Sarah Mercey
Director | Actress | Storyboardist | Animation
Sarah Mercey is one of Canada’s most successful animation and film professionals. In her nineteen years in the business, Sarah has been an integral part of more than ten of some of the most financially successful and critically awarded films in Hollywood. She has worked with Walt Disney Feature Animation, Pixar, and BlueSky-Fox Animation. Some of her credits include Ratatouille, WALL-E, Toy Story 3, and Lilo & Stitch.
In 2010, Sarah steered her expertise in the field of animation toward focusing on developing stories for film. Sarah has been helping to develop and storyboard projects for upcoming films for Blue Sky-Fox Animation.
In addition to her story work, Sarah co-directed a Christmas Special for the CBC called The Magic Hockey Skates for which received a Canadian Screen Award (Best Director of an animated series or program).
In 2014, a successful career in the animation industry, Sarah returned to school in New York City. She recently graduated, again, and this time with a diploma for acting/directing theatre and film, with a focus on the work of Shakespeare and Tennessee Williams. While in school, Sarah was story consultant and helped re-write the award winning play, These Little One’s Perish, which premiered off-Broadway in January 2017. Now armed with a new love of, not only story, but for written language, Sarah is currently story consult to one of the top director’s in Hollywood, has written a screenplay filmed in summer 2018 (dir. Sean Cisterna). She is also writing a coming-of-age feature film that takes place in Quebec City and a short film about the unrequited love between a Super Hero and Super Villain.
Sarah been asked to share her knowledge at a number of speaking engagements.
http://m.imdb.com/name/nm1820414/
Filmography
Unannounced
2021
Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Blue Sky Studios (Fox Animation)
Lucky
2020
Skydance Animation (Skydance Media)
Nimona
2020
Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Blue Sky Studios (Fox Animation)
Spies In Disguise
2019
Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Blue Sky Studios (Fox Animation)
Ferdinand
2017
Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Blue Sky Studios (Fox Animation)
Oscar nominee (Academy Awards), Best Animated Feature Film – USA, 2018
2 nominations at the Golden Globes, Best Motion Picture – Animated, Best Original Song – Motion picture, USA, 2018
Angry Birds
2016
Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Rovio
Rio 2
2014
Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Blue Sky Studios (Fox Animation)
Ice Age Christmas Special
2011
Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Blue Sky Studios (Fox Animation)
Day & Night
2010
Short film, animation
Animation
Pixar Animation Studios
Toy Story 3
2009
Feature film, animation
Character Design
Pixar Animation Studios
Oscar winner (Academy Awards), Best Animated Feature Film of the Year– USA, 2011
Golden Globe winner, Best animated Film of the Year 2011
Partly Cloudy
2009
Short film, animation
Animation
Pixar Animation Studios
Wall-E
2008
Feature film, animation
Animation
Pixar Animation Studios
Oscar winner (Academy Awards), Best Animated Feature Film of the Year– USA, 2009
Golden Globe winner, Best animated Film of the Year 2009
Ratatouille
2007
Feature film, animation
Animation
Pixar Animation Studios
Oscar winner (Academy Awards), Best Animated Feature Film of the Year– USA, 2008
Golden Globe winner, Best animated Film of the Year 2008
Your Friend The Rat
2007
Short Film Credit
Pixar Animation Studios
Cars
2005
Feature film, animation
Animation
Pixar Animation Studios
Oscar nominee (Academy Awards), Best Animated Feature Film of the Year– USA, 2007
Golden Globe winner, Best animated Film of the Year 2007
Brother Bear
2003
Feature film, animation
Animation & Character Design
Walt Disney Feature Animation
Oscar nominee (Academy Awards), Best Animated Feature Film– USA, 2004
Beauty & the Beast
2002 (re-released)
Feature film, animation
Clean-Up Animation
Walt Disney Feature Animation
Lilo & Stitch
2002
Feature film, animation
Clean-Up Animation
Walt Disney Feature Animation
Oscar nominee (Academy Awards), Best Animated Feature Film– USA, 2003
The Emperor’s New Groove
2000
Feature film, animation
Clean-Up Animation
Walt Disney Feature Animation
Tarzan
1999
Feature film, animation
Clean-Up Animation
Walt Disney Feature Animation
Mulan
1998
Feature film, animation
Clean-Up Animation
Walt Disney Feature Animation
Newt
Unreleased
Feature film, animation
Character Design
TV Shows
The Magic Hockey Skates
2012
Holiday Special TV Show
Director, Art Director, Co-Writer
Amberwood Entertainment / Canadian Broadcast Corporation
Canadian Screen Awards 2014 – Best Direction in an Animated Program or Series & In nomination for Best Animated Series
Other Feature credits
Morse Code
2016
Story Artist & Actor
Livingston Studios
Notable Appearances
Sarah’s artwork toured galleries around the world and was featured at the Oakland Museum of California during the Pixar: 25 Years of Animation Exhibition.
Sarah was one of the initial speakers and instructors who helped Animation Mentor gain its foothold as one of the most respected schools in the field of animation.
Annecy International Animation Festival – Guest Speaker Representing Pixar
The Academy of Arts San Francisco – Guest Speaker
E..D.S.S. - A guest lecturer on creativity. Other speakers included Bruce Headlam and Malcom
Gladwell.
Other Notable Contributions
Ride and story development with Walt Disney Imagineering
Teaching: Animation Mentor - Classical Animation
Weird Randon Facts: Sarah enjoys snowboarding, playing hockey and the drums.
Sarah does not enjoy eating cheese.
Ride and story development with Walt Disney Imagineering
Film Appearances: Ratatouille Special Features & The Making of Lilo and Stitch
Published Work: The Art of Toy Story 3
Teaching: Animation Mentor School – Classical Animation