#20 - Joe Haidar on The Insane World of 1990s Disney: Animating Aladdin, Meeting Spielberg in the Dreamworks Animation Wars, $500,000 Phone Calls, Recording With Robin Williams, and Pitching The Idea for Hercules

Red Carpet Rookies

Our first animator on the show, Joe Haidar tells us how he got into the animation industry, as well as, incredible stories from his time in the business. He tells us how he pitched the idea of Disney's Hercules, why some animators got paid millions of dollars in the 90s and what it was like to animate Robin Williams' Genie on Aladdin!
This episode's key moments:
(03:48) Joe's journey into the animation business
(09:40) Joe's advice for those looking to get into animation
(13:58) Joe's experience working on Who Framed Roger Rabbit
(32:27) The amazing story of Joe pitching Hercules to the heads of Disney
(42:57) What it was like attending Genie recording sessions with Robin Williams on Aladdin
(47:20) The inside story of the Disney/Dreamworks animation wars and why some animators got paid millions of dollars in the 90s
(1:00:56) Quickfire Questionnaire
Check out Joe's incredible animated short Animated American here.
Joe's 'book that everyone must read' - Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.
If you enjoyed this episode you'll enjoy this episode with Aladdin Concept artist Dominic Lavery.
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