Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> February 17, 2003
GARY GOLDMAN is Vice President, Producer and Director of Don
Bluth Films Inc. He entered the United States Air Force
(1962-1967) and served as an electronics technician. His tenure
in the Air Force involved a year of tech school in Biloxi,
Mississippi, a two year stint in Japan followed by an 18 month
tour in Germany. Following his tour of duty in the Air Force, and
upon returning to the United States in 1967, he attended Cabrillo
College near Santa Cruz, California, and received his Associate
of Arts Degree in 1969. He then attended the University of Hawaii
and graduated, in 1971, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in
Life Drawing. In early 1972, Mr. Goldman began his career in
animation when he joined Walt Disney Productions. When Mr.
Goldman met Don Bluth at Walt Disney Studios in 1972, they formed
an instant friendship, soon realizing that they both shared the
desire of restoring the heritage of classical animation to
today's animated films. Their friendship eventually turned into a
creative partnership that has lasted over 30 years. In an effort
to accelerate his skills, in preparation for leadership
assignments within the Disney organization, Mr. Goldman began to
probe every aspect of animated production. United by the same
goal of restoring the lost techniques of classical animation, Mr.
Goldman and Mr. Bluth, along with animator John Pomeroy, produced
(in Mr. Bluth's garage) the classically animated television
special 'Banjo, The Woodpile Cat.' Divided by disagreements over
story and production values, Mr. Goldman, along with Mr. Bluth
and Mr. Pomeroy, resigned from Walt Disney Productions to
establish themselves independently. In 1986, the team, headed by
Mr. Goldman and Mr. Bluth, moved their entire operation,
including 87 employees and their families, to Dublin, Ireland, at
the invitation of the Irish Government. In August 1994, Mr.
Goldman returned from Ireland to head up the Fox Animation Studio
located in Phoenix, Arizona, where he shared creative leadership
with Don Bluth. In 1998, Mr. Goldman joined with Don Bluth, John
Pomeroy, Rick Dyer and David Foster to form a new company,
Dragon's Lair LLC. The company was formed to develop new 3D
games, starting with a revamp of the hit game Dragon's Lair.
Currently, Mr. Goldman and Mr. Bluth have reestablished their
independence with their new production company, Don Bluth Films
Inc., in Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. Goldman has been a member of the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1976. Profile
is today?
Mr. Goldman: Don Bluth Films is an animation film production
company interested in developing stories for
