Film producer Max Howard shares his observations on the evolution of the animation industry

Talking to Max Howard is akin to opening up a treasure trove of stories from the world of animation. Known for extensive work in positions of leadership at major studios such as Disney, Warner Bros., and DreamWorks, Max has also has contributed to iconic films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King. for Walt Disney productions. He also served as president of Warner Bros. Feature Animation, overseeing projects like The Iron Giant and Space Jam.

Talking to Max Howard is akin to opening up a treasure trove of stories from the world of animation. Known for extensive work in positions of leadership at major studios such as Disney, Warner Bros., and DreamWorks, Max has also has contributed to iconic films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King.

He was recently at RV University, Bengaluru where he was delivering a masterclass to help students dissect cinematic masterpieces and gain a deeper understanding of the film making craft.

Born and brought up in London, Max is also an avid cricket lover and tells me, “If you spend enough time with me, it won’t be long before I start talking about cricket,” which sadly the ticking clock did not allow us to indulge in.

Max describes his entry into filmmaking as not-very-accidental. “I am rooted in theatre; as a child actor I spent a lot of time on movie sets. It resulted in an immersive, practical education.”

Even after leaving school, Max continued in the theatre world as a stage manager, producer, and director, working with some great British playwrights such as Noël Coward, Harold Pinter, and John Osborne.

Around that time, Max got a phone call from Peter Schneider, one of his theatre pals who, ”was hired to run the animation department in Disney which was being reinvigorated.”

Max’s first project was the iconic Who Framed Roger Rabbit. “Peterasked me if I was interested in working on this particular film in London. They were looking for somebody to run the studio, and put the whole package together. I found myself being interviewed for a job I knew little about.”