Kelly Asbury Quotes

Powerful Kelly Asbury for Daily Growth

About Kelly Asbury

Kelly Asbury, an accomplished American animator, screenwriter, and film director, was born on February 13, 1967, in San Francisco, California. Growing up in a family of artists and storytellers, Asbury developed a profound love for animation at an early age. This passion led him to study Character Animation at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he honed his craft under renowned animators like John Lasseter and Brad Bird. Asbury's professional journey began in 1989 at Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he worked on films such as "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast." His directorial debut came with the 2003 short film "For the Birds," which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. The success of this project solidified Asbury's reputation within the animation industry. In 2007, Asbury directed his first full-length feature, "Gnomeo & Juliet," a modern take on Shakespeare's famous play. The film was a box office success and marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration between Asbury and Elton John, who served as executive music producer. Asbury's next project was the 2016 animated musical "Storks," which he co-directed with Nicholas Stoller. The film combined live-action and animation, showcasing Asbury's ability to push the boundaries of traditional animation. Throughout his career, Asbury has been recognized for his innovative approach to storytelling and character development. His works, imbued with heartfelt emotions, humor, and vivid imagery, continue to captivate audiences worldwide. Asbury's influence can be seen in a new generation of animators, inspiring them to explore the limitless possibilities of animation as an art form.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Art is a way of telling the truth about the world and yourself."

This quote by Kelly Asbury suggests that art serves as a means to express not only the truth about the external world, but also one's inner thoughts, feelings, and experiences. In essence, it's a vehicle for self-expression and exploration, while simultaneously providing insights into the human condition and the world around us. Art can be a powerful tool for communication and connection, bridging gaps between individuals and cultures, as well as serving as a record of our collective history and creativity.


"A story is like a river that has many tributaries and islands but all lead to the same sea."

This quote by Kelly Asbury suggests that a story, much like a river, has multiple branches (tributaries) and stopping points (islands), yet all contribute to the ultimate destination (the sea). It implies that every detail, subplot, or character in a story plays a role in shaping the overall narrative, leading it toward a common resolution. Despite the differences in paths, they all converge into one unified whole.


"The best stories are those that resonate with our deepest emotions, that touch something within us, that make us feel less alone in this world."

This quote suggests that impactful stories connect deeply with our feelings and emotions, providing a sense of shared human experience. By touching our inner selves, they help us feel understood and less isolated, fostering a sense of connection and empathy among individuals. Such stories have the power to inspire, heal, and bring people closer together.


"Every frame in a movie is like a still painting. Each one needs to tell its own story."

This quote by Kelly Asbury emphasizes that every individual scene or "frame" within a film functions as an independent piece of art, similar to a still painting. The implication is that each frame should hold its own narrative value, contributing collectively to the overall story being told in the movie. It underscores the importance of careful craftsmanship and attention to detail in the creation of each scene, ensuring that each moment adds depth and meaning to the audience's experience of the film.


"When you're telling a story, it's important to remember that the best stories are not just about the big moments, but about all the small ones in between as well."

This quote by Kelly Asbury emphasizes the importance of capturing both significant and mundane moments when crafting a narrative or telling a story. The "big moments" often refer to climactic events or turning points that provide dramatic tension or resolution. However, it's the "small moments in between" - everyday actions, interactions, and observations - that give depth and authenticity to characters, develop relationships, and create relatable and immersive experiences for the audience. In essence, it encourages storytellers to fully explore every facet of their narrative to make it engaging, realistic, and memorable.


I think 'West Side Story' is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, musicals ever put onscreen - or stage, for that matter. I, frankly, like Zeffirelli's 'Romeo and Juliet' very much, too. I grew up with that... I loved it. I loved the score; I loved the acting.

- Kelly Asbury

I Think, Very, Romeo, West Side Story

A lot of people say to me, 'Is this good, to do to a Shakespeare piece?' And I think, 'You know, 'West Side Story' did it very cleverly, in a different way.' But if you look at 'Bonnie and Clyde,' 'Titanic,' 'Avatar,' 'Grease,' 'Brokeback Mountain'... they're all 'Romeo and Juliet' stories.

- Kelly Asbury

I Think, Very, Romeo, West Side Story

Shrek is the Mickey Mouse of DreamWorks.

- Kelly Asbury

Mouse, Dreamworks, Shrek, Mickey

We are all rebellious teenagers. Sometimes we grow out of it, and sometimes we don't.

- Kelly Asbury

Grow, Sometimes, Teenagers, Rebellious

On 'Shrek,' Eddie Murphy was locked in as the donkey before we'd even designed the donkey.

- Kelly Asbury

Before, Murphy, Even, Shrek

Films like 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'Shrek' are hits because they hit on different levels with different age groups. Striking that balance is what I strive for. But I won't know if I've done it until the audience sees it.

- Kelly Asbury

Hit, Different Levels, Shrek

When you have a name actor, with a face that people recognise and a name that can go on posters or billboards and be able to appear on the talkshow circuit and tout the film, that's always a plus.

- Kelly Asbury

Go, Always, Circuit, Billboards

There's a lot of movies, and I've made some of them that could be categorized this way, but there's definitely been a trend in animated features of all types to be a little bit cynical, if you will, to have a little bit of 'knowing' humor to them, kind of a wink to the audience.

- Kelly Asbury

Trend, Some, Been, Wink

I look back at my childhood, and the films that I remember the most are things like 'Mary Poppins,' 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,' 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,' 'To Kill a Mockingbird.'

- Kelly Asbury

I Remember, Factory, Films, Mary Poppins

Gnomes are supposed to be good luck in a garden, protecting against pests and diseases. A mythic gatekeeper, in the way a Kitchen Witch is.

- Kelly Asbury

Luck, Good Luck, Protecting, Witch

Tim Burton, let's face it: he's into stitches.

- Kelly Asbury

Face, He, Tim, None

Every animated film that I've worked on - whether it was as a story artist or as Head of Story or even as director - where we originally started out with our story and where we eventually ended up were often very different places.

- Kelly Asbury

Very, Different Places, Animated

I'm in the entertainment business, and I make commercially entertaining animated features.

- Kelly Asbury

Commercially, Features, Animated

Animation tends to have several different writers who serve different functions. I think, on a lot of animated features, there are a lot of writers who don't get credited. It's the policy at Disney, for instance, in deciding who gets credit. It depends on the writer's contract, so many things.

- Kelly Asbury

I Think, Instance, Functions, Animated

It happens a lot that a name actor will be signed on to a project in its germ stage.

- Kelly Asbury

Actor, Stage, Lot, Germ

I've seen animation features just languish until the right combination of things come along to keep it alive.

- Kelly Asbury

Alive, Right, Come, Animation

In animation, there's not a medium I believe that's more collaborative. It is a team of people, of different disciplines, coming together. The decisions are made by consensus in many cases. My job as a director is to exercise the best judgement I can in terms of which decision is the best one to make for the movie.

- Kelly Asbury

Exercise, Judgement, Movie, Animation

If you look at it, 'The Lion King' is very similar to 'Hamlet.'

- Kelly Asbury

King, Very, Similar, Lion King

My favorite films left the camera rest, and the actors and characters have a stage to act. Move the camera when it's motivating.

- Kelly Asbury

Rest, Motivating, Films, Favorite Films

What I want to impart on any movie I work on is I want to make it entertaining. That's what I feel I do.

- Kelly Asbury

Work, Movie, Entertaining, Impart

I wanted to create a world that presented the Smurfs with obstacles and challenges and really put them in a fish-out-of-water situation but also make them very active in getting out of their situation. Make them really the central characters.

- Kelly Asbury

Obstacles, Challenges, Very, Presented

The Smurfs - and they're this way in Peyo's comics as well - do have a rubbery indestructibility about them. They can get bruised & battered. But they then just sort of bounce back very quickly, like those classic cartoon characters Wiley Coyote and Tom & Jerry.

- Kelly Asbury

Bounce, Very, Comics, Jerry

I actually applied at Hanna-Barbera to work on 'The Smurfs' when I got laid off for a brief period of time from Disney. I didn't get the job. That was my first introduction to Smurfs.

- Kelly Asbury

Brief, Laid, Period, Disney

What, if not Shakespeare, is open for interpretation?

- Kelly Asbury

Interpretation, Open, What If

I'm a lover of the great adventure films of the 1980s: 'Goonies,' 'E.T.,' 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' 'Star Wars.'

- Kelly Asbury

Star, Films, Star Wars, Ark

I think Shakespeare, at his heart, was just the way all of us are that make movies: He wanted to entertain people.

- Kelly Asbury

Think, I Think, Entertain, Shakespeare

Certainly in the case of 'Gnomeo & Juliet,' if it makes children or adults a little more interested in Shakespeare, there's nothing wrong with that!

- Kelly Asbury

Nothing, More, Certainly, Shakespeare

I think what's universal about the story of 'Romeo and Juliet' is every one has grown up and done something that was rebellious against their parents' wishes, be it love or something else.

- Kelly Asbury

Love, Think, Romeo, Universal

Star-crossed lovers who have a destiny that isn't necessarily going to work in their favor - that's a universal story; that's an archetypal story.

- Kelly Asbury

Work, Destiny, Going, Universal

I don't approach my movies with a target audience in mind. I try to make something that's true to the subject matter as much as possible, while still being entertaining and fun.

- Kelly Asbury

Mind, Audience, Still, Target

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