Chris Wedge Quotes

Powerful Chris Wedge for Daily Growth

About Chris Wedge

Chris Wedge (born April 20, 1964) is an American film director, animator, producer, and screenwriter, best known for his work with Blue Sky Studios, a division of 20th Century Fox Animation. Born in Melrose, Massachusetts, Wedge developed an early interest in art and animation, which led him to study graphic design at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. Wedge began his career as an animator for Hanna-Barbera Productions before joining the newly formed Blue Sky Studios in 1987. His first significant work was as a character designer for the studio's debut film, "Family Dog" (1989). In the early 1990s, Wedge co-created and directed the popular animated television series "Garfield and Friends." In 1997, Wedge made his directorial debut with the feature film "Barnyard," but it was his next project that truly catapulted him to fame. In 2000, he co-directed (with Carlos Saldanha) and wrote the screenplay for the blockbuster hit "Ice Age." The film became a critical and commercial success, spawning three sequels and cementing Wedge's status as a major player in the animation industry. Wedge continued to direct and produce at Blue Sky Studios, overseeing the creation of films like "Robots" (2005) and "Rio" (2011). In 2013, he co-founded the visual effects company Scanline VFX. Throughout his career, Wedge has been influenced by various artists and filmmakers, including Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, Hayao Miyazaki, and Steven Spielberg. Today, Chris Wedge continues to innovate and push the boundaries of animation, inspiring a new generation of animators and filmmakers. His work is characterized by its humor, heart, and groundbreaking visual effects, making him one of the most influential figures in modern animation.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The key to a successful animated film is to make it look like you spent a million dollars on every second of it."

This quote highlights the importance of visual quality in animation, emphasizing that high-quality, visually impressive animations are essential for a successful film. The idea is to create an illusion of substantial investment in each second of the film, making it aesthetically appealing and engaging to viewers. A well-executed animated film can leave audiences captivated by its visual storytelling, enhancing their overall experience and contributing to the film's success.

"I think if you're going to do animation, you have to break a lot of rules."

This quote emphasizes the importance of creativity and originality in the field of animation. By "breaking rules," Chris Wedge suggests that innovation, deviation from established norms, and pushing boundaries are essential for creating fresh, engaging, and high-quality animated content. It's a call to animators to think outside the box, challenge conventions, and strive for unique, groundbreaking work in their field.

"You know, the most successful animators out there are the ones that know how to act, and that's what makes them good animators."

This quote by Chris Wedge emphasizes the importance of acting skills in animation. By suggesting that animators who excel in acting make great animators, he implies that a strong understanding of character emotions, movements, and behavior – skills typically honed through acting – are crucial to creating compelling animated characters. Essentially, if an animator can portray convincing performances with their digital creations, the result will be successful, emotionally resonant animation.

"In animation, you can make anything happen, so it's a great way to tell stories."

This quote by Chris Wedge highlights the unique advantage that animation has in storytelling. Unlike live-action filmmaking where physical constraints often limit what can be depicted, animation offers unparalleled freedom and creativity. Storytellers can bring their most imaginative ideas to life, crafting worlds and characters beyond the bounds of reality, making it an engaging medium for diverse and thought-provoking narratives.

"Animation is not just for kids; it can be a very sophisticated art form."

This quote by Chris Wedge highlights the misunderstanding that animation is solely intended for children. Instead, he emphasizes its potential as a mature and complex art form, capable of expressing deep themes, emotions, and ideas that resonate with audiences of all ages. The medium's versatility lies in its ability to convey abstract concepts through vivid imagery and engaging narratives, making it an essential tool for storytelling and artistic expression.

Well, in our industry it's that the movies cost so much money to make they have to appeal to a broad audience. And I think that's part of what will loosen up in the future, as technology makes it cheaper, you'll be able to make films for a more selective audience. I think people will be able to make more personal movies.

- Chris Wedge

Cheaper, I Think, Part, So Much Money

One of the things I've observed since I was a kid, is that if you work on something long enough you'll find I, even if you're lost for a while you'll find it.

- Chris Wedge

Work, Kid, One Of The Things, Observed

I remember feeling that technology was like trying to draw with your foot. In a ski boot. It was the most indirect way to work imaginable, but the potential had us all excited. I started in stop motion.

- Chris Wedge

I Remember, Had, Your, Imaginable

Fox came to us with the concept for ICE AGE and they came to us with the first draft of the script. They also gave us a mandate to make it into a comedy from what was previously a rather dramatic action concept.

- Chris Wedge

Comedy, Rather, Mandate, Ice Age

What made 'Ice Age' work is that it had its shiny candy coatings, but inside was a soft, creamy center.

- Chris Wedge

Work, Candy, Made, Ice Age

For me, part of the fascination with making animation is you go to a place; it's a complete immersion in someone else's fantasy.

- Chris Wedge

Fantasy, Making, Part, Animation

A lot of people have helped me along the way. But you know the biggest thing for me was when computer animation came along.

- Chris Wedge

People, Way, Lot, Animation

We can't worry about competition. Besides, you aren't competing with anyone but yourself. They have nothing to do with whether you make a good movie or not.

- Chris Wedge

Worry, Movie, Competing, Besides

Someday, I'd like to sit down with a small group of people, in a relaxed environment, and make a film that feels more independent. That way we can be a little more free in terms of storytelling and subject.

- Chris Wedge

Small, Storytelling, Feels, Relaxed

We had no idea what we were in for when we started Blue Sky. We just had an idea of what we wanted to do. When we got to a point where it seemed impossible, we just kept doing it. After 18 years, we have a lot of it done.

- Chris Wedge

Sky, Doing, Seemed, No Idea

This technology will obviously become more prevalent. Who knows what will result? One thing is certain, computer technology will revolutionize the way we tell stories as much as movie film has.

- Chris Wedge

Will, Movie, Stories, Revolutionize

You win the Oscar, you get to go into just about anybody's office for a month. I had a lot of meetings.

- Chris Wedge

Go, Anybody, Oscar, Meetings

If you win the Oscar, you get to go into just about anybody's office for a month.

- Chris Wedge

Month, Get, Anybody, Oscar

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