Sharon Morrill Biography

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SHARON MORRILL is the President and driving force behind DisneyToon Studios. She began the division in 1994 and under her creative leadership; it has become one of the most successful business units of The Walt Disney Company.

As President, Morrill is charged with extending the magic of Disney's animated franchises by creating new stories for the world's most beloved and enduring characters-such as Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Bambi and Simba. DisneyToon Studios has produced such box office hits as “The Jungle Book 2” and “The Tigger Movie.” On the Home Entertainment side, it has produced nine of the top-10 best-selling Direct to DVD/Videos of all time. Under Morrill's supervision, films like “Lion King 2: Simba's Pride,” “Lady and Tramp 2,” “Pooh's Grand Adventure” and “Lion King 1 ½,” exemplify filmmaking in the classic Walt Disney tradition. Morrill's pioneering work over the last 11 years has set the industry standard for the family entertainment market in animation.

Other theatrical projects Morrill has spearheaded are 2005's “Pooh's Heffalump Movie,” as well as “Piglet's Big Movie,” “Return to Never Land,” and the 1997 Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Short, “Redux Riding Hood”. Her recent work includes the release to DVD and video of “Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch had a Glitch,” which has met with critical acclaim.

Morrill and DisneyToon Studios' 2006 slate looks equally as promising. The year opens with the theatrical and DVD release of “Bambi II.”

The release of “Brother Bear 2” continues the adventures of Kenai, Koda, and their goofy moose pals Rutt and Tuke. The film also features songs written and sung by the incomparable Melissa Etheridge. Finally, Morrill and DisneyToon Studios end the year by teaming popular singer and actor Reba McEntire with Patrick Swayze and comedian Jeff Foxworthy for “The Fox and the Hound II,” inspired by the immensely popular original film.

Morrill joined Walt Disney Television Animation in 1993 as Director of Specials where she oversaw animated primetime half-hour specials. Morrill's first project was the top-rated CBS Halloween special, “Boo to You, Winnie the Pooh,” which garnered one 1997 Emmy Award and two Emmy nominations. On its heels were two additional half-hour holiday specials, “Winnie the Pooh's Thanksgiving” and “A Valentine for Winnie the Pooh,” both of which earned Emmy nominations.

Prior to beginning her career in animation, Morrill taught screenwriting for six years at University of Southern California's School of Cinema/Television and accrued a wealth of feature film experience as Vice President, Development of Steel Pictures at Disney and Touchstone; Vice President, Production for Kings Road Entertainment; Vice President of Development of The Solofilm Co.; and as a Production Executive at the De Laurentiis Entertainment Group.

Morrill is on the board of the Free Arts for Abused Children charity, a member of the Everychild Foundation and on the Advisory Committee of Interlochen Center for the Arts. She is also a member of ASIFA and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.