David Kirschner - Details

Biography

DAVID KIRSCHNER (Producer) can best be described as a "storyteller" who is equally at home in the worlds of live action and animation. Kirschner began his career as an illustrator for Jim Henson's Muppet and Sesame Street characters. At 23, he wrote and illustrated a series of children's books entitled Rose Petal Place. This property was a tremendous success, spawning a total of 16 books, two television specials and over 1,100 products.

In 1986 Kirschner executive produced with Steven Spielberg and co-wrote the story for the smash hit An American Tail, which became one of the most successful animated films in history. It was followed by the sequel American Tail 2: Feivel Goes West, a Saturday morning animated series and the upcoming direct-to-video features American Tails 3, 4 and 5. Kirschner's second film was the horror movie Child's Play whose leading character, "Chucky," an animatronic doll that Kirschner created, became a cult star and launched a second successful franchise with Child's Play II, Child's Play III and Bride of Chucky. Kirschner then created and produced Disney's live-action hit comedy-thriller Hocus Pocus starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy.

In 1989, Kirschner accepted the top post at Hanna-Barbera. During his four years at the studio, Kirschner launched a full slate of animated programs, including the Emmy Award-winning series "The Addams Family" and "The Pirates of Dark Water," the highly successful miniseries and subsequent series based on his Marvel comic. Kirschner also created and produced a number of innovative television specials, including the Emmy Award-winning "The Last Halloween," the first-ever long form television program to combine computer-generated images with live action; "The Dreamer of Oz," an Emmy Award nominee for Best Television Feature, based on the life of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" creator L. Frank Baum; and "The Halloween Tree," written and narrated by Ray Bradbury, which won an Emmy Award for Best Animated Children's Program.

On the theatrical side, Kirschner executive produced the box-office smash The Flintstones, again in partnership with Spielberg, and produced Twentieth Century Fox's animated musical Once Upon a Forest. He then co-wrote and produced the live-action and animated fantasy The Pagemaster for Fox and Turner Pictures. The Pagemaster was based upon a book co-written by Kirschner, and was named the American Library Association's Children's Book of the Year in 1993. It went on to be published in 14 languages.

Kirschner also produced the critically acclaimed animated feature Cats Don't Dance, released in 1997. Cats won both the Golden Crown at Annecy and the prestigious Annie Award (the American Animation Awards) for Best Feature. The 1930s-style musical features a score by Randy Newman, vocals by Natalie Cole, and choreography by the late Gene Kelly. In pre-production is a live-action adaptation of the Curious George books, for which Kirschner is teamed up with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. Kirschner is also executive producer of the television series "Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict." In Spring, 2001, Kirschner begins shooting Miss Potter, which is based on the life of children's author Beatrix Potter. Academy Award winner Bruce Beresford will direct.