Sarah Mercey
Director | Actress | Storyboard Artist | Animation
For Sarah, animation is the ultimate marriage between theatre and visual art. This outlook that has made the Canadian Screen Award-winning director, storyboard artist, writer, actor, and now author, one of the country’s most uniquely experienced film and animation professionals working today.
With over two decades of animated feature film experience, Mercey started as an in-betweener at Disney Feature Animation, where she worked on TARZAN, LILO & STITCH, THE EMPEROR’S NEW GROOVE, and MULAN before animating on BROTHER BEAR. She then worked as an animator and character artist at Pixar, with credits on films such as CARS, WALL-E, RATATOUILLE, and TOY STORY 3 before moving on as a story artist for films like Blue Sky Studios/20th Century Fox’s SPIES IN DISGUISE, FERDINAND, and RIO 2. And Paramount Animation’s RUMBLE, TIGER’S APPRENTICE, and, THE SHRINKING TREEHORNS and Disney’s upcoming ICE AGE 6.
Based in Canada, she has most recently been storyboarding for NETFLIX FEATURE ANIMATION, on an unannounced film.
In 2014, Sarah returned to school in New York City, and in 2016 she graduated with a diploma in performance and directing theatre and film with a focus on the work of Shakespeare and Tennessee Williams.
In addition to drawing, writing, and making “stuff,” Sarah enjoys cycling, playing hockey, and drums. Sarah’s first children’s book, “LADYBUG, LADYBUG, STAY HERE AT HOME” is now available online and in a bookstore near you.
http://m.imdb.com/name/nm1820414/
Filmography
Ice Age 6
Upcoming
Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Disney Animation
The Shrinking Treehorns
Upcoming
Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Paramount Animation
Unannounced
Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Netflix Feature Animation
Tiger's Apprentice
2023
Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Paramount Animation
Rumble
2022
Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Paramount Animation
Luck
2022
Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Skydance 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
Little Match Girl
2006
Short film
Clean-Up Animation
Walt Disney Feature Animation
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
Rough 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
Goofy in How to Haunt a House
1999
Short film
Clean-Up Animation
Walt Disney Feature Animation
Mulan
1998
Feature film, animation
Clean-Up Animation
Walt Disney Feature Animation
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
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