Barry Cook
Director/Writer/Producer
Barry Cook is a veteran of film and animation with 40 years of experience in the
industry. He began his career at Hanna-Barbera Studios, where he worked as an
assistant animator on the pilot episode of “The Smurfs”. In the early 1980’s he was
hired by Walt Disney Studios to lend his talents as an Effects Animator to such notable
features as “Tron”, “The Little Mermaid”, “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin”.
In 1992 Barry made his directing debut and his mark as a computer graphics pioneer
with the CG short “Off His Rockers”. He continued to sharpen his directorial skills on the
Disney/Amblin short “Trail Mix-Up” starring Roger Rabbit.
His feature debut was in 1998 with Disney’s “Mulan” which became an instant classic.
For his work on the picture, Barry received the International Animated Film Society’s
Annie Award for “Best Individual Achievement for Feature Directing”.
Barry also developed the feature film properties “My Peoples” for Disney in 2003 and
“Mean Margaret” for Starz Entertainment in 2005. LAIKA Entertainment engaged Barry
in 2008 as a development director where he co-wrote the screenplay “Jack & Ben”.
In 2009 Barry signed with Aardman Animations and co-directed their hilarious CG
animated feature “Arthur Christmas” which was released by Sony/Columbia Pictures in
2011.
Barry’s next feature as director was, “Walking with Dinosaurs” from 20th Century Fox
and BBC Earth released in 2013. The film’s innovative look was achieved by combining
photo-realistic CG creature animation with stunning live-action vistas shot in remote
locations in Alaska and New Zealand.
For more than a decade, Barry has also been creatively involved with CRU and the
“Jesus Film Project” as a writer and story director for several short film projects
including their Animation titles “My Last Day” (2011), “Legion” (2019) and “Chosen
Witness” (2021).
Under the banner of his own company Studio PB&J, LLC, Barry continues to write and
produce original ideas for film, podcast and publishing. Currently in production is an
audio drama titled “The Happy Place” and a delightful Children’s book titled “Gumdrop
Ghost” with distribution of both works scheduled for an autumn release in 2022.