Steve Martino
Stephen Michael Martino is an American designer and film director. He is best known for directing the Blue Sky Studios films Dr, Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!, Ice Age: Continental Drift, and The Peanuts Movie.
Early life
Martino went to Ohio State University, where he studied design. After graduation, he heard computer animation pioneer Chuck Csuri speak. "I was absolutely blown away. No one was doing what he was showing us. I hadn't seen images like that anywhere before," Martino said. He returned to the university and earned in 1989 a master's degree, studying at the Computer Graphics Research Group, founded by Csuri.Career
After graduation, Martino went to Los Angeles, where he worked in visual effects and animation. In 2001, he joined Connecticut-based Blue Sky Studios. There he co-directed the animated films Horton Hears a Who! and Ice Age: Continental Drift. He also directed The Peanuts Movie, an animated feature film adaptation of Charles M. Schulz's US comic strip Peanuts.In February 2018, it was reported that Martino and Karen Disher would direct the animated fantasy musical, under the working title Foster, for Blue Sky Studios. The film was originally scheduled for release on March 5, 2021. However, following Disney's acquisition of Fox, it was pulled from the release schedule. The production studio was closed in 2021.
In November 2023, WildBrain Studios announced that Martino will direct an animated Peanuts film for Apple TV+.
Filmography
Director
FilmDr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! Ice Age: Continental Drift The Peanuts MovieShort filmScrat's Continental Crack-up
- ''Scrat's Continental Crack-up - Part 2''
Art director
FilmRobotsShort FilmsGone Nutty
Television
- ''World of Discovery''