Vice President, Creative

Dan Scanlon joined Pixar Animation Studios in September 2001 as a storyboard artist on Pixar’s award-winning feature films “Cars” and “Toy Story 3.” During the initial production stages for both films, he worked closely with the directors to bring their ideas to the screen.

Scanlon went on to co-direct the original short film, “Mater and the Ghostlight,” which is included as one of the bonus features on the “Cars” DVD.  In addition to his work at Pixar, Scanlon simultaneously wrote and directed the live action film “Tracy,” released in 2009.

Scanlon made his animated feature directorial debut in 2013 with “Monsters University,” which grossed over $738.9 million worldwide at the box office, and received the 2013 “Hollywood Animation Award” from the Hollywood Film Awards. Scanlon most recently directed Pixar’s original feature film “Onward,” which released March 6, 2020.

In his role as Vice President, Creative, Scanlon is involved in key creative decision-making at the studio and consults on films in both development and production. Scanlon served as Executive Producer on Pixar’s most recent film release “Soul,” and is also the Executive Producer on an upcoming unannounced Pixar film.

As a child growing up in Clawson, Michigan, Scanlon possessed a love for Warner Bros. cartoons, animated Disney films, and as fate would have it, Pixar short films. His passion inspired him to study film and animation in high school and in college, where he focused on illustration at Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD).

Upon graduating from CCAD, Scanlon began working as an animator and story artist for Character Builders, a 2D animation company that produced feature and commercial work in Columbus, Ohio.

Scanlon currently resides in San Francisco with his wife Michele.