JOHN SANFORD (Director/Screenwriter) also makes his feature film directing debut with “Home on the Range,” following an 11-year stint at Disney in the story department.
Born in Denver, Colorado, Sanford attended Denver East High, where he regularly drew witty cartoons for the school newspaper. After graduating in 1986, he attended the Rocky Mountain School of Art and Design. He went on to study animation at CalArts (The California Institute of the Arts) from 1990-93.
In 1993, Sanford’s student film caught the attention of directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale (the duo responsible for “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc.), who hired him as a story trainee at Walt Disney Feature Animation. Within a year, he was promoted to story artist on “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” This was followed by a stint on “Mulan,” and a promotion to head of story on “Atlantis: The Lost Empire.” He worked on the story team for “Lilo & Stitch,” before being asked to direct “Home on the Range” in September 2000.
Sanford’s favorite Disney films are “101 Dalmatians” and “Dumbo.” His favorite westerns are “Unforgiven,” “High Plains Drifter,” and “The Shootist.”
Sanford lives in the Burbank area with his wife Sara.
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