Head of Story | Sunrise Productions
After earning his BFA in Character Animation from the California Institute of the Arts in 1992, Stanton began his career as a 2D assistant animator on The Nightmare Before Christmas at Skellington Productions. He continued working as a freelance 2D animator over the next few years, including on Skellington’s next feature, James and the Giant Peach.
In 1996, he joined Pixar Animation Studios as a storyboard artist for their second feature film, A Bug’s Life. Over the following twenty-two years, he contributed to many of the studio’s subsequent successes. Stanton’s storyboarding credits include Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., and the Academy Award®-winning films Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, WALL•E, Brave, and Coco. He also served as Head of Story for Cars 2 and the short film The Blue Umbrella.
In 2018, Stanton left Pixar to work as an independent contractor on a variety of animated and live-action projects. Relocating to Cape Town, South Africa in 2020, he led a 12-week Story Lab program for emerging African talent through Triggerfish Animation and Netflix Animation. Upon its completion, six participants were selected to form a Story Team for the animated feature Tunga. Shortly thereafter, he joined Sunrise Animation Studios as Assistant Director on the animated feature DAVID, which was released in 2025.
He is currently in story development on three new animated feature projects for Sunrise
The story of David and Goliath has inspired generations—but you've never seen it like this. Join the creative team behind David, South Africa's most ambitious animated feature to date, as they pull back the curtain on bringing this epic biblical tale to life with a distinctly African lens. Already a phenomenon, David has shattered expectations—outperforming () The Prince of Egypt to become the highest-grossing opening weekend of a faith-based film of all time as well as leaving the SpongeBob Movie in the dust at the Box Office. But the real story isn't just about numbers; it's about how a passionate Cape Town team challenged industry giants by building world-class animation right here at home. Discover the creative decisions, technical innovations, and cultural perspectives shaping this groundbreaking film. From early concept art to character development, hear firsthand how the team navigated the journey from local studio to global success. Whether you're an animation enthusiast, aspiring filmmaker, or simply curious about the future of African storytelling, this session offers an exciting glimpse into a project that's as audacious as its young shepherd hero. Expect exclusive footage, behind-the-scenes insights, and a candid conversation about what it takes to launch a new era in South African animation—and take on Hollywood in the process.
