Thomas J. "Tom" Bancroft (born August 30, 1960) is an American animator, cartoonist, illustrator, and author. He is best known for his work as an animator and character designer at Walt Disney Animation Studios during the 1990s, where he contributed to several major feature films and short cartoons. Bancroft has also authored a series of instructional books on animation and drawing, and he has taught animation at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City.
Early Life and Education
- Born in San Jose, California, United States.
- Studied visual arts and animation at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Character Animation.
Career at Disney
- Joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1990.
- Served as an animator and later as a lead animator on feature films such as:
- The Little Mermaid (1989) – assistant animator (uncredited).
- Beauty and the Beast (1991) – animator.
- Aladdin (1992) – animator.
- The Lion King (1994) – supervising animator for the character Zazu.
- Pocahontas (1995) – supervising animator.
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) – supervising animator.
- Worked on a number of Disney short films, notably directing and animating the Oscar‑nominated short "The Little Matchgirl" (2006), which he co‑directed with Roger Allers.
Post‑Disney Work
- Left Disney in 2003 to pursue independent projects and teaching.
- Authored the Animatic series of instructional books, including:
- The Animator’s Survival Kit (citation not to be confused with the similarly titled work by Richard Williams).
- Cartooning the Human Figure (2004).
- Cartooning the Animal Figure (2005).
- Produced independent animated shorts and contributed illustrations to various publications.
Teaching
- Joined the faculty of the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 2005.
- Teaches courses in character animation, storyboarding, and illustration.
- Recognized for mentoring emerging animators and for integrating industry practices into academic curricula.
Publications and Media Appearances
- Contributed articles and tutorials to animation magazines such as Animation Magazine and Cartoonist PRO.
- Featured in interviews and panel discussions at industry events, including the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and the International Conference on Animation and New Media.
Awards and Honors
- Academy Award Nomination – Best Animated Short Film for The Little Matchgirl (2006, co‑director).
- Annie Award – Nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Character Animation for his work on The Little Matchgirl.
Personal Life
- Resides in New York City.
- Active in the animation community, offering workshops and masterclasses worldwide.
Bibliography (selected)
- Cartooning the Human Figure: The Art of Drawing People (2004, Watson-Guptill).
- Cartooning the Animal Figure: The Art of Drawing Animals (2005, Watson-Guptill).
- The Animator’s Survival Kit: A Manual of Methods, Principles and Techniques (contributor, 2015, Faber & Faber).
Legacy
Tom Bancroft is recognized for his contributions to the Renaissance era of Disney animation and for his role in educating the next generation of animators. His instructional books are widely used in animation curricula and by independent artists seeking practical guidance in drawing and motion.
