Bruce W. Smith is a multifaceted creative professional with a diverse range of expertise, encompassing feature film character animation, direction, and television production. He is perhaps most notably recognized as the visionary creator and executive producer of the highly acclaimed Disney Channel series The Proud Family, as well as for his meticulous supervision of the animation of the formidable villain Dr. Facilier in the Walt Disney animated film The Princess and the Frog.
Smith's educational background is rooted in the Character Animation program at the esteemed California Institute of the Arts. He commenced his career at the Walt Disney Studios, where he honed his skills as an animator on the groundbreaking film Who Framed Roger Rabbit and its accompanying shorts. Subsequently, he was handpicked by producer/director Reginald Hudlin to direct the Paramount Pictures animated film BeBe's Kids, a testament to his exceptional talent and versatility.
In addition to his work in feature film animation, Smith also served as co-director on the Warner Bros. live-action/animated film Space Jam before returning to Disney to assume the role of supervising animator on notable films such as Tarzan, Emperors New Groove, and Winnie the Pooh Movie. During this period, he also cultivated his passion for television animation, creating the Disney Channel series The Proud Family and co-founding Jambalaya Studio for its production.
Throughout his career, Smith has demonstrated a remarkable ability to excel in various capacities, from character animation and direction to television production and visual development. His impressive portfolio includes the creation of 52 episodes of The Proud Family, as well as the television movie adaptation. He has also made significant contributions to the Walt Disney Studios, supervising animation on The Princess and the Frog, Winnie the Pooh Movie, and Tangled Ever After, as well as serving as the lead animator on the short film Tangled Ever After.
Smith's unique flair for character design has led him to be involved in the visual development of various projects at the studio, including Wreck-it-Ralph and Frozen, further solidifying his reputation as a talented and innovative creative force in the world of animation.
