Rob Minkoff is an American filmmaker best known for directing the Disney animated classic The Lion King. He has also directed a number of other successful films, both live-action and animated. But does he still work for Disney?
Introduction
Rob Minkoff began his career at Disney in 1983 as an inbetweener on the animated film The Black Cauldron. He quickly rose through the ranks, working as an animator on films such as The Great Mouse Detective and The Little Mermaid. In 1994, he co-directed The Lion King with Roger Allers. The film was a critical and commercial success, winning two Academy Awards and becoming one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time.
Minkoff left Disney in 1995 to pursue a career in live-action filmmaking. He directed the films Stuart Little, Stuart Little 2, The Haunted Mansion, and The Forbidden Kingdom. He also returned to animation to direct Mr. Peabody & Sherman and Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank.
His work after leaving Disney
Minkoff’s first live-action film, Stuart Little, was a critical and commercial success. It grossed over $300 million worldwide and was nominated for two Academy Awards. The sequel, Stuart Little 2, was also a success, grossing over $160 million worldwide.
In 2003, Minkoff directed the live-action film The Haunted Mansion, based on the popular Disney theme park ride. The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a box office success, grossing over $180 million worldwide.
In 2008, Minkoff directed the action-adventure film The Forbidden Kingdom, starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li. The film was a critical and commercial success in China, grossing over $160 million.
In 2014, Minkoff returned to animation to direct Mr. Peabody & Sherman, based on the classic Jay Ward cartoon characters. The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a box office success, grossing over $275 million worldwide.
In 2022, Minkoff directed the animated film Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, a parody of the classic Western film Blazing Saddles. The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a box office success, grossing over $40 million worldwide.
His relationship with Disney today
Despite leaving Disney in 1995, Minkoff has remained close to the company. He returned to Disney in 2019 to work on the live-action Lion King remake, serving as a consultant and executive producer. He has also attended a number of Disney events in recent years, including the D23 Expo and the premiere of the live-action Lion King remake.
In a recent interview, Minkoff said that he is still a big fan of Disney and that he is proud of the work he did at the company. He also said that he is open to working with Disney again in the future.
Conclusion
So, does Rob Minkoff still work for Disney? No, he is not a Disney employee. However, he has a close relationship with the company and he has expressed interest in working with them again in the future.
