — Nimona — Special Thanks • 2024 — Moana 2 — Special Thanks - Gratitude (as “Chris”) • 2025 — The Twits — Special Thanks • In Your Dreams
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1968
Chris Williams born at Waterloo.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Missouri
Residences
Waterloo.
Birth place
Feature films
• Year — Film — Credited as • Director — Writer — Producer — Story Artist — Other — Voice — Notes • 1998 — Mulan • 2000 — The Emperor's New Groove — Story • 2002 — Lilo & Stitch — Head of Story • 2003 — Brother Bear — Additional Story • 2005 — Chicken Little • 2007 — Meet the Robinsons — Additional • 2008 — Bolt — Screenplay — Additional Voices — Disney Story Trust - uncredited • 2009 — The Princess and the Frog • 2010 — Tangled — Additional • 2011 — Winnie the Pooh • 2012 — Wreck-It Ralph — Additional • 2013 — Frozen — Oaken • 2014 — Big Hero 6 — Creative Leadership • 2016 — Zootopia — Additional Story, Creative Leadership • Moana — Co-Director — Story — Creative Leadership • 2018 — Ralph Breaks the Internet — Executive — Additional • 2019 — Frozen II — Oaken (uncredited) • 2021 — Raya and the Last Dragon — Additional Story • 2022 — The Sea Beast — Netflix Original Film
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Knelman, Martin. Bolt from blue took Canadian to Oscars. The Star. February 25, 2009.
- 2.University of Waterloo. University of Waterloo alumnus wins Oscar for Big Hero 6. Waterloo Stories. 23 February 2015.
- 3.Fritz, Ben. 'Toy Story' sequel set. Variety. February 8, 2007.
- 4.Sciretta, Peter. Bolt Teaser Poster; A Look Back at American Dog. /Film. June 20, 2008.
- 5.King of the Elves being reworked; Disney plans far ahead. Filmonic. August 6, 2010.
- 6.Graser, Marc. Disney revives 'King of the Elves' toon. Variety. June 29, 2011.
- 7.Chitwood, Adam. Disney Sets HORRIBLE BOSSES Scribe to Pen KING OF THE ELVES. Collider. June 29, 2011.
- 8.Giardina, Carolyn. Chris Williams To Co-Direct Disney Animation's 'Big Hero 6' With Don Hall. The Hollywood Reporter. December 31, 2013.
- 9.Lang, Brent. Netflix Backs 'Jacob and the Sea Beast' From 'Big Hero 6' Director Chris Williams (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. November 5, 2018.
- 10.Goldman, Eric. How Disney's Story Trust Helped Change Big Hero 6, Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph and More. IGN. February 18, 2016.
- 11.Wolfe, Jennifer. 'Moana' Sails Home on Digital HD February 21 and Blu-ray March 7. Animation World Network. January 13, 2017.
References
Citations
References
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