Jorgen Klubien Named Director of Story for Feature Film at Vinton Studios

Jorgen Klubien Named Director of Story for Feature Film at Vinton Studios

Award-Winning Director/Screenwriter, a Longtime Disney and Pixar Collaborator, Lists THE LION KING, TOY STORY 2, MONSTERS, INC., A BUG'S LIFE, and TIM BURTON'S A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS Among Career Highlights

PORTLAND, Ore., March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Renowned director, screenwriter, storyboard artist, designer, and animator Jorgen Klubien has been named a Director of Story for Feature Film at Vinton Studios, effective immediately, it was announced today by Vinton Studios CEO Jeff Farnath.

Klubien is responsible for developing animated feature film properties for the Portland-based entertainment studio, including his own original concepts as well as story ideas already in the Vinton pipeline.

A native of Copenhagen, Denmark, Klubien says, "It's very exciting to join a boutique studio and help it expand into animated feature film production. Under the ownership of Phil Knight and the leadership of Jeff Farnath, and with an amazing talent roster already in place, Vinton Studios is poised to make a huge impact on the animated feature film landscape."

During his eight year association with Pixar, Klubien developed original feature film story ideas. He wrote and illustrated the original concept for the studio's upcoming feature, CARS, and was story development artist on MONSTERS, INC., TOY STORY 2, and A BUG'S LIFE, for which he was also co-writer.

During a 10-year run at Disney Studios, Klubien was storyboard artist, animator, illustrator, supervising animator, or co-writer of such classic Disney animated fare as MULAN, POCAHONTAS, THE LION KING, THE RESCUERS DOWN UNDER, and THE LITTLE MERMAID. During a three-year tenure at Tim Burton's Skellington Studios, Klubien was storyboard artist on director Henry Selick's JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, and storyboard artist and character designer on TIM BURTON'S NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

According to Farnath, "The addition of Jorgen Klubien to our Story Department sends a clear message to the animated feature film community that we are making top drawer, first-rate animated feature films. Jorgen's storied career has included success at every creative endeavor in the animated feature film field, and his breadth of knowledge, discerning taste, and depth of relationships will be a tremendous help in realizing our goal of being a world-class producer of animated movies."

Vinton Studios, with offices in Portland and Los Angeles, is recognized as one of the top creators of character animation in the world. The studio has garnered every major entertainment and advertising award, including an Academy Award, four Academy Award nominations, eleven Emmys and ten Clios.

Vinton Studios is co-producer, with Tim Burton and Warner Bros., of the stop-motion feature film CORPSE BRIDE, which will premiere later this year. The film, toplined by a voice cast that includes Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Albert Finney, and Emily Watson, is set in 19th Century Europe and follows the scary adventures of a man who inadvertently becomes engaged to a dead woman.

In addition, director Henry Selick, who joined Vinton as Supervising Director in the spring of 2004, is prepping his feature film adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Hugo Award-winning, international bestselling children's book, CORALINE. Former 20th Century Fox Chairman and CEO Bill Mechanic and his Pandemonium Films will co-produce with Vinton Studios. CORALINE is the story of a brainy and brave young girl who discovers an alternate version of her life after walking through a secret door in her new home.

The Studio produced the Emmy Award-winning, prime-time animated television series THE PJS with Imagine Entertainment and Eddie Murphy, in association with Warner Bros. Television. Vinton Studios is a leading producer of animated commercials and shorts, including long-running and iconic campaigns such as M&Ms, the NFL on FOX, and Arby's Oven Mitt. In September 2003, Phil Knight, Co-founder and Chairman of Nike, acquired Vinton Studios and holds the position of Chairman of the Board.

Source: Vinton Studios

CONTACT: Maggie Begley of Maggie Begley Communications, +1-310-301-1785 or cell, +1-310-749-3055, mbegley@aol.com, for Vinton Studios

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photo available upon request.

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