William Joyce (writer)

William Joyce (born December 11 1957) is an American author, illustrator, and filmmaker. "Newsweek" has called him one of the top 100 people to watch in the new millennium.Fact|date=October 2007 His illustrations have appeared on numerous New Yorker covers and his paintings are displayed at national museums and art galleries. He lives with his wife and their two children in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Children's literature

Joyce has written and illustrated over twenty-five children's books. Some of his best known are: "George Shrinks", "Santa Calls", "Dinosaur Bob and his Adventures with the Family Lazardo", "Rolie Polie Olie", "The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs", and "A Day with Wilbur Robinson".

Film and television

Joyce has received three Emmys for "Rolie Polie Olie", an animated series that airs on Disney Channel based on the series of children's books he had done. His second television series, "George Shrinks", airs daily on PBS stations.

Joyce created conceptual characters for Pixar/Disney's feature films "Toy Story" (1995) and "A Bug's Life" (1998).

In 2005, after Joyce and "Ice Age" director Chris Wedge failed to adapt one of Joyce's books to the screen, "Santa Calls", they both came up with the idea for the animated film "Robots" (2005). Besides being one of the creators, Joyce also served as a producer and production designer. Joyce is currently in production with Fox and Blue Sky Studios on a feature based on his award winning book, "The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs".

In 2007, Disney (the broadcasters of "Rollie Polie Ollie") released "Meet the Robinsons", a movie based on his book "A Day with Wilbur Robinson". Also in the same year, he designed the opening title sequence for "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium".

Exhibitions

aks Fifth Avenue

In both 1994 and 1995 Joyce designed the Christmas displays for Saks Fifth Avenue's original location.

The World of William Joyce

This exhibition is run by the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature. It began in 1998 and is currently still traveling nationally.

Artspace

Artspace is a gallery located in Shreveport, LA that is run under the guidance of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. Joyce serves as the Artistic Director. He has helped bring a Peter Pan Centennial exhibit, an Art of "Robots" exhibit, and Faces of Katrina.

Community

Joyce has recently founded the Katrinarita Gras Foundation to raise money for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He is selling prints of his unpublished Mardi Gras "The New Yorker" cover through the foundation with all profit going to aid victims.

External links

* [http://www.williamjoyce.com/ Official site]
** [http://www.williamjoyce.com/katrinarita.html Katrinarita Gras Foundation]
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* [http://nccil.org/experience/artists/joycew/index.htm National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature]
* [http://www.harperchildrens.com/williamjoyce/homepage.htm/ Page at HarperCollins Publishing]
* [http://www.aimesworth.com//main.html/ Aimesworth Amusements] Dead link|date=October 2007
* [http://www.apple.com/trailers/disney/meettherobinsons/ Meet the Robinsons Official Trailer]
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* [http://www.robotsmovie.com/ Official Robots Movie Site]